Dentalcare Hook

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.

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.

The provider had systems to ensure that people who used the service received person-centred, 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 dental implants. Staff obtained full consent, kept detailed records and had access to the appropriate equipment for the placement of implants.

The clinical dental technician ensured that all patients had been referred appropriately by a dentist prior to completing examinations and assessments.

We looked at a sample of patient care records. The information recorded in these patient care records was in line with recognised guidance. Staff obtained patients’ consent for treatment in line with legislation and guidance and understood their responsibilities under the Mental Capacity Act 2005. Staff described how they involved patients’ relatives or carers when appropriate and made sure they had enough time to explain treatment options clearly.

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

Where applicable, patients were referred to primary and secondary care specialists for treatment the practice did not provide. This included referring patients with suspected cancer under the national faster diagnostic pathways.

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

The practice had systems for appropriate and safe management of medicines. The practice should improve the security of NHS prescription pads by ensuring there are effective systems in place to track and monitor their use. On the day we saw a log was in place but we were not assured that it would identify if a prescription or pad went missing.

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.