Edinburgh Dental Studio ★10

Family-owned, in a building that has held dentists for decades

Edinburgh Dental Studio is an independent, family-owned private practice in the West End, tucked behind Charlotte Square. Dentists have worked out of the same building for decades: Graeme Smart has owned the Studio since 2010 and in 2014 took over the other practice sharing the premises.

Treatments and services

General and cosmetic dentistry under one roof, not a referral centre. Everyday care covers examinations, hygiene, invisible composite fillings, crowns, bridges, dentures, root canal treatment and the replacement of old amalgam. The cosmetic side runs from Airflow stain removal and whitening through composite edge bonding to porcelain veneers, with ICON resin infiltration for white patches on enamel. Adult orthodontics is the strongest suit: Graeme Smart is a Platinum Elite Invisalign provider, with other clear aligner systems alongside.

Smile design and the first visit

Cosmetic cases begin with Digital Smile Design: photographs of the face and smile, a designed result you approve before anything is prepared, then the combination of whitening, alignment, bonding or veneers that delivers it. A first appointment runs longer than a routine check: dental health check, soft-tissue mouth cancer screening, high-resolution photographs, digital radiographs from intraoral sensors, a written treatment programme. The waiting area is kept non-clinical on purpose.

The team

Graeme Smart, the principal, qualified at Dundee in 2002 and has carried hundreds of adult orthodontic cases; the practice took Best Practice and Best Team in Scotland at the Dentistry Awards in 2017. Paul Gallacher, a Glasgow graduate, works in cosmetic and restorative dentistry. Matt Dash joined in 2018 after two years in Auckland and a seat on the executive committee of the New Zealand Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, and was named Best Young Dentist at the Dentistry Awards. Hygienist Emma Edwards has practised since 2004, and therapist Alex Ignacz graduated with honours from Edinburgh, drawn to paediatric work.

Who it suits

Adults who want teeth straightened without brackets, people planning a makeover who would rather see it first, and anyone who has stayed away long enough to dread the door.

Frequently asked questions

Is this an NHS or a private practice? Private.

I am frightened of the dentist. Appointments are unhurried; you can agree a code word that stops treatment at once, take breaks, or bring your own music.

Can I see the result before committing? Digital Smile Design shows the planned smile at the design stage.

Will you take me after years away? Yes, and without judgement.

Can I be assessed before coming in? A virtual consultation from your own photographs gives a first opinion remotely.

Opening hours