People that we spoke with on the day of our visit told us that treatment was well explained and that choices about treatment were given where appropriate. For example, in the colour of materials used in orthodontic braces.

Due to the fact that people undergoing treatment were predominantly of school age, we heard that there were challenges in relation to arranging appointments. However, one parent commented that they had been able to rearrange an appointment without difficulty when it had clashed with a school exam. Another person told us that they had been seen straight away for an urgent issue.

We saw that processes for decontamination and sterilisation met with the requirements of the Health Technical Memorandum 01-05 (HTM). This is the guidance that all dentists must follow to ensure that there practice is safe and minimises the risks of cross infection. We also saw that people using the service would be protected because staff were trained in first aid and were aware of their responsibilities to safeguard children and vulnerable adults.