Sam Bass Family Dentistry

10/09/2026

Ethan – Our Hero in the Back
Ethan is truly our hero in the back! He is one of the most responsible, sincere, and lovable members of our office. Despite having a very busy video-gaming schedule 😄, he somehow manages to show up to work every single day and always gives his best. He genuinely appreciates his work and takes pride in what he does.

As the only man in our office, Ethan has definitely found himself surrounded by a whole lot of love😊 But he fits right in and has become an important part of our work family.

When it comes to Invisalign and iTero scans, no one can beat Ethan. He is an absolute pro! If there is something that needs to be scanned or figured out, Ethan is our go-to guy.

And honestly, he seems to know everything about our office. There is probably nothing going on that Ethan doesn't know about! From the little things to the big things, he is always there to help and keep things moving.

Most importantly, Ethan isn't just our coworker—we are his family, and he is ours. We are so lucky to have our dependable, talented, and lovable hero in the back!

10/02/2026

Dr. C is an exceptional person and an excellent practitioner whose extensive experience, versatility, and passion for dentistry will be a wonderful asset to our team.

Dr. Tarana Chhatriwala is dedicated to providing quality-focused, comprehensive dental care. After earning her dental degree from the University of Mumbai in 1999, she moved to the United States following her marriage. Continuing to pursue her passion for dentistry, she graduated as Class Valedictorian from the International Dentist Program at Loma Linda University School of Dentistry in California.

Dr. C practiced general and cosmetic dentistry in the Chicagoland area and Connecticut before relocating to Austin in 2016.

She takes pride in providing gentle, compassionate care, particularly for children and patients who experience dental anxiety or fear. Dr. C is a member of the American Academy of General Dentistry and the International Association of Orthodontics. She is also certified in Invisalign, TMD (Temporomandibular Disorder), and sleep apnea and snoring treatment using dental appliances.

Outside of dentistry, Dr. C enjoys travel, adventure, and exploring the Round Rock and Austin area.

We are excited to have her as part of our team and look forward to serving our patients together.

Thank you for your continued support and trust in our practice!

09/29/2026

Huge THANK YOU to Dr. Mo over at Wyoming Springs Orthodontics for this sweet treat this morning for

09/28/2026

Marilene Galvez, aka Mari

Mari needs no introduction! She has been part of our team for more than 10 years and has truly become someone we can all count on. As our Office Manager, she plays an important role in keeping everything running smoothly while always making sure our patients and team members feel welcomed and cared for.

Mari is a genuine people person, known for her exceptional customer service, patience, and ability to listen with care. She brings warmth and positivity to the office and has a wonderful way of making everyone feel heard and valued.

Beyond her amazing work as an Office Manager, Mari has a fantastic sense of style and is definitely our resident fashionista! She looks beautiful in everything she wears and somehow manages to bring her own sense of style to the office every day.

As Jaedyn says, “She gives me laughs while on insurance calls.” 😊

Mari brings leadership, laughter, kindness, and style to our team every day. We are so lucky to have had her as part of our work family for more than a decade!

09/28/2026

Introducing Dr Ramavajla
Dr. Ramavajla is a caring and approachable dentist who is passionate about helping patients of all ages feel comfortable, confident, and well cared for in the dental chair. With over five years of clinical experience and advanced training in Orofacial Pain and TMJ Disorders from Rutgers School of Dental Medicine, she brings a unique and valuable skill set that complements the expertise of Dr. C and Dr. G.
Her advanced training and experience in pain management allow her to evaluate and treat a variety of complex conditions involving the jaw, face, and head, including:
TMJ disorders
Orofacial pain
Headaches, including cluster headaches, neurovascular pain
Trigeminal neuralgia
Neuropathic pain
Post-root-canal (RCT) pain
Other dental and facial pain conditions like Myofascial pain.
In addition to her expertise in orofacial pain, Dr. Ramavajla provides a broad range of general and restorative dental care. She is comfortable performing selected molar root canals, Invisalign treatment, crowns, veneers, fillings, and extractions, allowing her to care for many of her patients' dental needs under one roof.
Dr. Ramavajla believes that dental care should be a positive experience for the whole family. She takes the time to listen carefully, explain treatment options in an easy-to-understand way, and create personalized care plans for each patient. Her goal is to make every patient feel welcomed, heard, understood, and cared for.
Outside of dentistry, Dr. Ramavajla enjoys traveling and spending quality time with her two children.
We are thrilled to have Dr. Vaishnavi Ramavajla join our team and look forward to the compassion, expertise, and comprehensive care she will bring to our patients.
Please join us in giving Dr. Ramavajla a warm welcome to our practice

11/30/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/1D9rFAk9Bw/

Chewing gum can shed microplastics into saliva.

A recent pilot study led by researchers at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) has revealed that chewing gum can shed microplastics into saliva — and potentially into our bodies.

The researchers asked one volunteer to chew ten popular gum brands for up to 20 minutes, collecting saliva samples at regular intervals. They found that a typical gum piece released on average ≈ 100 microplastic particles per gram — with some shedding up to ~600 per gram, which could amount to ≈ 3,000 particles per stick.

Importantly, 94% of the microplastics were released within the first 8 minutes of chewing. The types of polymers included common plastics like polyolefins and polystyrenes — and crucially, “natural” gums shed microplastics at rates similar to synthetic ones.

While it remains unclear how harmful these microplastics are to human health, this study highlights chewing gum as a previously overlooked source of plastic exposure. For regular gum chewers — particularly those chewing many pieces per year — the cumulative intake may be non-trivial. As a precautionary note, reducing gum consumption or extending the chewing duration of a single piece (rather than frequently switching pieces) could limit microplastic ingestion.

📄 Source: American Chemical Society. "Chewing gum can shed microplastics into saliva, pilot study finds. 2025.

06/12/2025

It’s that time of year again—back to school! We're collecting school supplies to help local kids start the year strong, and we'd love your help.
If you’d like to donate, just bring any new school supplies to our office between now and July 10th.

📍 Drop-off at: Sam Bass Family Dentistry
🕒 During office hours: 8-5 Monday to Thursday, 8-1 Friday
Thanks so much for helping us support our community!
Best,
Dr. Rupa Govindarajan

05/15/2025

Thank you so much SmileOn Orthodontics for this tasty ice cream party on this hot day!

05/09/2025

10 years strong—smiles made, trust earned 💜