Finding a dentist you can truly trust—whether for a routine cleaning, cosmetic upgrade, or dental emergency—can feel like a daunting task.
Dublin is home to many excellent dental practices, but not all are created equal.
Before diving into specific clinics, here are some criteria that many patients consider when selecting a top quality dental practice:
• Accessibility / Hours: Evening, weekend, or holiday hours; emergency availability
• Range of Services: General dentistry, cosmetic, orthodontics, implants, surgery, children’s dentistry
• Patient Comfort: Experience in treating anxious patients; sedation options; friendly staff
• Transparency: Clear cost estimates; good communication; posted or explained fees
• Specialized Expertise: Specialists on staff; advanced technologies; strong credentials
• Reputation / Reviews: Awards; patient testimonials; recognition in dental community
• Location / Facilities: Clean, modern clinics; ease of access; parking; public transport
As a side-note, many Irish tourists do not give a second thought to dental care with regards to emergency treatment when travelling abroad to increasingly popular places such as Romania, Hungary, Eastern Europe, and beyond. But this is just as important to ensure you have access to dental services wherever you may be when on holiday or travelling for work. Do some online medical centre searches before embarking on your journey especially if you have ongoing health requirements including dental work.
With all this in mind, here are the top dental clinics in Dublin.
1. Smile Hub Dental Clinic Dublin (Sutton & Skerries)
Why It’s #1
Smile Hub stands out in Dublin for multiple reasons. It offers a comprehensive set of dental services, strong credentials, excellent accessibility, and a patient focused approach. They clearly aim to cover almost all patient needs — from urgent/emergency dental care, cosmetic dentistry, children, nervous patients, etc. Their wide hours and weekend availability make them especially strong.
Here are the details:
Key Features & Strengths
• Hours & Availability
Smile Hub is open 7 days a week, 365 days a year, including weekends and bank holidays.
Their website smilehub.ie, offers early morning and late evening appointments (from ~7:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.) so people with busy schedules have more flexibility.
• Emergency Care
If you have a dental accident, broken tooth, abscess, or acute pain, Smile Hub provides emergency/urgent treatment. They offer emergency appointment slots same day or next, and have “emergency on call” service.
• Wide Range of Treatments
Services include general dentistry (fillings, hygienist, scale & polish, x rays, extractions), cosmetic dentistry (veneers, whitening, composite bonding, etc.), orthodontics (Invisalign, retainers), implants and prosthodontics, children’s treatments, sedation for nervous patients.
• Credentials & Specialists
The clinical director, Dr. Laura Fee, has multiple qualifications: dental degree from Trinity College, masters in Oral Surgery, Endodontics, Implants, etc., and diplomas in conscious sedation and clinical education. That kind of breadth is rare.
• Transparency & Patient Communication
Smile Hub emphasizes providing detailed treatment plans, cost estimates up front. Patients are made to understand treatment options and costs before work begins.
• Comfort & Patient Experience
They cater to nervous patients (both adults and children), with sedation and other supports. They also offer kid friendly amenities, play areas, accessible clinic layout, free parking, wheelchair access.
• Awards & Recognition
Smile Hub has won several awards: “Best Referral Practice in Ireland”, nominations for “Caring Dental Team of the Year”, etc.
Ideal For
People who want a “one stop” high quality clinic: general care, cosmetic enhancements, emergency treatment, and options for nervous or pediatric patients, with flexible hours.
2. Emergency Dental Clinic Dublin (Bayside / Sutton)
The Emergency Dental Clinic Dublin is especially focused on emergency and aesthetic dentistry; it’s very strong in urgent care, and also well respected for cosmetic and restorative services. It is located in Bayside Medical Centre, Sutton, Dublin 13.
What Makes It Great
• Emergency & Urgent Access
They are open 7 days a week, including weekends and bank holidays.
They provide emergency dentists for issues like abscesses, severe pain, broken teeth or trauma.
• Wide Range of Treatments
Their services include general, restorative, cosmetic, orthodontic, and surgical treatments. Cosmetics are a strong suit: they provide aesthetic dentistry.
• Transparent Costing & Patient Centered Plans
They give detailed treatment plans and cost estimates before treatment. Patients understand the options.
• Geographical Reach
They serve a broad catchment, especially in North and parts of South Dublin. Also, emergency dental care includes late nights and after hours options.
Strengths Compared with Smile Hub
While Smile Hub wins in terms of breadth (cosmetics, full orthodontics, implants, etc.) and its very flexible hours, Emergency Dental Clinic is strong if you need urgent, emergency treatment, especially in or around Sutton & Bayside. Their specialization in both emergency and cosmetic gives them an edge in those areas.
Considerations
• For major cosmetic work or implants, cost may be significant; be sure you and the clinic sit down to plan and understand all charges.
• Availability for non emergency cosmetic or orthodontic cases might require appointments well in advance.
3. 24 Hour / Dame Street Emergency Dental Clinic
If you are looking for something open truly 24/7, especially in more central Dublin, this clinic is worth considering.
• Located in Dublin city centre (Dame Street) with full emergency services 24 hours a day, 7 days including bank holidays.
• They accept nervous patients; have specialists; aim to see patients immediately or as soon as possible.
• Transparent fee schedules (for extractions, root canals, etc.) are published.
When to Pick This One
If you have a dental emergency in the middle of the night or very late, especially in the city center, this kind of clinic may be your best bet.
4. Harcourt Dental Clinic — Reliable, Modern & Friendly
Location: Harcourt Street, Dublin 2
Known for its friendly staff and stress-free environment, Harcourt Dental Clinic offers a comprehensive menu of treatments—from fillings and cleanings to root canals and bridges. It’s a solid choice for both first-time visitors and long-term patients.
5. Molesworth Dental Clinic — Specialist Dental Treatments
Location: Molesworth Place, Dublin 2
Molesworth Dental is perfect for patients seeking high-end or specialized procedures. They’re known for meticulous attention to detail in treatments like dental implants, crowns, and orthodontics. The clinic consistently earns praise for professionalism and in-depth consultations.
6. Portobello Dental Clinic
Location: South Circular Road, Dublin 8
This award-winning clinic is especially great for nervous or first-time patients. Portobello Dental offers sedation dentistry and clear, pressure-free communication. Services include general dentistry, digital smile design, and cosmetic enhancements.
7. College Gate Dental Clinic
Location: Dublin 4
Named “Best Dental Practice in Ireland” in 2023, College Gate Dental is a high-end clinic with cutting-edge technology and an excellent patient satisfaction record. Their services range from routine hygiene to advanced cosmetic and orthodontic treatments.
8. Novadent Dental Clinic — Great for Families
Location: Dublin City Center
Novadent is a warm, welcoming clinic perfect for families and patients looking for great care without an intimidating setting. They offer affordable cleanings, fillings, and preventative care in a modern facility.
9. Dublin Dental Clinic — Full-Service Smile Care
Location: North Frederick Street, Dublin 1
With over 200+ Google reviews and a loyal client base, Dublin Dental Clinic provides a wide range of services—from aesthetic treatments to surgical procedures and facial aesthetics. Great for anyone looking for an all-in-one solution.
What to Ask / Consider When Choosing
Even among great clinics, which one is “best” for you depends on your circumstance. Here are some questions to ask and things to verify:
1. Emergency vs Cosmetic Priority
If you have an urgent issue (pain, broken tooth, infection), make sure the clinic does same day or on call emergency treatments. If your priority is cosmetic (veneers, whitening, implants), assess how strong their cosmetic dentistry credentials are.
2. Cost Estimates & Payment Options
Always ask for a quotation in writing. Does the clinic accept insurance (VHI, etc.)? Do they offer payment plans or financing for more expensive work? What about hidden fees (sedation, materials, lab fees)? Some clinics list insurance accepted on their websites. For example, Smile Hub accepts many major insurers.
3. Comfort and Anxiety Management
If you’re nervous about dental visits, ask whether they offer sedation (e.g. conscious sedation), or are experienced with anxious patients, or have child friendly amenities. Cleanliness, communication, and small touches (like free parking, friendly staff) matter.
4. Locations & Travel
How far is the clinic from you? Is there good transport access? Parking? If you might need multiple visits (for root canals, follow ups, etc.), that’s important.
5. Credentials & Specialist Support
Find out who will do the work: Is it a general dentist, a specialist (e.g. periodontist, oral surgeon)? What are their training and qualifications? Do they use modern diagnostic tools (like digital imaging, CBCT scan, etc.)? Smile Hub, for example, lists advanced qualifications for Dr. Fee.
6. Reviews and Reputation
Checking online reviews, word of mouth, awards, and referrals helps. Also see how clinics handle customer service (do they answer questions, explain procedures clearly, etc.).
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re searching for the best dentist in Dublin for a full smile makeover or just need urgent relief from a toothache, this list has something for everyone. For top-tier care, go with Smile Hub Dental Clinic. For fast, reliable emergency treatment, trust Emergency Dental Clinic.