Last updated: 28 October 2026 ยท Written by Laxmi Hanji, dental compliance consultant
The CQC dental mythbusters are a series of short guidance notes for dental practices. Each one clears up a common misunderstanding about what inspectors expect. They are some of the most useful documents the CQC produces for dentistry, but there are more than 30 of them, spread across several pages, and many practice teams have never read them.
This guide pulls the key points of the CQC dental mythbusters together. For each mythbuster we have summarised what it actually requires, with a link to the full CQC page. The official list is on the CQC’s mythbusters and tips for dentists page.
Safe
Mythbuster 41: COSHH
The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 apply to dental practices. You should not carry out work that could expose staff to hazardous substances until the risks have been assessed and reduced. If you have five or more staff, the risk assessment must be written down, and it should be reviewed regularly. COSHH does not cover lead, asbestos or radioactive substances, which have their own rules. Read mythbuster 41.
Mythbuster 29: Safeguarding adults, children and young people at risk
Every practice should have a designated safeguarding lead, and all staff need the right level of competence, including through face-to-face training. The GDC expects dental professionals to raise concerns when patients are at risk. A point many practices get wrong: you only need to notify the CQC when alleged abuse relates to your own regulated activity, not every time you make a referral to the local authority. Read mythbuster 29.
Mythbuster 35: Medicines management
Medicines must be stored securely, with access limited to authorised staff, and storage temperatures should be monitored. NHS prescriptions may only include medicines in the Dental Practitioners’ Formulary, written on form FP10D. Medicines dispensed to patients need proper labelling, including “keep out of the reach and sight of children”. Practices must act on MHRA safety alerts and report adverse reactions through the Yellow Card scheme. Read mythbuster 35.
Other safety mythbusters
- 42: Patient safety alerts
- 39: Direct-to-consumer orthodontics
- 38: Infection prevention and control (see our HTM 01-05 compliance guide)
- 36: Security of blank prescription forms
- 30: Laundering of protective clothing
- 26: Safe use of lasers
- 25: Sepsis
Effective
Mythbuster 23: Consent to dental treatment
Valid consent must be voluntary and informed, which means the patient has been told about the risks, benefits, alternatives and costs. Where capacity is in doubt, the two-stage test in the Mental Capacity Act 2005 applies. A child under 16 can consent if they are competent to do so, and a young person aged 16 or 17 can consent to dental treatment. Read mythbuster 23.
Mythbuster 17: Audit and improvement
This one tells you which audits the CQC treats as essential:
- Infection prevention and control audits against HTM 01-05, at least every six months
- Radiography audits under IRR17 and IR(ME)R 2017
- An accessibility audit under the Equality Act 2010
Antimicrobial prescribing and clinical record-keeping audits are described as desirable. Every audit should follow a full cycle, including a re-audit to check that changes worked. Read mythbuster 17.
Other effective mythbusters
- 33: Detecting oral cancer and improving outcomes in primary care
- 8: Dental care records
- 2: Keeping up to date for the dental practice team
Responsive
- 40: Caring for people with dementia in a dental practice
- 37: Therapy and assistance dogs in a dental practice
- 34: Complaints management
- 20: Using language professionals and interpreters, including British Sign Language
These are worth reading if you are reviewing access or your complaints process. Complaints in particular come up at almost every inspection.
Well-led
Mythbuster 27: Well-led?
The CQC says that most breaches of regulation in dental practices are found under the well-led key question. Well-led means your leadership, management and governance make sure care is high quality, support learning and promote an open, fair culture. Usefully, the mythbuster also confirms what you do not need: a written business strategy and a written modern slavery policy are not essential. Read mythbuster 27.
Mythbuster 22: CCTV in dental practices
Overt CCTV is acceptable in public areas such as reception, the waiting room and the car park. Cameras must not record toilets or changing areas, and must not capture private conversations in treatment rooms. Signs must be clear and prominent, explain why CCTV is used and give the operator’s name and contact details. Covert recording is not normally appropriate, and your CCTV must be managed in line with the Data Protection Act 2018 (see our GDPR guide for dental practices). Read mythbuster 22.
Mythbuster 21: Fire safety
The “responsible person” must carry out a fire risk assessment, review it regularly and keep a written record. The CQC expects this to be documented whatever the size of the practice. Staff need to know the fire risks, safety measures must be maintained, and there should be an emergency plan and training. Read mythbuster 21.
Mythbuster 19: Staff recruitment
The checks come from Schedule 3 of the 2014 Regulations. For every staff member you need proof of identity with a recent photo, a full employment history, relevant qualifications and professional registration, such as GDC registration. Clinical staff need evidence of Hepatitis B immunisation, including titre levels, and all clinical staff need a DBS check. For non-clinical staff, whether a DBS check is needed is decided case by case. Read mythbuster 19.
Other well-led mythbusters
- 32: Support and wellbeing of dentists and the dental team
- 16: Business continuity plans in primary care dental services
- 15: 24-hour retirement from an NHS contract and CQC registration
Five things the CQC dental mythbusters make clear
- Not everything needs a written policy. Inspectors look at whether your systems work and whether staff understand them. See our guide to dental practice policies and procedures.
- Audits must be completed, not just started. A re-audit closes the loop.
- Recruitment files are checked in detail. Missing references, ID or immunity records are a common finding.
- Fire risk assessments must be written down, even in small practices.
- Not every safeguarding referral needs a CQC notification, only those linked to your regulated activity.
The mythbusters tie in closely with the five key questions inspectors use. Our guide to the CQC key questions for dental practices explains each one, and our dental CQC inspection checklist turns them into a practical review.
Common questions
Are CQC dental mythbusters legal requirements?
Not in themselves. They are CQC guidance explaining how inspectors interpret the regulations. The legal requirements are in the regulations they refer to, but following the mythbusters is the clearest way to show you meet them.
How often are the mythbusters updated?
They are updated individually when guidance or law changes. Each page shows its own “last updated” date, so check the CQC site before relying on a summary.
If you would like help turning the mythbusters into practical systems for your team, see our CQC compliance support or get in touch.
Summaries are based on the CQC mythbuster pages available in October 2026. Always read the full guidance on the CQC website.
