The Care Quality Commission
  • Dentist
  • Dentist

The Smile Studios: Heston

164 Heston Road, Hounslow, Middlesex, TW5 0QU (020) 8577 2206

Provided and run by:
The Smile Studios Limited

All Inspections

During an assessment under our new approach

We carried out this announced on-site inspection on 21 August 2025.

We found the practice had met regulations.

Infection control procedures in place were effective.

Staff had the skills, knowledge and experience to carry out their roles.

Staff provided care and treatment in line with current guidance. They treated patients with dignity and respect and ensured access to care, support, and treatment when required.

The practice had systems to identify and manage risks which required some improvements.

Recruitment procedures did not entirely reflect current legislation.

The practice is in the London Borough of Hounslow and provides NHS and private dental care and treatment for adults and children.

There was step-free access to the practice and car parking spaces available, including dedicated parking for disabled people, near the practice.

The practice had 3 treatment rooms. At the time of our inspection, there was a total of 12 staff, of which there were 4 dentists, 2 dental nurses, 2 dental hygienists, 3 receptionists and the practice manager. We gathered feedback from staff and spoke to a range of staff during our inspection, including 1 receptionist and the practice manager.

The service provides cosmetic treatments, some of which are not in scope of CQC regulation and are not covered in our inspection.

10 June 2015

During a routine inspection

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 10 June 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

The Smile Studio Heston is located in the London borough of Hounslow in West London. It offers NHS and private dental care services to patients of all ages. The practice has been under new management since 2012.

The practice serves a mixed population with patients from varied backgrounds. The services provided included preventative advice and treatment and routine and restorative dental care as well as, invisible braces, six month smiles, smile makeovers and teeth whitening.

Facilities within the practice include three consultation rooms, waiting room, two administration offices and toilet facilities. All treatments were offered on the ground floor.

The practice has four dentists, one principal dentist who is the director, three dental nurses, one hygienists and a practice manager/receptionist and one administrative staff. The practice is open Monday to Friday from 08:30am to 18:00pm and on Saturdays 08:30- 16:00pm.

The principal dentist 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.

We spoke with four patients who used the service on the day of our inspection and reviewed 28 completed CQC comment cards. Patients we spoke with and those who completed comment cards were positive about the care they received from the practice. They commented they had no difficulties in arranging a convenient appointment and staff were caring, helpful and respectful. They also reported that the practice had undergone a lot of changes that they thought were good as far as they were concerned.

Our key findings were:

• The practice had systems to assess and manage risks to patients, including for infection prevention and control, health and safety and the management of medical emergencies.

• The practice carried out oral health assessments and planned treatment in line with current best practice guidance for example from the Faculty of General Dental Practice (FGDP). Staff received training appropriate to their roles and told us they felt well supported to carry out their work.

• Patients told us they were treated with kindness and respect by staff. Staff ensured there was sufficient time to explain fully the care and treatment they were providing in a way patients understood. Patients commented they felt involved in their treatment and that it was fully explained to them.

• Patients were able to make routine and emergency appointments when needed. There were clear instructions for patients regarding out of hours care.

• There were clearly defined leadership roles within the practice and staff told us they felt well supported and comfortable to raise concerns or make suggestions.