Dr Clare Edwards has been a dentist at Park Street Dental in Thame for 10 years. Here she explains exactly what a thorough examination involves — and what she’d want every nervous or lapsed patient to know before they book.

There are a lot of reasons people put off going to the dentist. Life gets in the way. Anxiety builds. The longer the gap, the harder it feels to make the call. Dr Clare Edwards has heard them all — and she doesn’t judge any of them.

“There is no blame involved in not having had a check-up for a couple of years,” she says. “Life happens. We all have reasons why we don’t. And often when people haven’t been for a while, it’s actually because they’ve had no issues they were aware of.”

Her approach, when a lapsed patient finally comes through the door, is simple: set it aside and get on with it. “I just think — you’re here now. Let’s have a look.”

Who Is Clare Edwards?

Dr Clare Edwards has been working at Park Street Dental in Thame for around 10 years. She’s a general dentist whose day-to-day work covers the full backbone of dentistry: fillings, crowns, check-ups, and gum care.

What drew her to Park Street was the practice itself. “It was really important to me that all the regulation, the sterilisation, the paperwork — the backroom stuff — is done properly and correctly. That’s something I feel very strongly about.” She lives locally and has always valued being part of the community she works in. “I like living and working amongst my patients,” she says. “I like feeling part of things.”

What Happens at a Dental Check-Up?

If you’ve been putting off a visit, here’s exactly what to expect when you book in with Clare at Park Street Dental.

The appointment starts with a conversation. Before anything else, Clare will ask what you want from the appointment — whether you have specific concerns about your teeth, areas in your mouth, or even around your face. If there’s anything that makes you particularly anxious, she wants to know upfront.

“Some people don’t like having their gums probed,” she says, “and that’s something we do have to do — but if we know you don’t like it, we can do it very gently and very sensitively.”

Next comes a thorough medical history, followed by a careful examination of your whole mouth. Clare records everything she finds — a detailed picture of your dental health and any previous treatment. This record becomes valuable over time, building a clear picture of how your teeth are changing.

X-rays are usually taken at the first appointment. Clare will look at them alongside what she’s found in the examination, and she’ll talk you through everything she sees — she can even email them to you if you’d like. From there, you’ll either agree a treatment plan together, or she’ll give you options to go away and think about.

“And then we’ll set up some kind of plan,” she adds. “If everything’s okay, we’ll discuss when we need to see you again for check-ups.”

For Nervous Patients

For patients who feel anxious — and Clare sees many — the approach at Park Street Dental is built around flexibility and communication.

The receptionists are briefed. “They will always let me know in advance if a patient mentions they’re nervous on the phone,” Clare says. By the time you’re in the chair, she already knows.

From there, she takes time to understand exactly what makes you uncomfortable. It’s rarely just a vague sense of dread — often there’s something specific. “Some people are nervous of injections. Some don’t like the suction. Some don’t like lying back — they find it claustrophobic.”

For nervous patients, Clare books extra time. There’s no rushing. If you need a moment, you can sit up, take a breath, have some water. If you want to wear headphones, that’s absolutely fine.

“Dentistry is about the patient,” she says. “However, we can tweak things to still do our job properly, but enable you to feel comfortable — that’s fine with me.”

A Practice for the Whole Family

Park Street Dental is open Monday to Thursday until 6:30 pm, with last appointments around 5:45–6 pm. Clare knows this matters for families.

“We try to fit around whatever your needs are — children, adults, you can come in together, or separately, on your own. The later hours are sometimes really helpful, especially if you’re working or the kids are at school.”

New patients of all ages are welcome. If it’s been a while, or if you’re nervous, or if you’ve never quite found the right practice — this is the place to start.

Book a Dental Check-Up in Thame

Park Street Dental Clinic is at 34 Park Street, Thame, Oxfordshire, OX9 3HR. Open Monday to Thursday, 8:30 am–6:30 pm, and Friday, 8:30 am–4:00 pm.

To book a check-up with Dr Clare Edwards or any of our team, call 01844 215404.