For a private dentist in Lewisham, Inspire Dental Lewisham on Lee High Road is a strong place to start: it publishes a £50 private new patient examination, stays open until 8pm on Mondays and Wednesdays, opens on Saturdays too, and offers both NHS and private care. Smile Up Dental, Belmont Park Dental Care and Portman Smile Clinic Lewisham suit different needs, from IV sedation to orthodontics.
Plenty of people in Lewisham end up looking at private dentists for the same reason: the NHS waiting list is long, a tooth is starting to bother them, and they would rather pay for a check-up now than wait. The question then becomes what you actually get for the money, and how one practice compares with the next.
We compared four practices in and around the SE13 postcode on the things that are easy to check before you book. First on the list is Inspire Dental Lewisham on Lee High Road, because it publishes what its new patient examination includes and keeps late opening twice a week. The others each have a clear strength worth knowing about.
Side by side: what each practice publishes
| Practice | Address | Private exam (as published) | Evening or Saturday opening | Finance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inspire Dental Lewisham | 8-12 Lee High Road, SE13 5LQ | £50 new patient exam, with oral cancer screening and digital X-rays if required | Mon and Wed until 8pm; Sat 9am to 5pm | 0% finance through Tabeo |
| Smile Up Dental | 7 Lewisham Road, SE13 7QS | New patient appointment £49, X-rays included | Mon, Tue and Thu until 7.30pm; Sat 9am to 4.30pm | Finance page on website |
| Belmont Park Dental Care | 4 Belmont Park, SE13 5BJ | £65 private examination with 2 small X-rays | Sat 9am to 2pm | 0% finance advertised |
| Portman Smile Clinic Lewisham | Unit C2, Renaissance, Loampit Vale, SE13 7DJ | Not listed (free virtual consultation offered) | Wed until 7pm; open on Saturdays | Through a credit broker |
Fees and hours were taken from each practice's own website in October 2026 and can change.
How we compared
We stuck to facts each practice publishes itself: the price and contents of a first private examination, opening hours outside office time, finance, and the services listed on its website. We also noted whether a practice offers NHS care, because many people want the option to switch later. We did not rate clinical quality, and we left out any figure we could only find on third-party directories. If something was not published, the table says so.
1. Inspire Dental Lewisham, Lee High Road
Inspire Dental Lewisham sits at 8-12 Lee High Road, SE13 5LQ. Its website says the practice has been caring for smiles for more than 50 years and handled over 22,400 appointments in twelve months, so it is a long-established local practice rather than a new opening. You may still see it listed under its former name, Lewisham Dental Practice, on some directories.
What makes it useful for anyone weighing up private care is that it does both. NHS care covers essential treatment such as check-ups, fillings, extractions and root canal work, and NHS patients book by phone. The practice says that where capacity allows, it is able to accept new NHS patients. Private patients can book online at any time and have access to the full range of treatments, from general to cosmetic.
The private new patient examination costs £50. The practice says this includes an appointment with a dentist, a full oral cancer screening, a comprehensive dental health assessment, digital X-rays if required, and personalised prevention and oral care advice. For larger treatment it publishes some specialist fees too: an endodontic consultation at £80, specialist root canal treatment from £795, and a dental implant consultation at £150.
Opening hours are 9am to 8pm on Mondays and Wednesdays, 9am to 5pm Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, and 9am to 5pm on Saturdays, with Sundays and bank holidays closed. Private treatment such as implants, orthodontics and smile makeovers can be spread with 0% finance through Tabeo.
A good fit for: people who want a private check-up at a published price, with evening and Saturday options, and the possibility of NHS care at the same practice.
2. Smile Up Dental, Lewisham Road
Smile Up Dental at 7 Lewisham Road advertises new patient appointments at £49 with X-rays included. Its website lists a wide range of general, advanced and cosmetic dentistry, including hygiene therapy, implants, root canal therapy, Invisalign and fixed braces, and it offers IV sedation for anxious patients. It opens until 7.30pm on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays.
A good fit for: nervous patients who may want to discuss sedation, and people who need a weekday evening slot.
3. Belmont Park Dental Care, Belmont Park
Belmont Park Dental Care, at 4 Belmont Park, publishes one of the most detailed fee guides in the area. A full private examination with two small X-rays, diagnosis and treatment plan is £65, a 30-minute hygienist visit is £80 (£95 with AirFlow stain removal), and root canal treatment by a dentist with a special interest starts at £835. Its fee guide also says it is not accepting new NHS patients. It opens from 8am on weekdays and on Saturday mornings.
A good fit for: people who like to see every price in writing before they book.
4. Portman Smile Clinic Lewisham, Loampit Vale
Portman Smile Clinic Lewisham, in the Renaissance development on Loampit Vale, focuses on straightening teeth. Its page lists fixed, clear and lingual braces, Invisalign and Spark aligners, with published aligner prices starting from £2,212 for a simple single-arch case. It accepts NHS orthodontic referrals for under-18s and offers free virtual consultations, plus hygienist services.
A good fit for: adults or teenagers whose main goal is orthodontic treatment rather than general dentistry.
What to ask before you pay for a private check-up
A headline price only tells you part of the story. When you phone, ask:
- What exactly does the first examination include? X-rays, an oral cancer screening and a written treatment plan are worth checking for.
- How long is the appointment, and is it with a dentist or a therapist?
- Will I get a written estimate before any further treatment starts?
- If I need finance, who is the lender, and what is the total amount payable?
- Do you also offer NHS care, in case I want to switch later?
The NHS says a dentist must tell you which treatments are NHS and which are private, and what each will cost. If you have a mix of NHS and private treatment, you should be given a written treatment plan to sign. Its guidance also makes a clear distinction: "The NHS provides clinically necessary treatment needed to keep your mouth, teeth and gums healthy." Cosmetic work is usually private.
It is also worth checking that anyone treating you is registered with the General Dental Council, which you can do on the GDC's online register, and looking up the practice's latest Care Quality Commission (CQC) report.
Private or NHS: a quick cost check
For context, an NHS Band 1 check-up in England costs £27.90 from 1 April 2026, including an examination, X-rays if needed and advice. Band 2 (£76.60) adds fillings, root canal treatment and extractions, and Band 3 (£332.10) adds crowns, dentures and bridges. Under-18s, pregnant women and new mothers, and people on some benefits get NHS dental care free. A private exam costs more, but it can be easier to book when NHS places are full. Compare what each fee includes rather than the price alone.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a private dental check-up in Lewisham?
Among the practices we checked, published new patient fees ranged from £49 at Smile Up Dental to £65 at Belmont Park Dental Care. Inspire Dental Lewisham charges £50, including an oral cancer screening and digital X-rays if required.
Can I see a dentist in Lewisham on a Saturday?
Yes. All four practices say they open on Saturdays, though hours vary. Inspire Dental Lewisham is open 9am to 5pm on Saturdays, Smile Up Dental until 4.30pm and Belmont Park Dental Care until 2pm.
Is dental finance a loan?
Yes. Even at 0%, dental finance is a credit agreement with a lender. Check the total amount payable and the term, and check the firm on the FCA Register before you sign.
Can I switch from private to NHS at the same practice?
Only if the practice offers NHS care and has capacity. Inspire Dental Lewisham offers both and says it accepts new NHS patients where capacity allows, so ask when you call.
Sources
- NHS: What dental services are available on the NHS
- NHS: Understanding NHS dental charges
- General Dental Council: Search the register
- FCA: Financial Services Register
General information only, not dental, medical or financial advice. Fees and hours were checked on each practice's website in October 2026 and may change; confirm directly before booking, and check the terms of any credit agreement before you sign.