We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection of Care Dental Smile Studio on 7 July 2015; to ask the practice the following key questions; Are services safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led?

Our findings were:

Are services safe?

We found that this practice was providing safe care in accordance with the relevant regulations

Are services effective?

We found that this practice was providing effective care in accordance with the relevant regulations

Are services caring?

We found that this practice was providing caring services in accordance with the relevant regulations

Are services responsive?

We found that this practice was providing responsive care in accordance with the relevant regulations

Are services well-led?

We found that this practice was providing well-led care in accordance with the relevant regulations

Care Dental Smile Studios is located in the London borough of Hounslow in West London. The practice has been under new management since November 2014.The practice provides NHS and private treatment and caters for both adults and children. The practice provides a variety of specialised care including intermediate oral surgery (IMOS), dental implants including the provision of conscious sedation for selected patients for this type of treatment, orthodontics and specialised gum treatments.

The practice provides services on the ground floor. The practice had four dental treatment rooms and a separate decontamination room for cleaning, sterilising and packing dental instruments.

The practice had six dentists and four dental nurses one of whom is the practice’s lead nurse. There was a part time dental hygienist who provided preventative advice and gum treatments on prescription from the dentists working in the practice. The practice also had a practice manager and two dental receptionists. The practice is open Monday and Tuesday – 9:00am – 7:30pm

Wednesday, Thursday and Friday – 9:00am – 6:00pm and on Saturday 09:00am -4:00pm.

Our key findings were:

• Staff felt well supported and were committed to providing a quality service to their patients.
• The practice was visibly clean and well maintained.
• Infection control procedures were robust and the practice followed published guidance.
• Patients’ needs were assessed and care was planned and delivered in line with current professional guidelines
• The practice had effective safeguarding processes in place and staff understood their responsibilities for safeguarding children and adults in vulnerable circumstances.
• The practice had enough staff to deliver the service.
• The practice placed an emphasis on the promotion of good oral health and provided regular oral health instruction to patients.
• The practice took into account any comments, concerns or complaints and used these to help them improve the practice.
• The practice staff did not have access to an automated external defibrillator (AED)
• The practice did not have a risk assessment with regards to the use of safer sharps

There were areas where the provider should make improvements.

• Review availability of medicines and equipment to manage medical emergencies giving due regard to guidelines issued by the British National Formulary, the Resuscitation Council (UK), and the General Dental Council (GDC) standards for the dental team.
• Review the practices’ safe sharps policy giving due regard to the Health and Safety (Sharp Instruments in Healthcare) Regulations 2013.

• Ensure that all staff receive appropriate child protection training refresher courses.