We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 7 June 2016 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.

Background

Denton Dentalcare is a dental practice situated in a converted house in the village of Denton, Northamptonshire.

The practice has two treatment rooms, a waiting room with reception desk, and office and a dedicated decontamination room (Decontamination is the process by which dirty and contaminated instruments are bought from the treatment room, washed, inspected, sterilised and sealed in pouches ready for use again).

The practice has a principal dentist, a visiting implantologist and a dental hygienist/ therapist, supported by a qualified dental nurse, a practice manager who is also a qualified dental nurse and a receptionist.

The practice offers general dental treatments to adults and children on a private basis, and dental implants (where a metal post is placed surgically into the jaw bone to support and replace a missing tooth or teeth).

The opening hours of the practice are 8am to 6pm Monday and Tuesday, 8am to 5pm on Wednesday and Thursday, and 8am to 4pm on Friday.

The principal dentist is registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) as an individual. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the practice is run.

We left comment cards at the practice for the two weeks preceding the inspection. 14 people provided feedback about the service in this way. All of the comments spoke highly of the service and the attentive and caring attitude of the staff.

Our key findings were:

• The practice was visibly clean and clutter free.

• Patients reported that they were treated with care and compassion and staff were friendly and helpful.

• The practice could normally arrange a routine appointment within a week and emergency appointments mostly on the same day.

• Infection control standards met national guidance.

• The practice kept medicines and equipment for use in medical emergencies. These were in line with national guidance.

• There was appropriate equipment for staff to undertake their duties, and equipment was well maintained.

• Governance arrangements were in place for the smooth running of the service.

There were areas where the provider could make improvements and should:

• Review staff awareness of Gillick competency and ensure all staff are aware of their responsibilities.

• Review the needs of hearing impaired people and asses the need for a hearing loop to assist patients who use hearing aids.

We spoke with people who used the service and we were given positive feedback. One person told us "The waiting area is like a home from home. They have an I-Pad and Wi-Fi available for people to use and it's calm and relaxing. The dentist explains what he has found and makes suggestions but it is my choice if I want to have treatment". Another person told us the staff were friendly and they could get an urgent appointment on the same day if they needed to. They told us the appointment system was excellent as people received emails and texts with their appointment dates and times. They also told us that waiting times were good and that people were not kept waiting.

We found that the treated people with dignity and respect and a number of systems were in place to monitor the quality of the service. We found some concerns in relation to infection control.