Quick answer: Clapham South Dental Centre on Balham Hill is the practice we would look at first for dental crowns in Clapham, because it publishes clear crown prices (full porcelain from £788), offers 0% finance and opens seven days a week, with evenings until 8pm Monday to Thursday. The Dentist Balham publishes lower crown fees, and Crescent Lodge on Clapham Common opens until 8pm every weekday, Friday included.
A crown usually means two appointments, a temporary cap in between and a few weeks of being careful with one side of your mouth. That is easier to plan when you know what each practice charges, when it opens, and how to set things up at home so the new crown lasts.
This guide compares five practices offering dental crowns in Clapham and neighbouring Balham, using fees and hours published on their own websites. It then covers the small changes around the house, mostly in the bathroom and by the bed, that help protect a crown once it is fitted.
Crown fees and hours compared
| Practice | Address | Porcelain or ceramic crown | Porcelain bonded to metal | Check-up fee | Open late or at weekends |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Clapham South Dental Centre | 15 Balham Hill, SW12 9DY | From £788 | From £683 | £65 (excluding x-rays) | Mon to Thu until 8pm, Sat 9am to 6pm, Sun 9am to 4pm |
| 2. The Dentist Balham | 1 Bedford Hill, SW12 9ET | £745 (Emax or zirconia) | £645 | £39.50 | Hours not listed on the pages we read |
| 3. Balham Dental Studio | 112 Balham High Road, SW12 9AA | From £745 | From £745 | £79 with scale and polish | Mon, Wed, Thu until 7pm, Sat 9:30am to 3pm |
| 4. Crescent Lodge Dental Practice | 28 Clapham Common South Side, SW4 9BN | From £1,140 | From £1,040 | £57 (excluding x-rays) | Mon to Fri until 8pm, Sat 9am to 4:30pm |
| 5. Dental Beauty Clapham | 140 Clapham Park Road, SW4 7DE | Price at consultation | Price at consultation | £36 (excluding x-rays) | Tue and Wed until 8pm, closed weekends |
How we compared
We picked practices in Clapham and Balham whose websites list crowns, then recorded their published crown fees, check-up fee, address and opening hours. Fees were checked in November 2026. We did not visit any practice or judge clinical quality. A published "from" price is a starting point, and the real figure depends on the tooth, the material and any work needed underneath, such as a post or root canal treatment.
1. Clapham South Dental Centre, Balham Hill
Clapham South Dental Centre sits at 15 Balham Hill. Its crown page explains the process in three plain steps: an impression of the tooth, a crown made in a dental laboratory to fit precisely and match the neighbouring teeth, and then the tooth prepared and the crown fitted securely on top.
It is open about when a crown makes sense. The practice lists teeth that are broken, weakened by decay or holding a very large filling, replacing discoloured fillings, protecting a tooth after root canal treatment, and anchoring a bridge or denture. Its FAQs say crowns generally last "anywhere from 5 to 15 years", and longer with good care.
Fees are published in full. Full porcelain crowns start at £788, porcelain bonded crowns at £683 and gold crowns at £835, with inlays and onlays also listed. An examination is £65, not including x-rays. The practice offers 0% finance so the cost can be spread monthly, with an online application.
Opening hours are the standout. It opens 8am to 8pm Monday to Thursday, 8am to 6pm on Friday, 9am to 6pm on Saturday and 9am to 4pm on Sunday. For a two-visit treatment, that makes it much easier to fit both appointments around work. Call 0208 673 3250 or book online at any time.
Who it suits: anyone who wants transparent crown pricing and appointments at the weekend or in the evening, including Sundays.
2. The Dentist Balham, Bedford Hill
The Dentist Balham publishes the lowest crown fees of the five: £645 for a bonded crown and £745 for Emax or zirconia, with a £39.50 examination. Its crown page explains that a temporary is fitted while the final crown is made, which usually takes two to three weeks. It also notes, honestly, that about 20% of teeth with a crown or onlay need root canal treatment within 10 years. A good choice if price is your main concern.
3. Balham Dental Studio, Balham High Road
Balham Dental Studio lists all-ceramic and porcelain bonded crowns from £745. Its routine examination at £79 includes a scale and polish, and new patients pay £89 for an extended exam. It opens until 7pm on three weekdays and on Saturdays until 3pm. It suits patients who like a check-up and clean bundled into one visit.
4. Crescent Lodge Dental Practice, Clapham Common
Crescent Lodge faces Clapham Common on South Side and publishes a detailed fee list. Full ceramic crowns start at £1,140, bonded crowns at £1,040 and gold at £1,100, so it is the highest-priced of the five for crowns. Adult examinations are £57. It is open until 8pm every weekday, including Friday, and on Saturday until 4:30pm.
5. Dental Beauty Clapham, Clapham Park Road
Dental Beauty Clapham does not list a crown fee. Instead it offers a 30-minute crown consultation for £35, refundable against treatment, and a £36 routine examination. It opens until 8pm on Tuesdays and Wednesdays but is closed at weekends. Useful if you want a low-cost first conversation before deciding.
Setting up your home for a new crown
A crown is strong, but the tooth underneath can still decay at the edges and the crown can chip. Most of what protects it happens at home, so it is worth giving your bathroom and bedside a five-minute rethink.
The bathroom cabinet
Clear a shelf at eye level for a fluoride toothpaste, a soft or medium brush and interdental brushes in two or three sizes. The Oral Health Foundation's crown advice is to brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and clean between your teeth once a day with floss or interdental brushes. Keeping them in sight, not in a drawer, makes the daily clean more likely to happen.
Good lighting helps too. A mirror with a light, or a brighter bulb above the basin, makes it easier to see where the crown meets the gum, which is where plaque tends to build up.
Between the two visits
The Oral Health Foundation says "In most cases, fitting a crown takes two visits." In between, you will have a temporary crown. The Dentist Balham advises eating and cleaning carefully on that side until the permanent crown is fitted, and not eating or drinking anything hot until the numbness wears off. If you work from home, keep sticky snacks such as toffees and chewy sweets out of your desk drawer for a few weeks. A loose temporary needs to go back to the practice to be re-cemented.
By the bed
Night-time grinding is hard on crowns. Clapham South Dental Centre suggests a nightguard if you grind your teeth. If you are given one, keep its case on the bedside table rather than in the bathroom, so putting it in becomes part of switching off the light.
In the kitchen
Both Clapham South Dental Centre and the Oral Health Foundation warn against biting hard objects such as ice. Keep a bottle opener and scissors handy in the kitchen drawer, so nobody is tempted to open a packet with their teeth.
What does an NHS crown cost?
On the NHS in England, a crown falls under Band 3, which costs £332.10. The NHS notes "You may be offered a metal-coloured crown on a back tooth." Not every practice has NHS places, so ask when you call. The private prices above apply if you are a private patient or choose a material the NHS does not cover.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a dental crown in Clapham?
Published private prices in Clapham and Balham start at £645 for a bonded crown and run to over £1,100 for a full ceramic crown at the five practices we checked. Clapham South Dental Centre's full porcelain crowns start at £788.
Does getting a crown hurt?
The tooth is numbed with local anaesthetic, so the procedure is not usually painful. Some sensitivity for a few days afterwards is normal, and Clapham South Dental Centre says sedation may be offered to anxious patients.
How long does a crown last?
Many last 5 to 15 years, and some much longer. Daily cleaning, regular check-ups and avoiding hard foods and grinding all help.
Can I eat normally with a temporary crown?
Mostly, but chew on the other side, avoid sticky and very hard foods, and wait until the numbness wears off before hot food or drinks.
If you are weighing up a crown, start by booking an examination so the dentist can confirm a crown is the right fix and give you a written price. Clapham South Dental Centre can be reached on 0208 673 3250, seven days a week.
Sources
- Oral Health Foundation: Crowns
- NHS: Understanding NHS dental charges
- General Dental Council: Search the register
- Clapham South Dental Centre: crowns, fee guide and finance pages on the practice's own website, checked November 2026
- The Dentist Balham, Balham Dental Studio, Crescent Lodge Dental Practice and Dental Beauty Clapham: each practice's own fee and contact pages, checked November 2026
Last updated November 2026. General information only, not dental advice. Fees and opening hours were taken from each practice's website in November 2026 and can change, so confirm with the practice before booking.
