We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 20 May 2016 to ask the practice the following key questions; Are services safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led?

Our findings were:

Are services safe?

We found that this practice was providing safe care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services effective?

We found that this practice was providing effective care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services caring?

We found that this practice was providing caring services in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services responsive?

We found that this practice was providing responsive care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services well-led?

We found that this practice was providing well-led care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Background

Titchfield Dental practice is a private dental practice located in premises close to the centre of Mansfield Woodhouse. There is car parking available to the front of the practice and this includes disabled parking. The practice had six treatment rooms, three of which were on the ground floor.

The practice was first registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in November 2014. The practice provides regulated dental services to both adults and children. The practice provides mostly private treatment (95%). Services provided include general dentistry, dental hygiene, crowns and bridges, and root canal treatment.

The practice’s opening hours are - Monday: 8:30am to 5pm; Tuesday: 8:30am to 6pm; Wednesday: 8am to 5pm; Thursday: 8:30am to 5pm; Friday: 8:30am to 1:30pm. The practice is open one Saturday per month 8:30am to 12:30pm.

Access for urgent treatment outside of opening hours is by telephoning the practice and following the instructions on the answerphone message. Dentists at the practice provide an emergency out-of-hours service.

The principal dentist is the registered manager. A registered manager is a person who is registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the practice is run.

The practice has three dentists; one dental hygienist, two dental therapists; four qualified dental nurses; two trainee dental nurses; two receptionists and a practice manager.

We received positive feedback from 14 patients about the services provided. This was through CQC comment cards left at the practice prior to the inspection and by speaking with patients in the practice.

Our key findings were:

• Patients provided positive feedback about their experiences at the practice. Patients said they were treated with dignity and respect.
• The practice was well equipped and provided a relaxed atmosphere for patients.
• Dentists identified the different treatment options, and discussed these with patients.
• Patients’ confidentiality was maintained.
• The records showed that apologies had been given for any concerns or upset that patients had experienced at the practice.
• The practice followed the relevant guidance from the Department of Health's: ‘Health Technical Memorandum 01-05 (HTM 01-05) for infection control with regard to cleaning and sterilizing dental instruments.
• There was a whistleblowing policy accessible to all staff, who were aware of procedures to follow if they had any concerns.
• Records showed there were sufficient numbers of suitably qualified staff to meet the needs of patients.
• The practice had the necessary equipment for staff to deal with medical emergencies, and staff had been trained how to use that equipment. This included an automated external defibrillator, oxygen and emergency medicines.

There were areas where the provider could make improvements and should:

• Review the practice’s protocols for the use of rubber dam for root canal treatment giving due regard to guidelines issued by the British Endodontic Society.