We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 3 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.

Background

The Whiter Smile Limited (also known as) The Dental Lounge, is located in the London Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. The practice is part of a group of three practices which form the ‘Baker Street Dental Group.’

The Dental Lounge premises consist of two treatment rooms, a dedicated decontamination room and an X-ray room. There are also toilet facilities, a waiting room, a reception area, an administrative office and a store room.

The practice provides private dental services and treats both adults and children. The practice offers a range of dental services including routine examinations and treatment, veneers, crowns and oral hygiene.

The staff structure of the practice is comprised of two dentists, a specialist orthodontist, a specialist implantologist, three dental nurses, two receptionists and a practice manager.

The practice manager is the registered manager. A registered manager is a person who is registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. 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.

The practice is open Monday to Sunday from 9:00am to 5:00pm. The inspection took place over one day and was carried out by a CQC inspector and a dentist specialist advisor.

We received five CQC comment cards completed by patients who were positive about the care they received from the practice. They were complimentary about the friendly and caring attitude of the staff.

Our key findings were:

• Patients’ needs were assessed and care was planned in line with best practice guidance, such as from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).

• Equipment, such as the autoclave (steriliser), fire extinguishers, oxygen cylinder and X-ray equipment had all been checked for effectiveness and had been regularly serviced.

• The practice ensured staff maintained the necessary skills and competence to support the needs of patients.

• Patients indicated that they felt they were listened to and that they received good care from a helpful and patient practice team.

• The practice had implemented clear procedures for managing comments, concerns or complaints.

• The practice had a clear vision for the services it provided and staff told us they were well supported by the management team.

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

• Ensure audits of radiography are undertaken at regular intervals to help improve the quality of service.

• Ensure that at least two references are documented for all members of staff when they are recruited.

• Review the practice’s infection control procedures and protocols giving due regard to guidelines issued by the Department of Health - Health Technical Memorandum 01-05: Decontamination in primary care dental practices and The Health and Social Care Act 2008: ‘Code of Practice about the prevention and control of infections and related guidance.
• Review the practice's protocols for completion of dental records giving due regard to guidance provided by the Faculty of General Dental Practice regarding clinical examinations and record keeping.