Children's Dentistry in Broughty Ferry

From First Tooth to First Job, One Dentist

Q: Where is there a children's dentist in Broughty Ferry?

Ferry Smile Studios, at 196 Brook Street in Broughty Ferry, welcomes children of every age alongside their parents. Where NHS care is available, a child's dental care in Scotland is free, and through the national Childsmile programme children can have fluoride varnish applied, with guidance for parents on brushing and diet. Our dentists are used to seeing everyone from toddlers to teenagers. To ask about a place for your child, request a call back or send us a WhatsApp message.

Q: Is my child's dental examination free?

Where NHS care is available, yes: across Scotland, NHS dental examinations and treatment, which includes fluoride varnish, fissure sealants and fillings, cost nothing for children and for anyone under 26. Ask us about the position at this practice when you get in touch. If you'd prefer to see us privately, a child examination costs £38.

Q: My child is scared of the dentist. What do you do to help?

We go gently: the first few visits are kept short, every step is explained in language your child can follow, and they get to see the chair and the little mirror before anyone looks inside. No child is hurried into treatment. At home, it helps to talk about the appointment in a calm, matter-of-fact way and avoid words such as "needle" or "hurt". Some children relax more quickly once they've watched a parent have their own examination.

Children are registered and treated on the NHS straight away. Under-26s in Scotland pay nothing at all for NHS dental care. Our dentists, Dr Lisa Respinger among them, look after children of every age here on Brook Street, from a baby's very first tooth right through the teenage years.Children are registered and treated on the NHS straight away. NHS dentistry costs nothing for children in Scotland.

Should you prefer to see us privately, a child's examination costs £38. ¹

Your dentistDr Lisa Respinger BDS (Dundee)Dentist at Ferry Smile Studios since qualifying in Dundee in 2009, providing general and family dentistry, including NHS care. GDC 176346.Meet Dr Respinger ›Your dentistDr Christopher Cummings BDS (Glasgow)Dentist at Ferry Smile Studios, providing general and restorative dentistry for adults and children, NHS and private. GDC 227745.Meet Dr Cummings ›

What's Included for Children

The emphasis is on prevention, which means most appointments are brief: a quick look and a friendly chat.

Routine Examinations

We check the teeth and gums and watch how the bite is coming along. X-rays are taken only when there's a definite reason.

Fluoride Varnish

A fast, painted-on coating that hardens enamel against decay, following Scotland's Childsmile programme, normally twice yearly from the age of two.

Fissure Sealants

A fine, tooth-coloured layer sealing the grooves of the adult back teeth, where decay tends to begin. No drilling, no injection.

Fillings When They're Needed

We treat small cavities early and gently, explaining everything to you and your child before we start.

Accidents and Knocks

Same-day appointments when a tooth is chipped, loosened or knocked out, whether on the pitch or in the playground.

Advice for Parents

Teething, brushing, snacks, drinks, dummies: sensible guidance for whatever stage your child has reached.

When Should They Start?

As soon as the first tooth appears, and definitely before their first birthday.

Register

Request a call back and pick an NHS place, or message us on WhatsApp. Children don't go on a waiting list.

A Gentle First Appointment

Babies and toddlers usually stay on a parent's knee. We count teeth, check the gums and go through your questions about teething, brushing and what they eat.

Regular Check-Ups After That

Every six months as a rule, or more frequently if your dentist advises. Bringing siblings? Ask us to book the whole family back to back.

Brushing at Home

Twice a day, with the bedtime brush as the very last thing before sleep, and nothing but water after it

Just a smear of fluoride toothpaste before age three, then a pea-sized amount from three onwards

Spit, don't rinse, so the fluoride stays on the teeth

Help or supervise until around age seven, since few children manage a proper job on their own before then

Keep sweets and juice to mealtimes, with water or milk in between

Our parents' guide to children's dental visits

Worried Children

Plenty of children are wary for the first few visits, and that's completely normal. We let them set the pace. If all they manage on day one is a ride up and down in the chair, that counts as progress.

Children take their cue from the adults around them, so keep things calm and upbeat at home. Tell us when you book about any anxieties, sensory needs or additional support needs, and we'll shape the appointment to suit.

Getting Ready

Pick a time when they're normally fed and rested, rather than straight from nursery or school when they're flagging

Describe it as a normal, friendly outing, and steer clear of words such as sore, injection or drill

Bring them along to watch one of your own check-ups first, so the room and the people aren't strange

Teddies and favourite toys are welcome in the chair

Make a fuss of them afterwards, whatever happened

Why Milk Teeth Count

Baby teeth hold the space for the adult teeth behind them, make chewing and clear speech possible, and shape the growing face. They can decay, ache and become infected just like adult teeth, so we deal with trouble early instead of waiting for the tooth to come out on its own.

With teenagers, we keep watch on wisdom teeth and on how the bite is maturing. Where braces could help, we'll set out the choices and refer to an orthodontist when that's the right move. For youngsters playing rugby, hockey or football, a made-to-measure sports mouthguard (£190) protects far better than anything off the shelf.

Bring Them in Early If You Spot

Chalky, brown or dark marks on the teeth

Toothache, or wincing at cold, hot or sugary things

Gums that are red, swollen or bleed

A knock to a tooth, even one that looks unharmed, because it can discolour weeks afterwards

A dummy or thumb habit that persists once the adult front teeth come through

Children's Fees

NHS dental care for children in Scotland costs nothing. Private care is there as an alternative if you'd rather. ¹

NHS examinations and treatment (everyone under 26)	No charge
Private examination for a child	£38
Emergency appointment, private	£70
Made-to-measure sports mouthguard	£190

See every fee

Parents Often Ask

How to register, first appointments, fees and nerves.

When should my baby first visit the dentist?–

Once the first teeth appear, and certainly before their first birthday. That initial appointment is brief and gentle: a quick peek inside the mouth, usually with your child on your knee, plus advice for you about brushing, teething and sugary drinks. Beginning early makes the practice a familiar, ordinary place instead of somewhere they're taken only when something is sore. It also lets us catch early decay, or teeth erupting awkwardly, at the stage when they're simplest to manage.

Where is there a children's dentist in Broughty Ferry?+

How can I register my child with an NHS dentist?+

Is my child's dental examination free?+

My child is scared of the dentist. What do you do to help?+

What should I do if an adult tooth gets knocked out?+

Guides

Guides for Parents

All general dentistry guides

General dentistry · 7 minute read

Dental emergencies: what to do first, and how to be seen

Sign Your Child Up Today

Children never wait for an NHS place with us. Request a call back, choose NHS, and we'll arrange their first examination.

Request a call backOr message on WhatsApp