Component 1 – Denplan Quality Programme
The Denplan Quality Programme is a compulsory component of the Denplan Excel Accreditation Programme and is designed to encourage on-going professional and practice development to face the changing Clinical Governance dental regulations as well as meet patient expectations. To maintain Denplan Excel Accreditation, dentists are re-validated every 18 months by trained Dental Advisors.
The Denplan Quality Programme is based on a list of ‘Essential’ items or procedures that your practice must comply with. Some of these are legal or statutory requirements, while others are considered by professional consensus to form part of good practice recommendations.
‘Essential’ items cover:
- Infection control and decontamination
- The Environmental Protection Act
- Ionising Radiation Regulations
- Management of patient collapse
- Record keeping
- Complaints handling
- Professional indemnity
- Post-graduate education
- Out-of-hours emergency service
Component 2 – The Business Development Patient Survey
The patient survey, which is conducted every three years after accreditation, is run by an independent market research agency which issues questionnaires to practices and analyses results on their behalf. Dentists are given the results for their own practice as well as a national benchmark score for comparative purposes.
The process is undertaken in accordance with the Data Protection Act and individual responses are confidential.
Survey results are inclusive – bringing you significant cost savings (typical independent survey costs £2,000 + VAT at the prevailing rate).
Component 3 – Patient Information
Patient Information not only reminds patients of accreditation but also supports the practice team by clearly explaining the care and treatment they are providing them. It includes specific information for children and their parents.
The resources come in the form of leaflets and promotional materials.
Patient Information leaflets (in association with the British Dental Health Foundation) provide clear and easily understandable information about many different types of oral care and treatment.
Accreditation promotional material – once you have achieved Denplan Excel Accreditation you will receive a high-quality accreditation plaque to display outside your practice and a certificate, which is re-issued every 18 months to display in your reception area.
In-practice posters, a Public Relations PR Tool Kit and patient brochures are also available to help you promote the accreditation to your patients and the local community.
Component 4 – Oral Heath Score © (OHS ©)
The OHS © is an innovative system for methodically reviewing the health of a patient’s teeth and mouth. This gives you a consistent base against which you can measure the effectiveness of your care over time.
The system prompts you to undertake a defined set of oral assessments, including periodontal status and mucosal health, which are strongly recommended by leading professional authorities.
Six reasons to use the OHS ©
- It provides a simple framework for a full clinical examination and leaves evidence that it has happened
- It provides focused communication about oral health issues with patients and leaves evidence that it has happened
- It supports communication between you and your patients about their oral health and makes agreement more likely
- It’s an excellent risk management tool
- It helps demonstrate value for money
- It’s an invaluable audit tool which can effectively measure performance in promoting and maintaining oral health
Component 5 - Oral Health Score for Children © (OHS © for children)
The children’s version of the OHS © is also an innovative methodology for reviewing the oral health of your younger patient’s teeth and mouth, giving you a consistent base against which you can measure the effectiveness of your care over time.
The system acts as a prompt for you to undertake a defined assessment of your younger patients’ mouths.
The oral assessment looks at eight factors:
- Active caries
- Oral cleanliness
- Gingival health
- Erosion
- Trauma
- Malocclusion
- Aesthetics
- Sepsis
These factors are weighted in three bands according to the patient’s age:
- 0 to 5 years
- 6 to 11 years
- 12 to 18 years
Component 6 - Oral Wellbeing Score for Children © (OWS © for children)
The OWS © for Children focuses on your younger patients’ or their parents’ perceptions of their oral health and their willingness to adopt good oral health behaviours.
The OWS © for Children is completed by the patient and/or the parent, depending on their age, in reception before their appointment with the dentist. The system acts as a prompt for patients and/or their parents to really think about how they feel about their oral care.
It covers:
- Dental anxiety
- Dental health awareness
- Dental health quality of life
- Dental health confidence
The OWS © for Children follows the same age bands as the OHS© for Children:
- 0 to 5 years
- 6 to 11 years
- 12 to 18 years
The OWS © for Children and the OHS© for Children can be easily communicated to the parent and/or the patient in a way that can be easily understood and therefore hold meaning, and demonstrating improvements in oral health over time.
Component 7 – Educational and CPD programme
This ongoing educational programme of CPD provides a great educational opportunity for you and your practice team. Through reading articles and answering a series of questions, you will earn verifiable CPD hours and further your understanding of paediatric dentistry. This programme will:
- Improve knowledge and experience in children’s dentistry for all practice staff
- Give you and your staff the chance to earn verifiable CPD hours
- Keep you up to date with the latest research in the field of paediatric dentistry
