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.

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.

Read the guide →

Wisdom teeth

Wisdom teeth: when do they need removing?

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

Read the guide →

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.

Read the guide →

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.

Read the guide →

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 - £100 CBCT, £50 OPG here.

Read the guide →

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.

Read the guide →

Teeth whitening

How much does teeth whitening cost in Edinburgh?

From £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.

Read the guide →

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.

Read the guide →

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.

Read the guide →

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.

Read the guide →

Dental implants

What determines the cost of dental implants?

Why there is no single implant price, the five factors that actually move cost, and how to judge any quote you are given.

Read the guide →

Dental implants

What happens during dental implant treatment?

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

Read the guide →

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.

Read the guide →