Anterior Dental Care

We carried out this announced inspection on 10 August 2021 under section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. We planned the inspection to check whether the registered provider was meeting the legal requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated regulations. The inspection was led by a Care Quality Commission, (CQC), inspector who was supported by a specialist dental adviser.

To get to the heart of patients’ experiences of care and treatment, we asked the following three questions:

• Is it safe?

• Is it effective?

• Is it well-led?

These questions form the framework for the areas we look at during the inspection.

Our findings were:

Are services safe?

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

Are services effective?

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

Are services well-led?

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

Background

Anterior Dental Care is based in Kettering town centre and provides private treatment for adults and children. The dental team includes five dentists, ten dental nurses, three hygienists, a practice manager and reception staff. The practice has six treatment rooms.

There is ramp access to the premises for wheelchair users, and an accessible toilet.

The practice is owned by a company and as a condition of registration must have a person registered with the CQC as the registered manager. Registered managers 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 registered manager at Anterior Dental Care is one of the dentists, although at the time of our inspection, the provider was in the process of applying to change this to the practice manager.

The practice is open on Mondays to Fridays from 8am to 8pm.

During the inspection we spoke with the practice manager, one dentist, one hygienist, two dental nurses and the lead receptionist. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.

Our key findings were:

• The provider had infection control procedures which reflected published guidance.
• The provider had systems to help them manage risk to patients and staff.
• The provider had safeguarding processes and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.
• Clinical staff provided patients’ care and treatment in line with current guidelines.
• The provider dealt with complaints positively and efficiently.
• The appointment system took account of patients’ needs, with the practice opening from 8 a.m. to 8p.m.
• The provider had staff recruitment procedures which reflected current legislation.
• Staff felt involved and supported and worked as a team.
• The provider had effective leadership and a culture of continuous improvement.

There were areas where the provider could make improvements. They should:

• Implement an effective system for monitoring and recording the fridge temperature to ensure that medicines and dental care products are being stored in line with the manufacturer’s guidance.

• Undertake a sharps’ risk assessment to ensure the practice is in compliance with the Health and Safety (Sharp Instruments in Healthcare) Regulations 2013.