Smile Dental Care Plymouth Also known as Smile Dental Care Group - Plymouth

On this page

• Overview
• Assessing needs
• Delivering evidence-based care and treatment
• How staff, teams and services work together
• Supporting people to live healthier lives
• Monitoring and improving outcomes
• Consent to care and treatment

We found this practice was providing effective care in accordance with the relevant regulations and had taken into consideration appropriate guidance.

However, while care itself was effective, our concerns relate to the governance and oversight of the systems that support this care.

Find out what we look at when we assess this area in our information about our new Single assessment framework.

The judgement for Assessing needs is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Effective key question.

We reviewed a selection of patient care records and identified areas for improvement. The practice did not have effective systems to ensure clinicians consistently followed national guidance. There was insufficient evidence that all clinicians understood or applied relevant clinical guidelines on prescribing and consent. Additionally, there was a lack of evidence that audits were used to drive improvement, or that interpreter services were offered to support valid consent where required.

The practice referred patients, including those with suspected cancer, to appropriate specialists. However, there was insufficient evidence to confirm that referrals and 28-day Faster Diagnosis Standard appointments were consistently sent and received.

The provider had systems to ensure that people who used the service received person-centered care and treatment, that was appropriate, met their needs and was reflective of their personal preferences. Preventive oral health care was encouraged.

Staff kept up-to-date with current evidence-based practice, and had the skills, knowledge and experience to carry out their roles.

The practice offered orthodontic treatment for patients. The orthodontist carried out a patient assessment in line with recognised guidance from the British Orthodontic Society.

We saw evidence the dentists justified, graded and reported on the radiographs they took.

The practice had systems for prescribing of medicines in line with current guidance. They carried out antimicrobial prescribing audits.

Staff felt the practice supported them to develop and enabled them to take on responsibilities.

The judgement for How staff, teams and services work together is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Effective key question.

The judgement for Supporting people to live healthier lives is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Effective key question.

The judgement for Monitoring and improving outcomes is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Effective key question.

The judgement for Consent to care and treatment is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Effective key question.