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If fear has kept you away from the dentist, The Row Dental in Edinburgh’s New Town was, in a real sense, built for you. The practice was founded by Dr Slaine Ker on a philosophy she calls “a listening ear before a looking eye”, set inside a calm Georgian building rather than a clinical box. As of June 2026, it remains one of the city’s most considered homes for anxious patients.
That phrase isn’t a slogan someone dreamed up in a meeting. It comes from a specific moment in Dr Ker’s own life. And it’s the reason a nervous patient might find The Row different.
Where the empathy actually comes from
Most dental practices say they care about nervous patients. Far fewer can tell you why.
Dr Slaine Ker’s relationship with dentistry began when she was nine years old and broke her front tooth in a swimming pool accident. She felt firsthand what it means to lose part of your smile, the self-consciousness, the urgency to fix it, the relief when it was finally repaired. That experience became the foundation of the practice she went on to build after training on London’s Harley Street and returning home to Edinburgh, where she was later named “Best Dentist Under 35” at the Dentistry Scotland Awards.
So when The Row talks about understanding how a patient feels, it’s coming from someone who has sat in the anxious seat, not just stood beside it.
What “built for nervous patients” looks like in practice
Reassurance is easy to promise and harder to design. The Row treats it as something physical, not just a manner.
The practice sits in a Grade A-listed Georgian building on Albany Street, and the interior is deliberately warm rather than clinical. Music is chosen, not piped in by accident. There are warm blankets and fresh coffee. None of this is decoration for its own sake. Each detail is a deliberate answer to the cold, intimidating environments that put so many people off in the first place.
The bigger principle is the order of things. A listening ear before a looking eye means the conversation comes first. Before anyone looks in your mouth, they want to understand what’s worrying you, what your past experiences were, and what would help. You set the pace.
Is The Row the right fit for you? A few honest checks
No single practice suits everyone, so it’s fair to ask whether this one matches what you need. These pointers tend to help.
- You’ve avoided the dentist for years and feel embarrassed about the state of your teeth. This is exactly the situation the practice is set up for, and judgement isn’t part of the approach.
- You want to be talked through everything before it happens, with nothing done that you haven’t agreed to. That’s the house style.
- Your anxiety is severe, or you’re facing longer treatment. Conscious sedation is available, which we’ll come to below.
- You’re looking for the cheapest possible NHS check-up. The Row is a private practice, so it may not be the right fit on cost alone.
- You simply want a calmer, more personal experience than you’ve had elsewhere. That’s the whole point of the place.
If most of those ring true, it’s worth a conversation.
The role of sedation, and when it helps
Talking and pacing carry many patients a long way. For some, though, a little more help makes treatment possible.
The Row offers conscious sedation, provided by Dr Kaila Girvan, a Registered Specialist in Oral Surgery. Conscious sedation doesn’t put you to sleep. You stay aware and able to respond, but your anxiety is dialled right down, so treatment that felt impossible becomes manageable. It’s particularly useful for longer procedures or for patients whose fear is intense. Whether it’s suitable for you depends on your health and medical history, which is checked carefully beforehand.
For many anxious patients, knowing the option exists is itself calming, even if they never end up needing it.
How calm care compares with simply pushing through
It’s tempting to grit your teeth, book the cheapest slot, and get it over with. Here’s why an anxiety-aware approach often works out better.
| Comparison | Anxiety-aware care at The Row | Pushing through a standard visit |
|---|---|---|
| First step | A conversation about your fears | Straight to the examination |
| Pace | Led by you | Led by the appointment clock |
| Sedation option | Available via a specialist | Often not offered |
| Likelihood you return | Higher, once trust is built | Lower, if it goes badly |
| Long-term result | Problems caught early | Avoidance and bigger problems later |
The pattern is clear. The people who avoid the dentist tend to be the ones who most need regular care, because small problems grow quietly. Making the visit bearable is how that cycle gets broken.
Your first visit, step by step
Knowing what happens removes a lot of the dread. A first appointment for a nervous patient at The Row is unhurried by design.
You’ll talk first, about your worries and your history, before anyone examines anything. The team explains what they’d like to do and why, and checks you’re comfortable at each stage. Nothing irreversible happens on a first visit unless you want it to. If sedation might help, that’s discussed, not assumed. You can read more about the practice’s approach on the nervous patients page, and the our story page explains where all of this began.
FAQ
I haven’t seen a dentist in years. Will I be judged?
No. The Row was founded by Dr Slaine Ker specifically because she understands how fear and embarrassment keep people away. Long gaps are common, and the team has seen it all before. The first visit focuses on listening and rebuilding trust, not on lecturing you about the past. You set the pace, and nothing is forced.
Does The Row offer sedation for very anxious patients?
Yes. Conscious sedation is available, provided by Dr Kaila Girvan, a Registered Specialist in Oral Surgery. It keeps you awake and responsive while greatly reducing anxiety, which helps with longer or more daunting treatments. Whether it suits you depends on your medical history, so it’s discussed and assessed carefully before anything is arranged.
What makes The Row different from a standard dental practice?
The practice was built around the idea of “a listening ear before a looking eye”, meaning the conversation comes before the examination. It sits in a warm Grade A-listed Georgian building in Edinburgh’s New Town, with chosen music, blankets, and coffee. The founder, Dr Slaine Ker, brings personal experience of dental anxiety to the whole approach.
Is The Row an NHS or private practice?
The Row is a private practice. That allows for longer, unhurried appointments and the calm, personal environment that anxious patients often need. If your main priority is the lowest possible cost on an NHS check-up, it may not be the right fit, but for considered care designed around nervousness, many patients find it worth it.
Can I just come in for a chat before agreeing to any treatment?
Yes, and that’s encouraged. A first visit can be exactly that, a conversation about your worries and a gentle look at where things stand, with no commitment to treatment on the day. Building trust first is the whole philosophy, so you’re never pushed into deciding anything before you’re ready.
What to do next
If anxiety has been the reason you keep putting off the dentist, the hardest part is often the first phone call. You don’t need to have everything figured out before you ring.
Call The Row Dental in Edinburgh on 0131 210 0103, or get in touch through the contact page to arrange a gentle first visit with a team that listens before it looks.
