Meeting CQC Oral Health Requirements

CQC inspectors increasingly scrutinise how care homes manage residents’ oral health. The NICE guideline NG48 sets clear expectations: care homes should provide oral health assessments for all residents on admission, maintain individual oral care plans, ensure staff are trained in oral health, and arrange access to dental services. Falling short in these areas can negatively impact your CQC rating.

Our documentation service helps your care home meet and exceed these requirements. We provide comprehensive, professionally written dental records that integrate directly into your care planning systems.

What We Provide

Individual oral health assessments: Following each resident examination, we produce a written oral health assessment that can be placed in the resident’s care file. This covers the condition of teeth, gums, dentures, soft tissues, and any treatment needs.

Treatment records: Detailed records of any treatment provided, including clinical findings, procedures carried out, materials used, and aftercare advice given.

Oral care plans: Personalised daily mouth care plans for each resident, detailing what care is needed, how it should be delivered, and any special considerations (such as residents who resist mouth care or have swallowing difficulties).

Referral letters: If a resident needs specialist treatment, we provide a professional referral letter to the appropriate service.

CQC-ready summaries: Summary reports showing the dental activity across your home — how many residents have been seen, treatments provided, and outstanding needs. Ideal evidence for CQC inspections.

Supporting Your CQC Inspection

When CQC inspectors visit, they look for evidence that oral health is actively managed in your home. Key areas they assess include whether residents have had an oral health assessment on admission, whether individual oral care plans are in place and followed, whether staff have received oral health training, whether residents have access to dental services, and whether dental concerns are identified and acted upon promptly.

Our documentation directly addresses each of these areas. Many care homes we work with have received positive feedback from CQC specifically regarding their oral health documentation and processes.

How It Works

Documentation is provided as part of our care home dental visits — there’s no separate fee for paperwork. When we see a resident, we document everything and provide copies to the care home. Reports are typically delivered within 48 hours of the visit and can be provided in print or digital format to suit your record-keeping system.

For homes looking for a comprehensive package, our annual partnership includes regular dental clinics, staff training, emergency cover, and full documentation support — giving you everything you need for CQC compliance in one service.