Smilecare Dental Centre

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.

Patients who completed feedback on the day of the inspection responded positively that they were given clear information to help them make an informed choice about their treatment and any associated costs; they were involved in decisions about their care; and when they were prescribed medicines, sufficient information was given.

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. The dentists confirmed, where applicable, they referred patients to a range of specialists in primary and secondary care for treatment the practice did not provide. Staff responded that they kept up to date with current evidence-based practice, however, we found areas where staff were not aware of current guidance, for example, around the use of antimicrobials and audits. The practice provided preventive care and supported patients to ensure better oral health. Staff were aware of national oral health campaigns and local schemes which supported patients to live healthier lives. Staff worked together and with other health and social care professionals to deliver effective care and treatment. Staff demonstrated their understanding of the need to obtain patients’ consent to care and treatment although we saw that this was not always in line with legislation and guidance. They 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.

Staff had the skills and experience to carry out their roles although improvements were required to ensure that dental professionals keep up to date with current evidence-based practice. The practice offered conscious sedation for patients. Improvements were required to ensure that the practice’s systems take into account guidance issued by the Dental Faculties of the Royal college of Surgeons and the Royal College of Anaesthetists. We saw that the documentation of medical histories, the process of consent, checks before and after treatment and emergency equipment requirements all required review. Following the assessment the provider told us they would review the provision of sedation. We saw the provision of dental implants was in accordance with national guidance. We looked at 12 patient care records. The information recorded in these patient care records was not in line with recognised guidance. We did not always see a current or updated medical history or a clearly documented diagnosis. Discussions of treatment options and advice were not always documented. We did not always see a clinical examination, disease risk assessment or reference to consent. Staff understood their responsibilities under the Mental Capacity Act 2005. We saw evidence the dentists did not always justify, grade or report on the radiographs they took. Following the assessment the practice implemented a new system of clinical records which will provide ease of documenting patient care ensuring it takes account national guidance. The practice had systems for the safe handling of medicines. Staff worked together and with other health and social care professionals to deliver effective care and treatment. The practice had systems for referring patients with suspected cancer under the national two-week wait arrangements.

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.