The Dental Practice

On this page

• Overview
• Learning culture
• Safe systems, pathways and transitions
• Safeguarding
• Involving people to manage risks
• Safe environments
• Safe and effective staffing
• Infection prevention and control
• Medicines optimisation

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

The provider had made improvements in relation to the regulatory breaches we found at our assessment on 7 March 2025.

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

The judgement for Learning culture is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Safe key question.

The judgement for Safe systems, pathways and transitions is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Safe key question.

The judgement for Safeguarding is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Safe key question.

The judgement for Involving people to manage risks is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Safe key question.

At the assessment on 7 March 2025 we found the practice had made the following improvements to comply with the regulation.

At this inspection, we saw that the practice had taken appropriate steps to declutter areas within the practice to remove unnecessary items. For example, the disused autoclave in the decontamination room was no longer there; historic patient records were processed, bagged and awaiting collection from a confidential waste disposal service.

We looked at evidence which confirmed the practice sought advice from the radiation protection advisor (RPA) in relation to the safety of the Xray equipment. Response from the RPA indicated that current arrangements provided sufficient protection to employees and members of the public.

We saw risk assessments for hazardous substances and safety data sheets were retained and could be easily accessed by all members of staff.

The practice risk management system now included a sharps risk assessment. However, this could be improved to ensure it detailed the reason/s why traditional reusable local anaesthetic systems were still in use at the practice.

At the previous inspection on 10 October 2024, we identified that the provider had failed to address recommendations of the most recent fire risk assessment. When we undertook the follow up inspection, we saw that smoke detectors were now fitted in each area of the practice and checked weekly by one of the fire marshals. There were now records of weekly and monthly fire safety checks for firefighting equipment. We noted that the practice had yet to install emergency lighting or an alarm system - the dentist told us this was in their medium to long term plans.

The judgement for Safe and effective staffing is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Safe key question.

The judgement for Infection prevention and control is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Safe key question.

The judgement for Medicines optimisation is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Safe key question.