Professor in Residence and Orthodontic Program Director

Dr. Tanya Al-Talib joined the UNLV School of Dental Medicine in spring 2015 where she serves as professor in residence, and director of the orthodontic residency program. She teaches orthodontics and dental sleep medicine courses across the pre-doctoral dental curriculum, as well as the post-doctoral pediatric dentistry and orthodontic residency programs.

Her scholarly and clinical interests include orthodontics, cone beam computed tomography (CBCT), and dental sleep medicine, with a particular focus on the management of obstructive sleep apnea.

Dr. Al-Talib earned her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree and an advanced education certificate in general dentistry from the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center School of Dentistry. She subsequently completed a master’s in orthodontics and an orthodontic certificate at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Adams School of Dentistry.

Dr. Al-Talib holds several leadership positions within national organizations. She serves as Nevada director for the Pacific Coast Society of Orthodontists (2022–2027), secretary-treasurer of the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine, and chair of the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine’s Academic Council Steering Committee. She is a diplomate of the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine, and is board-certified in orthodontics.

In clinical practice, Dr. Al-Talib provides comprehensive, patient-centered orthodontic care, offering thorough evaluations, precise diagnoses, and individualized treatment planning to address a full range of alignment and occlusal concerns. In addition, she is recognized for her expertise in the management of sleep-related breathing disorders. As a diplomate of the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine, she offers evidence-based dental treatment options for snoring and obstructive sleep apnea, including oral appliance therapy. Dr. Al-Talib collaborates closely with patients’ medical providers to coordinate interdisciplinary care and ensure appropriate follow-up for sleep-related breathing disorders.