Is cosmetic dentistry available on the NHS?

Not usually. Whitening, composite bonding, veneers and Invisalign are private treatments: NHS inform explains that procedures which are cosmetic or aesthetic in nature are usually only available privately. Invisalign is private at any age, so free NHS dental care for under-26s does not cover it. Fillings are one of the NHS treatments we provide for patients registered with us, and we'll always tell you before any treatment whether it's NHS or private, and what it costs. In Scotland you can mix NHS and private care: many of our patients keep their check-ups and routine care on the NHS and have cosmetic treatment privately.

Can I spread the cost of cosmetic treatment?

Yes. 0% finance is available on private treatment from £250 up to £5,000, repaid by monthly Direct Debit over 6, 9, 10, 11 or 12 months. Treatment plans over £5,000 can be part-financed. The Practice Plan's 15% member discount does not apply to cosmetic treatment or Invisalign.

Should I whiten my teeth before composite bonding?

If you want whiter teeth, usually yes. Whitening only lightens natural enamel, so bonding, veneers, crowns and white fillings keep the shade they were made in. Whitening first means the bonding can be matched to your new shade. If you already have crowns, veneers or white fillings at the front, your dentist plans around them so nothing ends up mismatched.

Can I see what my new smile will look like before treatment?

Depending on the case, yes. Digital smile design shows the new smile on screen first, and for bonding or veneers it can be placed over your teeth as a temporary trial smile. For Invisalign, the plan built from a 3D scan shows how your teeth are expected to move before you commit.

Is cosmetic treatment permanent?

It varies. Whitening is not permanent: results commonly last a year or more, but tea, coffee, red wine and smoking bring staining back sooner, and top-up gel in your existing trays refreshes the shade. Bonding commonly lasts several years and leaves your enamel largely untouched; it can stain or chip, but is straightforward to repair. Veneers commonly last ten years or more with good care, but preparing a tooth usually removes a thin layer of enamel, so that tooth will always need a veneer or similar covering. After Invisalign, retainers help keep your teeth where the aligners moved them.

Cosmetic Dentistry in Edinburgh

Q: Is there a charge for a cosmetic consultation?

No. A consultation for whitening, composite bonding, veneers, smile design, Invisalign or facial aesthetics is free. We take a deposit when you book, under our Failure to Attend policy, and it is refunded when you attend; we confirm the amount when you book. A free consultation is an initial consultation, not a full dental examination. If you need or want a full examination, it is charged at our published private fee: £85 for new patients and £55 for existing patients, x-rays included. NHS examinations are free for NHS patients of the practice.

Cosmetic Dentistry in Edinburgh: Your Options and Prices

Cosmetic dentistry changes how your teeth look: their colour, shape, size or position. At City Dental Care on Earl Grey Street, the main options are home teeth whitening £350, composite bonding from £175 per tooth for edge bonding or from £350 per tooth for full bonding, porcelain veneers from £650 per tooth, and Invisalign clear aligners from £1,900 for one arch (Invisalign Lite) or from £3,499 for both (Invisalign Full).

Digital smile design is the planning stage that links them. Photographs and a 3D scan of your teeth are used to design the new smile on screen, so you can see it, and change it, before anything is done. The design is part of planning your treatment and is quoted with it.

The right plan is often the least invasive one that still gets the result you want. Straightening and whitening before a little bonding can get there with less treatment than veneers on every tooth. Because veneers usually mean removing a thin layer of enamel, which is permanent, we recommend them only when they are genuinely the right answer.

Start with a consultation. A consultation for whitening, bonding, veneers, smile design, Invisalign or facial aesthetics is free. We take a deposit when you book, under our Failure to Attend policy, and it is refunded when you attend; we confirm the amount when you book. A free consultation is an initial consultation, not a full dental examination. Whitening, bonding, veneers and Invisalign are private treatments, and 0% finance is available on private treatment from £250 up to £5,000.

Which Treatment Fits What You Want to Change?

A rough guide, with starting prices from our price list. Your dentist will confirm what suits your teeth at the consultation. For what affects the price, see the teeth whitening cost guide, composite bonding cost guide, porcelain veneers cost guide and Invisalign cost guide.

Dull teeth or surface stains from tea, coffee, red wine or smoking: start with stain removal. A private hygiene appointment (£65) or Guided Biofilm Therapy (£110) removes surface stains, and for many people that is enough on its own.
Teeth that are naturally yellower or darker: home whitening, £350, lightens the natural colour of your teeth, and most patients whiten over around two weeks. Crowns, veneers and white fillings keep their current shade.
Chipped edges, small gaps or uneven lengths: composite bonding, from £175 per tooth, usually in a single visit and usually without drilling.
Heavily worn, discoloured or mismatched front teeth: porcelain veneers, from £650 per tooth, made individually by a ceramist.
Crowded, rotated or gappy teeth: Invisalign clear aligners, from £1,900, typically taking around 6 to 18 months.
A silver filling you would rather were tooth-coloured: white composite fillings, from £99.75. Swapping a sound filling for appearance is private, and your dentist talks through the trade-offs first; a worn or cracked filling can be replaced on the NHS or privately.
Several of these, or not sure: digital smile design plans the whole smile first.

What Happens at a Cosmetic Consultation

A check of your teeth and gums, so any decay or gum problem is picked up before cosmetic treatment.
A conversation about what you want to change, with photographs and a scan where the plan needs them.
A written, itemised plan and price. Nothing starts until you have agreed it.
It is an initial consultation, not a full dental examination - if your teeth are due a check-up, book an examination as well.

Consultations for whitening, bonding, veneers, smile design, Invisalign and facial aesthetics are free. We take a deposit when you book, under our Failure to Attend policy, and it is refunded when you attend; we confirm the amount when you book. A free consultation is an initial consultation, not a full dental examination. If you need or want a full examination, it is charged at our published private fee: £85 for new patients and £55 for existing patients, x-rays included. NHS examinations are free for NHS patients of the practice. You can see results for our own patients, shown with their consent, in our smile gallery. Consultations are available until 8pm Monday to Thursday, and until 5pm on Friday.

Book a Cosmetic Consultation