Dental practices

How we inspect

We look at how NHS dental practices:

• Meet the Health and Care Quality Standards 2023
• Comply with the Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations (IR(ME)R) 2017 (as amended)
• Meet other relevant professional standards and guidance such as the General Dental Council Standards for the Dental Team and WHTM 01-05 - Decontamination in primary care dental practices and community dental services.

Our inspections of NHS dental practices are usually announced. Services usually receive up to twelve weeks notice of an inspection.

Our inspections are carried out by a HIW inspector and an external reviewer (a dentist) who has recent experience of working within dentistry.

The findings from our inspections are published to our website.

If you would like a copy of our inspection workbooks please contact HIW.Inspections@gov.wales quoting which type of inspection workbook you require.