The purpose of this inspection was to find out answers to five key questions. Is the service caring? Is the service responsive? Is the service safe? Is the service effective? Is the service well led?

Below is a summary of what we found. The summary is based on our observations during the inspection when we sought information about people's experience and gained views from people who used the service, their relatives, the staff who supported them and from looking at records.

We spoke with the practice manager, two dentists, two dental nurses and two receptionists and the decontamination assistant. In addition we had the opportunity to ask six people, who attended the practice during our visit, about their care and treatment.

If you want to see the evidence supporting our summary please read the full report.

Is the service caring?

Everyone we met spoke positively about the staff at the practice describing them as “Friendly and competent”, “Friendly and straight to the point” and “Really nice people”. People told us the dentist explained different treatment options to them including the costs for treatment. They all said they were asked to give verbal consent to treatment. We looked at the computerised records for four people who attended the practice. They recorded people’s personal details and medical history along with clinical notes and charts to record the treatments they had.

Clinical notes showed there had been a check of people’s gum health and soft tissue. Where treatment was provided there was a description of the need for treatment, a record that the person had given consent and the type of treatment they had chosen. When anaesthetic was used the type, dose and expiry date were recorded. There were similar records when products were used for fillings or impression taking.

Is the service responsive?

Appointments were available each day for emergency appointments.

Staff completed training in dealing with medical emergencies and Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR). Emergency medicines, oxygen and an automatic external defibrillator were kept as recommended by the Resuscitation Council UK.

Is the service safe?

The people we spoke with said they felt safe at the practice and gave the reason for this. One person said staff were “Professionals and know what they are doing” and another person said it was because they were “Put at ease” and that staff were “Friendly and professional”. One person we spoke with said it was because they had “Never had cause not to feel safe” and they were “Happy to rely on the dentist’s diagnosis”.

The premises were well maintained.

Is the service effective?

One of the partners in the business and the practice manager told us the practice referred people to other ‘specialist’ service providers for complicated endodontic treatments (root canal fillings) and orthodontics (tooth alignment).

One of the dentists at this practice performed minor oral surgery. The providers other practices referred people to the Abbotswood Practice if they needed such treatment. Sometimes people were referred to the dental hospital in Bristol.

Is the service well led?

The practice manager, who also managed the providers other practices in Yate and Winterbourne, showed us how they were in the process of updating the policies folder. The folders were divided into sections to match the ‘Essential Standards of Quality and Safety’. These were produced by the Care Quality Commission as guidance to providers of regulated services about how to comply with the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2010.

When we looked at the policies folder, we saw that the manager was gathering evidence so they were able to demonstrate compliance.

People were cared for by staff who were supported to deliver care and treatment safely and to an appropriate standard.

We spoke with one person who was new to the practice and was attending as an emergency, they told us:”I rang this morning for an emergency appointment and was fitted in, I was very pleased as I thought I may have to wait days to be seen”. They said; “I think the examination has been very through and so far it’s all excellent”. We asked people if they were given explanation of their treatment, they told us “the dentist explains my treatment and uses the X-Rays to show me the problem and explain things in detail”. People that we spoke with told us that the dentists always made them aware of the costs of their treatment and what was covered under each band of the NHS fees.