Terms of Service

Welcome to Lava Dental. This website and the dental practice it describes are operated by Tatari Dental Associates, PLLC DBA Lava Dental Houston ("we," "us," or "our"). These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your access to and use of our website, services, and SMS messaging program. By accessing our website, scheduling appointments, or opting into our communications, you agree to be bound by these Terms.

Please read these Terms carefully before using our services. If you do not agree with any part of these Terms, please do not use our website or services.

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing or using Lava Dental's website, scheduling an appointment, receiving our services, or participating in our SMS messaging program, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms and our Privacy Policy.

We reserve the right to modify these Terms at any time. Changes will be effective immediately upon posting to our website. Your continued use of our services after any such changes constitutes your acceptance of the new Terms.

2. Use of Website and Services

Eligibility

You must be at least 18 years of age to use our website and services independently. If you are under 18, you may use our services only with the involvement and consent of a parent or legal guardian.

Permitted Use

You agree to use our website and services only for lawful purposes and in accordance with these Terms. You agree not to:

• Use the website in any way that violates any applicable federal, state, local, or international law
• Impersonate or attempt to impersonate Lava Dental, our employees, other users, or any other person or entity
• Engage in any conduct that restricts or inhibits anyone's use or enjoyment of the website
• Use any automated system, including "robots," "spiders," or "offline readers," to access the website
• Transmit any viruses, malware, or other harmful code
• Attempt to gain unauthorized access to any portion of the website or any systems or networks connected to the website

Account Security

If you create an account on our patient portal or website, you are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials and for all activities that occur under your account. You agree to notify us immediately of any unauthorized use of your account.

3. Consent to Be Contacted

By providing your telephone number to Tatari Dental Associates, PLLC DBA Lava Dental Houston — on our website forms, by phone, by text, or in person — you consent to be contacted by us at that number. We separate SMS consent into two independent categories, and consenting to one does not consent you to the other:

Transactional and Conversational Messages

When you provide your mobile number to book or manage care, you consent to receive service-related, non-marketing text messages and calls from us, including:

• Appointment confirmations, reminders, and scheduling changes
• Recall and re-care notices
• Post-treatment follow-ups and care instructions
• Billing and account notifications
• Two-way replies to conversations you initiate with our office

Marketing and Promotional Messages

We send marketing or promotional text messages — special offers, promotions, practice news, and oral-health tips — only if you separately and expressly opt in to marketing texts, for example by checking an unchecked marketing checkbox on one of our forms. Marketing texts are off by default; booking an appointment or providing your number for scheduling purposes never enrolls you in marketing messages.

Consent Is Not a Condition of Service

Consent to receive text messages — transactional or marketing — is not a condition of booking an appointment, receiving treatment, or purchasing any goods or services. If you prefer not to receive texts, we will communicate with you by phone or email.

Opting Out

You may revoke your SMS consent at any time by replying STOP to any text message from us. You will receive one final message confirming your opt-out, after which no further messages will be sent to you from that message stream. You may also opt out by calling (281) 741-7400, emailing info@lava.dental, or telling any team member in person. Transactional and marketing consents can be revoked independently; opting out of marketing texts does not stop appointment reminders unless you ask us to stop those as well.

Message Frequency, Rates, and Help

Message frequency varies with your appointment schedule and the services you receive — typically up to 4–6 messages per month, with more around scheduled appointments or during active treatment. Message and data rates may apply; contact your mobile carrier for details about your plan. For help at any time, reply HELP to any message or contact us at (281) 741-7400.

We do not share your mobile number with third parties for their own marketing purposes. See our Privacy Policy for full details on how mobile information is handled.

Carrier Liability Disclaimer

Wireless carriers are not liable for delayed or undelivered messages. Lava Dental and its SMS service providers are not responsible for messages that are blocked, filtered, or delayed by your mobile carrier; that fail to deliver due to network congestion, technical issues, or service outages; or for any costs or charges imposed by your wireless carrier. Our SMS program is supported by major U.S. wireless carriers; service may not be available on all carriers or in all areas.

SMS Program Modification

We reserve the right to modify or discontinue our SMS messaging program at any time with or without notice, including the types of messages sent and message frequency, as needed to improve our services or comply with legal requirements.

4. Appointment Scheduling and Cancellation

Appointment Requests

Appointment requests made through our website, phone, or SMS are not confirmed until you receive a confirmation from our office. We will make every effort to accommodate your preferred date and time.

Cancellation Policy

We require at least 24–48 hours advance notice for appointment cancellations or changes. Late cancellations or missed appointments may result in a cancellation fee. Repeated missed appointments may affect your ability to schedule future appointments.

Emergency Care

For dental emergencies, please call our office immediately at (281) 741-7400. Do not rely on SMS, email, or website contact forms for emergency communications, as these are not monitored 24/7.

5. Patient Responsibilities

As a patient or visitor to our practice, you agree to:

• Provide accurate, current, and complete information about yourself and your health history
• Update your contact information, including mobile phone number, email, and address, promptly when changes occur
• Arrive on time for scheduled appointments
• Follow treatment plans and post-treatment instructions provided by our dental professionals
• Make timely payment for services rendered according to our payment policies
• Treat our staff, providers, and other patients with respect and courtesy
• Comply with all office policies and procedures

6. Payment Terms and Financial Policies

Payment for services is due at the time of treatment unless other arrangements have been made in advance. We accept various forms of payment including cash, credit cards, debit cards, and checks. We also offer payment plans and financing options for qualifying patients.

You are responsible for understanding your dental insurance benefits and any out-of-pocket costs. While we will submit claims to your insurance company as a courtesy, you remain ultimately responsible for all charges. Any insurance payments received will be credited to your account, and you are responsible for any remaining balance.

7. Intellectual Property Rights

All content on our website, including text, graphics, logos, images, videos, software, and other materials, is the property of Tatari Dental Associates, PLLC DBA Lava Dental Houston or its content suppliers and is protected by United States and international copyright and trademark laws.

You may not reproduce, distribute, modify, create derivative works from, publicly display, or publicly perform any content from our website without our express written permission.

8. Privacy and Data Protection

Your privacy is important to us. Our collection, use, and disclosure of your personal and health information is governed by our Privacy Policy, which is incorporated into these Terms by reference.

Our Privacy Policy includes detailed information about what personal and health information we collect, how we use and share your information, SMS program privacy practices, cookie and tracking technology usage, your privacy rights, HIPAA compliance, and data security measures.

We comply with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and maintain the privacy and security of your protected health information in accordance with federal and state laws.

9. Third-Party Links and Services

Our website may contain links to third-party websites, applications, or services that are not owned or controlled by Tatari Dental Associates, PLLC DBA Lava Dental Houston. We have no control over and assume no responsibility for the content, privacy policies, or practices of any third-party websites or services.

We strongly advise you to review the terms and privacy policies of any third-party websites or services that you visit or use.

10. Disclaimer of Warranties

Our website and services are provided on an "AS IS" and "AS AVAILABLE" basis without warranties of any kind, either express or implied, including but not limited to warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, or non-infringement.

We do not warrant that our website or services will be uninterrupted, timely, secure, or error-free; that the results obtained will be accurate or reliable; that any errors will be corrected; or that our website will be free from viruses or other harmful components.

The information provided on our website is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always seek the advice of your dentist or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a dental condition or treatment.

11. Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, Tatari Dental Associates, PLLC DBA Lava Dental Houston, its officers, directors, employees, and agents shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, or any loss of profits or revenues, whether incurred directly or indirectly, or any loss of data, use, goodwill, or other intangible losses resulting from:

• Your access to or use of, or inability to access or use, our website or services
• Any conduct or content of any third party on our website
• Any content obtained from our website
• Unauthorized access, use, or alteration of your transmissions or content
• Failed, delayed, or undelivered SMS messages

12. Indemnification

You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless Tatari Dental Associates, PLLC DBA Lava Dental Houston, its affiliates, licensors, and service providers, and its and their respective officers, directors, employees, contractors, agents, licensors, suppliers, successors, and assigns from and against any claims, liabilities, damages, judgments, awards, losses, costs, expenses, or fees (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising out of or relating to your violation of these Terms or your use of our website or services.

13. Governing Law and Dispute Resolution

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Texas, without regard to its conflict of law provisions.

Any legal action or proceeding arising under these Terms will be brought exclusively in the federal or state courts located in Harris County, Texas, and you hereby consent to personal jurisdiction and venue in such courts.

14. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is held to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable, the validity, legality, and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired, and such provision shall be reformed to the minimum extent necessary to make it valid, legal, and enforceable.

15. Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy and any other legal notices or agreements published by us on our website, constitute the entire agreement between you and Tatari Dental Associates, PLLC DBA Lava Dental Houston regarding your use of our website and services.

16. Waiver

No waiver of any term or condition of these Terms shall be deemed a further or continuing waiver of such term or condition or any other term or condition, and any failure to assert a right or provision under these Terms shall not constitute a waiver of such right or provision.

17. Contact Information

If you have any questions about these Terms of Service, please contact us:

Tatari Dental Associates, PLLC DBA Lava Dental Houston
6915 Antoine Dr, Ste 100
Houston, TX 77091

Phone: (281) 741-7400
Email: info@lava.dental
Website: https://www.lavadentalhouston.com/

Office Hours:
Mon – Thu: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Friday: Closed
Sat – Sun: Closed

For SMS Program Support:
Text HELP to any message or call (281) 741-7400

This document should be reviewed by qualified legal counsel before publication. Have counsel review for compliance with applicable state and federal laws.