Teeth

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 20 October 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

Teeth is situated in the Oakwood area of Leeds, West Yorkshire. It offers private dental treatment to patients of all ages. The services include preventative advice and treatment and routine restorative dental care.

The practice has two surgeries, a decontamination room, a waiting area and a reception area. The practice is located up a flight of stairs above a row of shops. The reception area, waiting area and main surgery are located on the first floor. The hygienist surgery is located on the second floor.

There is one dentist, one dental hygiene therapist, three dental nurses and three receptionists.

The opening hours are Monday to Friday from 8-30am to 5-00pm. They are closed for lunch between 12-30pm and 1-30pm.

The principal dentist is registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) as an individual. 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.

During the inspection we spoke with four patients who used the service and reviewed 50 completed CQC comment cards. The patients were positive about the care and treatment they received at the practice. Comments included staff were professional, friendly and reassuring. They also commented the practice is clean, hygienic, and safe and the appointment system met their needs.

Our key findings were:

• The practice was visibly clean and uncluttered.
• The practice had some systems in place to assess and manage risks to patients and staff including health and safety and the management of medical emergencies.
• Staff were qualified and had received training appropriate to their roles.
• Patients were involved in making decisions about their treatment and were given clear explanations about their proposed treatment including costs, benefits and risks.
• Dental care records showed that treatment was planned in line with current best practice guidelines.
• Oral health advice and treatment were provided in-line with the ‘Delivering Better Oral Health’ toolkit (DBOH).
• We observed that patients were treated with kindness and respect by staff.
• Staff ensured there was sufficient time to explain fully the care and treatment they were providing in a way patients understood.
• The practice had a complaints system in place and there was an openness and transparency in how these were dealt with.
• Patients were able to make routine and emergency appointments when needed.
• The practice did not have a process in place to ensure all equipment was serviced regularly.
• Some of the recommendations in the Legionella risk assessment had not been implemented.

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

• Review the practice’s infection control procedures and protocols giving due regard to guidelines issued by the Department of Health - Health Technical Memorandum 01-05: Decontamination in primary care dental practices and The Health and Social Care Act 2008: ‘Code of Practice about the prevention and control of infections and related guidance.
• Review the current legionella risk assessment and implement the required actions including the monitoring and recording of water temperatures, giving due regard to the guidelines issued by the Department of Health - Health Technical Memorandum 01-05: Decontamination in primary care dental practices and The Health and Social Care Act 2008: ‘Code of Practice about the prevention and control of infections and related guidance
• Review the practice’s process to ensure all equipment is serviced on a regular basis.
• Review the procedures in relation to the X-ray machine in the hygienist surgery and decommission the unit if not being used.