At Newport Beach Dental Center, we offer Obstructive Sleep Apnea/OSA consultations for patients who are looking for answers and options. Dr. Laura Sharbash, DDS, FAGD, D.ABDSM, holds a Diplomate credential from the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine, one of the most rigorous credentials available in the field of dental sleep medicine, and she brings that depth of knowledge to every patient she evaluates. Our Obstructive Sleep Apnea/OSA treatment page covers the treatment options we offer and what the broader care process looks like.
Why So Many Sleep Apnea Cases Go Undiagnosed
Obstructive Sleep Apnea/OSA is one of the most underdiagnosed conditions in adult health. A CDC research study on sleep disorder symptoms among U.S. adults found that snoring and observed breathing disruptions during sleep are prevalent across the adult population, yet most people do not connect these symptoms to a diagnosable condition requiring treatment. Many normalize daytime fatigue, morning headaches, or restless sleep, attributing them to stress, aging, or lifestyle rather than a sleep-related breathing disorder.
That gap between prevalence and diagnosis is exactly why the first consultation matters so much. It is not just about confirming a suspicion; it is about getting a clear picture of what is happening and putting a plan in place.
What Happens at a Sleep Apnea/OSA Consultation?
A first Obstructive Sleep Apnea/OSA consultation at Newport Beach Dental Center is a conversation as much as it is a clinical evaluation. We want to understand your symptoms, your sleep history, and how you have been feeling, and we will walk through questions about snoring frequency, whether you wake gasping or unrefreshed, how sleepy you feel during the day, and whether any existing health conditions may be connected to disrupted sleep.
From there, Dr. Sharbash conducts an oral and airway examination to evaluate anatomical factors that commonly contribute to Obstructive Sleep Apnea/OSA, such as the size and positioning of the jaw, tongue, and soft palate. This exam helps determine whether oral appliance therapy may be a good fit and gives us important baseline information before any treatment decisions are made.
The Role of a Sleep Study
It is important to understand that dentists do not diagnose Obstructive Sleep Apnea/OSA. Diagnosis requires a formal sleep study, typically ordered and interpreted by a physician or sleep medicine specialist. What we do at the consultation is assess risk, identify signs that warrant a referral, and work collaboratively with the medical team once a diagnosis is confirmed.
If you have already completed a sleep study and received a diagnosis, bring that documentation to your consultation. It allows Dr. Sharbash to move directly into evaluating which treatment approach is most appropriate for your case and begin planning accordingly. If you have not yet had a sleep study and your evaluation suggests significant risk, we will walk you through the next steps for getting one. Our blog on how to get diagnosed for Obstructive Sleep Apnea/OSA offers additional context on what that process involves.
What Treatment May Look Like
For patients who are not able to tolerate CPAP therapy, or who prefer a less cumbersome alternative, oral appliance therapy is a well-supported option for mild to moderate Obstructive Sleep Apnea/OSA. A custom-fit oral appliance works by gently repositioning the jaw during sleep to keep the airway open. It is compact, quiet, and does not require a machine or mask, which makes it significantly easier for many patients to use consistently.
At Newport Beach Dental Center, oral appliances are fitted, adjusted, and monitored with the same careful attention Dr. Sharbash applies to all of her general dentistry care. Follow-up visits are part of the process, as proper titration and monitoring are essential to achieving the best outcomes. You can learn more about Dr. Sharbash’s background in dental sleep medicine on her provider page.
Schedule Your Consultation at Newport Beach Dental Center
If you have been experiencing symptoms of Obstructive Sleep Apnea/OSA or have recently received a diagnosis and want to explore your treatment options, a consultation with Dr. Laura Sharbash, DDS, FAGD, D.ABDSM, is a practical and informative next step. Her combination of general dental training and advanced sleep medicine credentialing means you receive care that addresses the full picture, not just a single piece of it.
We welcome patients from Newport Beach and the surrounding communities who are ready to take their sleep health seriously. Request an appointment online and our team will reach out to schedule your visit.
