When we inspected on 8 October 2013, we saw that the provider's decontamination room (where dental instruments were cleaned and sterilised) did not have a separate wash hand basin, in line with Department of Health guidance. We asked the provider to take action.

When we inspected again on 19 December 2013, we saw that the provider had installed a separate wash hand basin in the decontamination room and that the installation had incorporated Department of Health guidance.

Patients we spoke with told us they understood the care and treatment choices available to them. For more complicated treatments, patients were provided with a written treatment plan.

Care and treatment was planned and delivered in a way that was intended to ensure people’s safety and welfare. Patients spoke positively about the quality of care and treatment received. One patient person told us, “you can tell the dentists' take pride in what they do.”

None of the people we spoke with expressed concern about the safety of the environment where care and treatment was delivered. One patient described one of the dentists as, “very reassuring.”

Patients spoke positively about the cleanliness of the treatment room and overall environment. One patient told us, "it’s always clean but without feeling too clinical.” However, during our inspection, we saw that the provider had not conducted infection control audits in line with Department of Health Technical Memorandum 01-05 Decontamination in Primary Care Dental Practices “essential quality requirements” (HTM01-05). An audit was sent to us after our inspection but we saw that it contained inconsistencies.

The provider told us that they had a system in place to highlight patient medical conditions that might impact on dental treatment (e.g. a penicillin allergy). This meant that the provider had systems in place to ensure that patient’s medical records were accurate and fit for purpose.