Dental Guides & Advice

Plain-English guides from the team at City Dental Care — written to answer the questions patients actually ask, honestly and without the sales pitch.

Children

Children's oral health in Scotland: why has improvement plateaued?

The latest inspection figures for Scotland's children, why two decades of progress levelled off after the pandemic, and five changes that could restart it.

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Porcelain veneers

How much do porcelain veneers cost in Edinburgh?

From £650 per tooth - why veneers are priced per tooth, what decides the total, how veneers compare with bonding, and why preparing a tooth is permanent.

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Access

Seeing a dentist after work: what our booking data shows

More than half the people we wrote to clicked between 3pm and 9pm, and five in six would rather book than ring. What that says about evening appointments, and what to check before you register anywhere.

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Emergencies

Toothache or dental emergency? What to do tonight in Edinburgh

First aid for toothache, knocked-out and broken teeth, lost fillings and swelling - what to do now, what can wait, when to call 111 or 999, and how same-day appointments work.

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Wisdom teeth

Wisdom teeth: when do they need removing?

When a wisdom tooth should come out and when it can stay, simple vs surgical extraction, recovery honestly described, and the cost - from £110 or £350.

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Composite bonding

How much does composite bonding cost in Edinburgh?

From £175 per tooth (edge) or £350 (full) - what decides the total, how bonding compares with veneers, how long it lasts, and what a quote should include.

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Hygiene

GBT vs scale and polish: what's the difference, and is it worth £110?

Guided Biofilm Therapy removes the biofilm before scaling, shows you where plaque hides, and is implant-safe - what each treatment involves and where the £45 difference goes.

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Dental imaging

CBCT vs OPG: which dental X-ray do you need?

The two scans a dentist might send you for, what each shows, the dose trade-off, and what they cost in Edinburgh - £149 for a CBCT with planning here, or £100 CBCT / £50 OPG on referral.

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Analysis

Registered isn't the same as seen: NHS dental access in Scotland

95% of Scots are registered with an NHS dentist - but only 62% have been seen in two years. Our analysis of Public Health Scotland's data.

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Teeth whitening

How much does teeth whitening cost in Edinburgh?

£350 for a dentist-prescribed home kit (~£29/month on 0% finance) - and why salon whitening isn't a cheaper version of the same thing.

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Nervous patients

Nervous about the dentist? A guide for anxious patients

Anxiety is common and nothing to be ashamed of. How visits work when you tell us you're nervous - at your pace, without judgement.

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Invisalign

How much does Invisalign cost in Edinburgh?

Our published prices up front - Lite from £1,900, Full from £3,499 - what decides which you need, and how 0% finance works.

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NHS & private care

NHS vs private dentistry in Scotland - what's the difference?

Free NHS exams, the £384 cap, what the NHS covers - and how a hybrid plan lets you mix NHS and private care.

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Dental implants

What determines the cost of dental implants?

A single implant with its crown costs from £1,495 here, plus £149 for CBCT and planning where a new scan is needed. The five factors that move cost from there, and how to judge any quote.

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Dental implants

What happens during dental implant treatment?

The implant journey stage by stage - consultation, 3D planning, placement, healing, and the final tooth.

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Replacing missing teeth

Implants, bridges or dentures - which is right for you?

An honest comparison of the three ways to replace missing teeth, with the trade-offs each option carries.

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In the community

We sponsor Blair Spittal's third kit, 2026/27

What we sponsored and what it does not mean. A shirt for one season at a club a mile from the practice - not an endorsement, and nothing to do with anybody's treatment.

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