Meet Chiarina Iregui D.D.S.
As one of the only South Sound dentists who is committed to sleep therapy full time, Dr. Iregui is dedicated to helping patients understand the connection between snoring, sleep apnea, and their overall health.
Committed to the Higher Standard
‘‘The more I learn about sleep, the more I want to learn. Sleep is such a vital part of our wellbeing and so many people are not getting the quality and/or quantity they need in order to live a healthy life. I have dedicated my practice of dentistry exclusively to treating patients who suffer from obstructive sleep apnea, and remain the only dentist in Gig Harbor to do so. In November of 2014, I committed myself to work toward obtaining the title of Diplomat of the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine. This is in addition to taking more than 50 hours of dental sleep medicine continuing education per year.”
Dr. Iregui's Road to Dentistry
Dr. Iregui joined SoundBridge Center for Dental Arts in the fall of 2013. With her children in school full time, she had debated what her next step in life would be. A dentist by profession, she was brought into the practice to help Dawn with administrative responsibilities. As luck would have it, sleep apnea and the role of dentistry in its treatment was also coming to the forefront in the dental profession. In the spring of 2013, Dr. Bloomquist and Dr. Iregui joined together to open SoundBridge Dental Sleep Therapy.
Dr. Iregui did her undergraduate work at Washington University in St. Louis and graduated in 1988 with a Bachelors in Biology and a minor in dance. She then attended the University of Missouri - Kansas School of Dentistry where she received her DDS in 1992.
She completed her training at Denver General Hospital as a General Practice Resident in 1993. Dr. Iregui has practiced restorative dentistry full time in Denver, Colorado, in Lake of the Ozarks and St. Louis, Missouri. She also taught operative dentistry part time at Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine.
In 1998, Chiarina began working full-time at the dental school as Director of the Advanced Education in General Dentistry Residency as well as maintained her private practice one day a week.
Dr. Iregui has dedicated her practice of dentistry exclusively to treating patients who suffer from obstructive sleep apnea. Starting in November of 2014, Dr. Iregui committed herself to work towards obtaining the title of Diplomate of the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine. Diplomate Status is the gold standard of dental sleep medicine, demonstrating that a dentist has the technical skills, in-depth knowledge, and professional judgment to provide optimal oral appliance therapy treatment.
In June of 2017, Dr. Iregui earned her Diplomate status of the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine. She is one of only two Diplomates in Pierce, Kitsap, and Thurston Counties. In addition, she obtained over 50 hours of dental sleep medicine continuing education each year to keep giving her patients the optimal care they deserve.
SoundBridge Dental Sleep Therapy was founded in 2013!
When her husband completed his Fellowship in Pulmonary Critical Care and Sleep Medicine in 2002 at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, Dr. Iregui and her family relocated to Gig Harbor, Washington. Chiarina stayed home with their three children until re-entering the dental profession here at SoundBridge.
Shortly after Dr. Iregui joined the practice, she and Dr. Bloomquist began talking about sleep apnea and the role that dentistry can play in treating patients who suffer from it. That was the start of SoundBridge Dental Sleep Therapy. Both Dr. Bloomquist and Dr. Iregui attended conferences and courses on sleep apnea for several months prior to treating patients in this area of dentistry.
Now that you’ve met Dr. Iregui…
...get to know our wonderful dental team.
Want to know more about the dental arts?
Check out our restorative and cosmetic dental treatments.