Meet Dr. Clare McGorry Dempsey

Dr. Dempsey earned her undergraduate degree from the Honors College at the College of Charleston before completing dental school at The Ohio State University College of Dentistry, where she graduated magna cum laude in 2016. She went on to complete a general practice residency at the Washington, DC Veterans Affairs Medical Center in 2017, building a strong foundation in comprehensive patient care.

For the past nine years, Dr. Dempsey has practiced dentistry in the West End of Washington, DC, with expertise spanning general, cosmetic and sleep dentistry. She has developed a particular passion for minimally invasive resin composite bonding and ceramic veneers, and takes pride in creating smiles that are as natural as they are transformative — combining artistry with a gentle, patient-centered approach.

Dr. Dempsey also brings specialized expertise in dental sleep medicine. She has completed more than 200 hours of continuing education through the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine (AADSM) and she became a Diplomate of the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine (ABDSM) in 2020 — one of only 4 dentists in Washington, DC to earn this distinction. In this capacity, she collaborates closely with physicians to design custom oral appliances as an alternative or adjunct therapy to CPAP for patients with obstructive sleep apnea. Her leadership in the field runs deep: she has served for the past two years on the AADSM's national Board of Directors, following an earlier tenure as chair of the organization's Education Committee.

Beyond sleep medicine, Dr. Dempsey is deeply engaged in organized dentistry at both the local and national level. She currently serves as Membership Chair for the DC Dental Society, following six years on its Board of Directors, and represents Washington, DC as a delegate to the American Dental Association.

Dr. Dempsey was drawn to dentistry by its unique blend of artistry, science, and human connection — the opportunity to change lives through beautiful, healthy smiles while building genuine relationships with her patients. She is committed to individualized, comfortable care that puts patients at ease in the chair and leaves them happy with their results.

Dr. Dempsey has been named Washingtonian magazine's Top Dentist in 2023, 2025, and 2026, and was a runner-up in Washington City Paper's Readers' Choice awards for Best Dentist in 2024.

Outside the practice, Dr. Dempsey lives on Capitol Hill with her husband, Brian, and their newborn son, Edward Bennett ("Ted"), who arrived this past summer. She comes from a large, close-knit family and grew up in Buffalo, New York, where she became a lifelong Buffalo Bills fan. She enjoys cooking, gardening, discovering new restaurants, hiking, skiing, and spending time outdoors with family and friends