The BDA’s Good Practice Scheme is a practical tool to help practices comply with currently accepted standards of good practice. The following ten-point commitment is at the heart of the Good Practice Scheme:

1. We aim to provide dental care of consistently good quality for all patients

2. We only provide care that meets your needs and wishes

3. We aim to make your treatment as comfortable and convenient as possible

4. We look after your general health and safety while receiving dental care

5. We follow current guidelines on infection control

6. We check for mouth cancer and tell you what we find

7. We take part in continuing professional development to keep our skills and knowledge up-to-date

8. We train all staff in practice-wide work systems and review training plans once a year

9. We welcome feedback and deal promptly with any complaints

10. Every member of the practice is aware of the need to work safely under General Dental Council guidelines

Each point relates to a section in the practice self-assessment programme which takes the dental team on a practice management journey. The self-assessment encourages the team to reflect on current practice and develop practice policies and processes in line with accepted professional standards and governance.

Dental teams joining the Good Practice Scheme can use this ten-point commitment as a 'quality statement'. It can be embedded in a practice manual for staff as well as in patient information literature.

To order the self-assessment programme, please contact the Good practice team on 0207 563 4598 (£200 for BDA members, £400 for non-members) or download an application form.