Smile Matters

On this page

• Overview
• Assessing needs
• Delivering evidence-based care and treatment
• How staff, teams and services work together
• Supporting people to live healthier lives
• Monitoring and improving outcomes
• Consent to care and treatment

We found this practice was providing effective care in accordance with the relevant regulations and had taken into consideration appropriate guidance.

Find out what we look at when we assess this area in our information about our new Single assessment framework.

The judgement for Assessing needs is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Effective key question.

The provider had systems to ensure that people who used the service received person-centred, care and treatment, that was appropriate, met their needs and was reflective of their personal preferences. Preventive oral health care was encouraged. Staff had the skills, knowledge and experience to carry out their roles. However, we found that antimicrobial prescribing was not always in line with current guidance. While the practice had systems for the safe handling and prescribing of medicines, we found that the dosage and type of antimicrobial used for patients with penicillin allergy did not always follow current guidance issued by the College of General Dentistry (UK) and Faculty of Dental Surgery. Following feedback from the inspection team, the practice took immediate action and shared the guidance with all clinicians. NHS prescription pads were kept securely, and a log was in place to monitor and track their use. We looked at 5 patient care records. The information recorded in these patient care records was in line with recognised guidance. Staff obtained patients’ consent for treatment in line with legislation and guidance, and understood their responsibilities under the Mental Capacity Act 2005. Staff described how they involved patients’ relatives or carers when appropriate and made sure they had enough time to explain treatment options clearly. We saw evidence the dentists justified, graded and reported on the radiographs they took. Where applicable, patients were referred to primary and secondary care specialists for treatment the practice did not provide. This included referring patients with suspected cancer under the national two-week wait arrangements. Staff felt the practice supported them to develop and enabled them to take on responsibilities.

The judgement for How staff, teams and services work together is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Effective key question.

The judgement for Supporting people to live healthier lives is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Effective key question.

The judgement for Monitoring and improving outcomes is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Effective key question.

The judgement for Consent to care and treatment is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Effective key question.