We visited Northlight Dental on 5 February 2013 and found the practice was very clean, welcoming and displayed clear information for people.

Information available to people using the service included clear brochures which outlined the services available, costs for treatment, and policies used within the practice. This included the process for people to follow if they were unhappy with any aspect of their care or wished to make a complaint, as well as the infection control procedures to maintain people’s safety.

Four staff worked within the practice, comprising the dentist, one orthodontist, a dental nurse and a dental therapist. On the day of our visit we spoke with the dentist and dental nurse on duty who said they enjoyed working there and we observed they displayed a professional manner.

The dentist was a dental phobia certified dentist, which meant nervous patients were offered dedicated treatment. We were told that as a result of this, the practice saw a number of patients who were anxious about dental treatment. We spoke with one person who used the service who told us they were very nervous about dental care and the dentist had treated their problems thoroughly through measure taken to manage their anxiety. They were very complimentary about the care they had received and said the dentist “was wonderful”.

The practice operated on the ground floor so easy access was available for anyone using the service.