When we visited the dental practice at the Laindon Health Centre we found that they provided information to people using the service in leaflet and poster form. This covered the types of services they offered, the costs of the treatment and how to access emergency dental care.

When we spoke with people who used the service we found that they were given relevant information about their treatment before receiving it. This included a description of the treatment, the risks and benefits of it and the fees involved, whether NHS or private. They told us that they felt safe at the practice, that it was well led and met their needs.

One person said, "I have been coming here for years and they are excellent here. All the treatments are clearly explained and the cost is always made clear. I have recommended it to people I know."

The provider had good infection control practices and followed all relevant guidance. The surgeries were very clean and uncluttered.

The staff at the practice were very happy working there and felt supported in their training and career development. We found however, that no formal supervision or appraisal process took place and this is an area for improvement.

The practice undertook patient surveys and it was clear from the answers to their questionnaire that people using the service were satisfied with the service they provided.

There was no audit framework in place to gather information about the quality of the services they provided.