The Care Quality Commission
  • Dentist
  • Dentist

Start-Smiling

5 Market Place, Ingatestone, Essex, CM4 0BY (01277) 353456

Provided and run by:
Start-Smiling

Important: The provider of this service changed. See old profile

All Inspections

During an assessment under our new approach

We carried out this announced on-site inspection on 27 August 2025.

We found the practice had met 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.

Start-Smiling is in Ingatestone, Essex and provides 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 2 principal dentists, 2 dental nurses, 2 trainee dental nurses, 2 dental hygienists, 3 receptionists and the practice manager who also worked at a sister practice. The practice offered dental sedation which was provided by 2 external sedation companies. We gathered feedback from staff and spoke to a range of staff during our inspection, including 1 dentist, 2 dental nurses, 1 dental hygienist, 2 receptionists and the practice manager.

12 May 2015

During a routine inspection

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 12 May 2015.

Start Smiling provides private, general dental services to patients of all ages. The team at the practice included two dentists, and a practice manager who supports the registered manager to deliver the practice’s administration and clinical governance systems. There are also four dental nurses, all working on a part-time basis on a rota. There are two hygienists and two receptionists at the practice. The practice is open Monday 9.00am to 7.00pm, Tuesday to Thursday 9.00am to 6.00pm and Friday 09.00am to 1.00pm.

The practice is housed in a converted residential property and is spread across two floors. There are three treatment rooms. The reception and waiting area are on the ground floor along with a dedicated decontamination room and patient toilet. The practice is accessible to patients with restricted mobility as treatment can be carried out in the ground floor treatment room.

One of the dentists 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.

During our inspection we spoke with two patients and reviewed 23 comments cards, which patients had completed in the week before our visit. All patients commented positively about the care and treatment they had received and the friendly, polite and professional staff. A number of patients commented on the discussions they had with the dentist about their care and treatment and how they felt listened to and were made to feel relaxed.

We found that this practice was providing safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Our key findings were:

  • The practice provided a clean well equipped environment.
  • Where mistakes had been made patients were notified about the outcome of any investigation and given a suitable apology.
  • There was promotion of patient education to ensure good oral health.
  • The appointment system met the needs of patients and waiting times were kept to a minimum.
  • The practice had an accessible and visible leadership team. Staff on duty told us they felt supported by the leadership team.
  • Governance systems were effective and there was a range of clinical and non-clinical audits to monitor the quality of services.

The practice sought feedback from staff and patients about the services they provided.