TWO dentists examined by the health watchdog under a new inspection regime have been given glowing reports.

Church Street Dental Practice in Westhoughton and Crab Tree Lane Dental Practice in Atherton were two of the first dentists nationwide to undergo the new inspection by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

Since December the watchdog has been inspecting dental surgeries using inspectors who are accompanied by dental advisors.

Reports will be published online at cqc.org.uk and will focus on whether dental practices are safe, effective, caring, responsive and well led.

Inspectors said of Church Street Dental Practice: "The patients we spoke with were complimentary about the service.

"Patients told us that they found the staff to be extremely person-centred and felt they were treated with respect.

"Quality was high on the practice agenda."

And a similarly comprehensive inspection of Crab Tree Lane Dental Practice reported that patients were complimentary about the service.

Inspectors said: "Patients were treated with kindness and respect by staff.

"Communication with them and their families , and access to the service and to the dentists was reported as good."

Over the next 12 months, the CQC will inspect 10 per cent of England’s 10,000 dental practices.

Dentists will be randomly selected for inspection but the CQC will always include those practices that present a risk or concern raised by the public.

Prof Steve Field, chief inspector of Primary Medical Services, said: "We know that the quality of care provided by most dentists is of an acceptable standard, and that is reflected in this first batch of reports which we have published.

"In comparison with the other sectors which CQC regulate, our experience tells us that generally, dental services present a lower risk to patients’ safety.

“But however good the general picture, we cannot be complacent.

"In the first years of inspection, CQC did identify some examples of unacceptable standards of care.

"Our main priority must be to ensure that we protect the public from unsafe care by continuing to inspect against the regulations and taking action if we identify any concerns."