A Career Focused on Helping People Feel Better
Dr. Ross entered the dental field long before she became a dentist. She began as a dental assistant, continued her education in dental hygiene, and worked as a hygienist before deciding to attend dental school. Each step gave her another perspective on what patients experience in the dental setting. It also reinforced her interest in the many ways oral health can connect with overall health, including breathing and sleep. Today, that perspective supports Healthy Sleep Tulsa’s mission to help patients Breathe More, Live More, and thrive more.
Dr. Ross’s Education and Experience
Dr. Ross earned both her undergraduate degree and dental degree from the University of Oklahoma. After dental school, she remained at the university to complete an Advanced Education in General Dentistry residency.
She has now practiced dentistry for more than two decades. Her career has included continued education in areas related to airway health, sleep apnea, and oral function.
At Healthy Sleep Tulsa, she brings that experience to a practice dedicated specifically to helping patients with sleep and airway concerns.
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Helping Tulsa Patients With Sleep and Airway Concerns
Sleep-disordered breathing can affect much more than the nighttime hours. Patients may struggle with loud snoring, poor-quality sleep, daytime fatigue, morning headaches, or difficulty concentrating without immediately realizing their airway may be involved.
Dr. Ross helps patients take those concerns seriously without making the process feel intimidating. Evaluation begins with understanding symptoms, medical history, previous treatment, and what the patient hopes to improve.
When obstructive sleep apnea is suspected, Healthy Sleep Tulsa can help coordinate appropriate sleep testing. A qualified medical provider diagnoses sleep apnea, and our team can then help patients explore dental treatment when appropriate.
Oral Appliance Options for Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Some patients with obstructive sleep apnea benefit from a custom oral appliance designed to maintain an open airway during sleep. These appliances reposition the lower jaw and related tissues to help reduce airway obstruction.
Dr. Ross works within our team-based approach to oral appliance therapy. Treatment is individualized rather than based on a single appliance for every patient.
Our process may include:
- Reviewing the patient’s sleep diagnosis and treatment history
- Evaluating the teeth, bite, jaw, and airway
- Discussing available appliance options
- Taking digital records for appliance fabrication
- Adjusting the appliance over time
- Coordinating follow-up sleep testing to evaluate treatment
- Continuing periodic follow-up after the initial treatment phase
For patients who already use CPAP, our doctors can also determine whether combining an oral appliance with positive airway pressure therapy may be worth discussing with the patient’s sleep physician.
Supporting Oral Function Across Different Ages
Airway health can also be affected by the way the tongue and surrounding oral structures function. Restrictive oral tissues may interfere with normal tongue movement and can be associated with concerns involving feeding, speech, oral function, or breathing patterns.
Healthy Sleep Tulsa provides lip- and tongue-tie releases for infants, children, and adults when appropriate. Each patient is evaluated individually so families can understand the restriction, treatment considerations, and expected follow-up.
Our team also considers how muscle function may influence long-term results. In some cases, myofunctional therapy may complement other airway-focused care by helping patients develop healthier patterns of tongue, lip, and mouth and throat muscle function.
Treatment Is More Than a Single Appointment
Dr. Ross and the Healthy Sleep Tulsa team believe airway care should include ongoing evaluation. For patients receiving oral appliances, we do not consider treatment complete simply because an appliance has been delivered.
Our structured follow-up includes an in-office appointment approximately two months after appliance delivery. Patients also receive six-month and yearly telemedicine visits, and titration sleep studies help evaluate how effectively the appliance is supporting treatment.
If a primary care physician or sleep physician referred the patient to Healthy Sleep Tulsa, our team also provides follow-up communication. This helps keep the patient’s healthcare providers informed about treatment progress.
A Comfortable, Educational Approach to Care
Healthcare decisions are easier when patients understand what is happening and why a treatment is being recommended. Dr. Ross values clear conversations that give patients and parents room to ask questions.
That educational approach is especially important when families are navigating unfamiliar topics such as sleep testing, oral appliances, airway concerns, or restrictive oral tissues. Our goal is to explain these issues in plain language and make the next step feel manageable.
Patients seeking help for sleep apnea can begin with a complimentary sleep consultation. The visit provides an opportunity to discuss concerns, see samples of the oral appliances we use, and learn whether additional testing or evaluation may be appropriate.
Professional Memberships and Continued Learning
Dr. Ross continues to participate in professional dentistry through education and organized dentistry. Staying engaged with the profession supports the broad clinical foundation she brings to Healthy Sleep Tulsa.
Her confirmed professional memberships include:
- American Dental Association
- Oklahoma Dental Association
Her continued education throughout her career reflects an interest in expanding how dentistry can support patients’ health and quality of life.