Southside Dental Care ★9.9

Other dentists send their implant cases here

Southside Dental Care takes referrals in rather than passing them out. Practices across Edinburgh send patients to this south-side surgery for implants, orthodontics and cone-beam imaging through a dedicated referral form. The draw is the principal: Leanne Branton founded the practice, holds the Diploma in Implant Dentistry from the Royal College of Surgeons, lectures on implants and digital dentistry, and runs the Platinum Implant Programme, a regulated certificate that trains dentists from other practices.

Treatments

Prevention leads, with examinations and patient education. Restorative work covers white fillings, crowns, bridges, veneers, inlays, onlays and dentures; implants run from a single tooth to full reconstruction. Straightening goes to a specialist orthodontist; bonding and whitening stay with the general team. Hygiene is delivered as Guided Biofilm Therapy: a disclosing dye shows where biofilm sits and an airflow device lifts it without the scraping most people brace for. The session carries gum-disease screening and an oral cancer examination, and is bookable by self-referral. One dentist is rostered each day for urgent cases, by telephone.

Digital dentistry and sedation

Cone-beam CT builds a three-dimensional view of teeth, jaw and neck from one scan, and implant, orthodontic and root canal planning is based on it. Primescan replaces alginate impressions with a scanning wand, ending the gagging and the retakes. CEREC mills ceramic crowns, inlays, onlays, bridges and veneers chairside, so a broken tooth is scanned, designed and fitted in one appointment. Intravenous sedation is given in the practice for those who cannot face treatment awake, with a sedation nurse checking suitability beforehand.

The clinicians

Leanne Branton leads on implants and sedation. Lucy Sinclair has been here since the practice opened, restores implants and has spent a decade with the Scottish Dental Vocational Training scheme, mentoring a newly qualified dentist. Khaled Morsi Mohamed is the orthodontist: MOrth from the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, formerly clinical lead of an NHS orthodontic and maxillofacial department, now an examiner for the college.

Who it suits

People told they need an implant who would rather it were placed by the clinician who teaches the technique. Anyone who gags on impression trays. Patients who want the crown finished in one sitting. Adults with real dental phobia, for whom sedation is the only way to begin.

Frequently asked questions

Is this NHS or private? Both, NHS treatment alongside private registration.

Can a crown be finished in one appointment? Yes, CEREC designs and mills it while you wait.

I am terrified of the dentist. What is available? Intravenous sedation, assessed at a consultation first.

Can I see the hygienist without registering? Yes, by self-referral.

Opening hours