We are British Dental Association Accredited

Every dental practice wants to do the best for their patients. The Good Practice Scheme helps practices to be aware of the nationally agreed standards of good practice. By meeting the requirements of the scheme, dental practices aim to provide the best care for their patients. At Smilecare we believe in this BDA philosophy of good practice and we are very proud to have been awarded their merit by conforming to the standards expected of this recognised award.

As these nationally agreed standards of good practice change, or are added to, the Good Practice Scheme will be amended to include these changes. This means that we will be encouraged to keep up to date and provide the best care for our patients. 

To participate in the Scheme we have had to: 

• carefully look at the service that we provide for patients and compare it against nationally recognised standards of good practice for patient care. There are 96 aspects that have to be checked
• prepare a dossier about the practice to show that we were meeting the Good Practice Scheme's requirements. The BDA asked to see parts of the dossier before the practice could join the Scheme 
• agree to let Good Practice Scheme inspectors visit the practice whenever they want to
• continue to carry out our own internal checks on working methods

Our membership lasts for three years; at the end of this time we will have to reapply and demonstrate that we are still complying with nationally recognised standards of good practice. By displaying the current year on the Good Practice plaque, the practice shows that Scheme membership is up to date.

Good Practice and Communication

Good communication between practice members and our patients is the heart of good practice and the Scheme encourages dentists to discuss and agree treatment plans with their patients.

To be part of the Good Practice Scheme all members of the dental team will have made this commitment:

• We provide dental care of a consistently high standard for all patients. We have management systems to help us and these define each practice member's responsibilities when looking after you 
• We will work with you to provide care that meets your needs and wishes. We will explain options, where appropriate, and costs so that you can make an informed choice. We will always explain what we are proposing to do and tell you about any significant risks 
• Practice working methods are reviewed regularly at staff meetings. We encourage staff to make suggestions for improving the way we care for our patients
• We look after your general health and safety while receiving dental care. We will ask you about your general health and about any medicines that you are taking. This helps us to treat you safely. We keep all information about you confidential
• nfection control and cleanliness is also essential to the safety of our patients. All staff working in clinical practice receive training on the current standards of infection control 
• We screen all patients for mouth cancer at routine checkups. We discuss tobacco and alcohol use because they increase your oral cancer risk
• All staff in the practice take part in continuing professional education to keep our skills and knowledge up-to-date 
• All staff joining the practice are given training in practice procedures. Once a year there is an individual review of training needs for everyone in the practice 
• We regularly ask patients for their views on our services. We have systems for dealing promptly with patient complaints and for ensuring that lessons are learnt from any mistakes that we make. We encourage feedback 
• Every member of the practice is aware of the need to work safely under General Dental Council guidelines.