The Care Quality Commission
  • Dentist
  • Dentist

Perfect Smile Clinic

19 Prince Street, Sudbury, Suffolk, CO10 1JA (01787) 882040

Provided and run by:
Perfect Smile Clinic Ltd

All Inspections

During an assessment under our new approach

We carried out this announced on-site inspection on 29 October 2025.

We found the practice had met all regulations.

The practice had effective systems to identify and manage risks, including infection prevention and control.

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

Recruitment procedures reflected current legislation and there was effective leadership and a culture of continuous improvement.

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.

Perfect Smile Clinic is in Sudbury, Suffolk 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 4 treatment rooms and were in the process of developing a 5th treatment room, currently used for cosmetic treatments. At the time of our inspection, there was a total of 26 staff, of which there were 7 dentists (1 dentist had a special interest in oral surgery, 1 dentist was a sedationist, 1 dentist had a special interest in periodontology and the practice were currently interviewing for an endodontist), 2 orthodontic therapists, 2 orthodontic specialists, 6 dental nurses, including 1 trainee dental nurse, 3 dental hygienists, 2 receptionists, 1 treatment coordinator, 1 administrator, 1 practice manager and the compliance manager. We gathered feedback from staff and spoke to a range of staff during our inspection, including 3 dentists, 2 dental nurses, 1 receptionist and the compliance manager.

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

25 April 2017

During a routine inspection

We carried out this announced inspection of Perfect Smile Clinic under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. We planned the inspection to check whether the registered provider was meeting the legal requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated regulations. The inspection was led by a CQC inspector who was supported by a specialist dental adviser.

To get to the heart of patients’ experiences of care and treatment, we always ask the following five questions:

• Is it safe?

• Is it effective?

• Is it caring?

• Is it responsive to people’s needs?

• Is it well-led?

These questions form the framework for the areas we look at during the inspection.

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

Perfect Smile Clinic is a well-established practice based in Sudbury that provides mostly NHS treatment to patients of all ages. The dental team includes six dentists, two hygienists, six dental nurses, one dental hygienist and two receptionists who serve about 3,800 patients. The practice has four treatment rooms and is open on Mondays to Fridays from 9am to 5pm.

There is ramp access for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs, but no disabled toilet facilities.

The practice must have a person registered with the Care Quality Commission as the registered manager. Registered managers 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 registered manager at Perfect Smile is one of the owners.

On the day of our inspection we collected 16 comment cards filled in by patients and spoke with two other patients. This information gave us a very positive view of the practice.

During the inspection we spoke with two dentists, two dental nurses, and the practice manager. We looked at the practice’s policies and procedures, and other records about how the service was managed.

Our key findings were:

  • The practice was clean and well maintained.
  • The practice had infection control procedures that reflected published guidance.
  • Staff knew how to deal with emergencies. Appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were available.
  • The practice had systems to help them manage risk.
  • The practice had suitable safeguarding processes and staff knew their responsibilities for protecting adults and children.
  • The clinical staff provided patients’ care and treatment in line with current guidelines.
  • Staff treated patients with dignity and respect and took care to protect their privacy and personal information.
  • The practice had effective leadership. Staff felt involved and supported, and worked well as a team.
  • The practice asked staff and patients for feedback about the services they provided.
  • The practice dealt with complaints positively and efficiently.