The Care Quality Commission
  • Dentist
  • Dentist

Smile Lounge Dental Practice

489 Green Lanes, Palmers Green, London, N13 4BS

Provided and run by:
Dr. Hiten Joshi

All Inspections

During an assessment under our new approach

We carried out this on-site announced assessment on 29 November 2024. We found the practice had met all regulations. Recruitment procedures reflected current legislation and there was effective leadership and a culture of continuous improvement. Patients were treated with dignity and respect and at the time of our assessment, could access care, support and treatment when required. Patients’ care and treatment was provided in line with current guidance and infection control procedures were in place. The practice had systems to manage risks. This service is registered with CQC under the Health and Social Care Act 2008 in respect of some, but not all, of the services it provides. There are some exemptions from regulation by CQC which relate to particular types of regulated activities and services, and these are set out in Schedule 1 and Schedule 2 of The Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. The service provides non-surgical cosmetic treatments, some of which are not in-scope such as certain facial aesthetics procedures. Therefore, our assessment does not include the services that are not in-scope. Smile Lounge Dental Practice is in Palmers Green, in the London Borough of Enfield and provides NHS and private dental care and treatment for adults and children. There was step-free access to the practice and car parking spaces, including dedicated parking for disabled people, were available near the practice. The practice had 2 treatment rooms. During the assessment we spoke with the principal dentist, the dental nurse, the receptionist and the compliance manager.

27 March 2014

During a routine inspection

We carried out this inspection to check that the provider had taken action to address an area of non-compliance identified at our inspection of 26 July 2013. At that inspection we had found that the provider's systems designed to assess the risk of and to prevent, detect and control the spread of a health care associated infection were not effective. There was no separate sink for hand washing in the decontamination room.

In March 2014, the provider told us that by 31 March 2014 he would endeavour to arrange a separate hand washing sink to be installed, and if not he would forward an action plan.

At this inspection we identified that the separate hand washing sink had not yet been installed. However, we spoke with the provider who advised that the matter was in hand and the sink was to be installed during the week of our inspection. Following our visit the provider wrote to us to confirm that the separate hand washing sink had been installed and was operative.

26 July 2013

During a routine inspection

Patients told us they were happy with the service. One patient said, 'My overall impression is very good. They listen to what you want and are very professional.' Another patient said, 'I'm pleased, the service is good, it's a nice environment and it's clean.'

Patients told us they were treated in confidence and respectfully. One patient said, 'I was given all the information I needed.' Another patient said, 'They are always good here when I come.' The treatment plans we saw contained clear information for patients and had been signed by them. Relevant health information had been obtained. Staff had been provided with a range of relevant training. Patients had been asked to give their views via a patient survey.

The dental surgery was clean and tidy. There were records confirming that the decontamination steriliser had been serviced regularly and that daily checks were being undertaken. We saw that clinical audits and a decontamination audit had been carried out and that areas for development had been identified However, there was no dedicated sink for hand hygiene in the decontamination room which could mean that patients and staff were at risk from possible risks of infection as a result.