Meet Dr. Lauren Austin

Dr. Lauren Austin was born and raised in the Spring area and attended Klein High School, where she met her husband, Hayden. She attended Texas A&M University and graduated Magna Cum Laude with a dual degree in biomedical science and nutrition. For her dental degree, she attended the University of Texas School of Dentistry at Houston, where she excelled in patient relations and clinical skills.

From day one of dental school, Dr. Austin knew that dentistry was what she was born to do. The technical aspect thrills her because every day brings a new challenge with regards to restoring a patient’s smile. She loves working with her hands, perfecting the “art” of smile design and restoration, and also being able to provide relief for patients who are in pain. The “people” aspect of dentistry is equally as thrilling to her. Dr. Austin loves being around people, talking to them (sometimes too much), hearing about what’s going on in their lives, and being a part of the community she grew up in. Being a part of a team that is passionate about those same things is a blessing to her.

In her personal life, Dr. Austin and her husband, Hayden, have three beautiful daughters, Hayley, Katelyn, and Taylor. They often spend their weekends cheering the girls on during soccer games, volunteering with girl scouts, mentoring at a local group foster home (Hearts with Hope), and her favorite — grilling some steaks and chilling out on the back patio. Dr. Austin looks forward to getting to know you and your family, too!

Dr. Jordy Geiler

Dr. Jordy Geiler was raised in Houston, TX where she attended Friendswood High School. As a lover of all things science and nature, she attended The University of Texas at Austin where she attained her B.S. in Cell and Molecular Biology and graduated as a member of the Biomedical Sciences Honors Program. She then received her M.S. in Biomedical Sciences from William Carey University in Hattiesburg, Mississippi before starting dental school at Roseman University in Salt Lake City, Utah. During dental school, she applied her love of science and oral health to numerous research topics in oral cancer, HPV, and e-cigarettes with the goal of improving treatment outcomes for patients. She graduated with a 4.0 GPA, received a scholarship for her efforts in oral cancer research from the American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, and was recruited to become a member of the Pierre Fauchard Lifetime Dental Honor Society.

Dr. Geiler always knew she wanted to use her passion for science and health to deliver exceptional, evidence-based patient care. She believes it is important to stay up to date on current research because new findings can greatly impact treatment options available to patients. Her favorite part about dentistry is bonding with patients while offering a solution to their oral health concerns. She strives to provide patients with options to improve their oral health and is most excited when she can help patients overcome their dental fears.

Outside of work, Dr. Geiler and her husband, Hayden (but not the same Hayden as Dr. Austin’s Hayden), love going on adventures or traveling. You can usually find them eating tacos, hiking, camping, scuba diving, and/or hanging out with their long-haired German shepherd, Rashka.

Troy Mannino, DDS

Dr. Troy Mannino is a board-certified dentist who has extensive experience in both private practice and community dentistry for over 30 years. After he received his BA in biology from Lamar University in 1984, Dr. Mannino attended the University of Texas dental branch in Houston and graduated in 1988. He has spent most of his prestigious dental career in the Houston area, as well as three years in Indiana practicing dentistry. Over the years, Dr. Mannino has become well known in the Houston area for his cosmetic work as well as his friendly, talkative chairside manner! He even speaks clinical Spanish to accommodate all patients for diagnostic and treatment purposes. Dr. Mannino is married to Marcela, a physician specializing in infectious diseases, and he has three boys, Anthony, Nicholas, and Leonardo. During his free time, he enjoys spending time with his family barbequing, cooking Italian food, reading, and watching television shows about scientific topics.

Tara BullardRDH

Tara has over 22 years of experience in dental hygiene. She graduated with her BS from The University of Oklahoma Dental Hygiene Program in 2000. She practiced in Tulsa, Oklahoma until moving to Spring with her husband, Chad, in 2003. They have two teenage boys who keep them busy with all of their activities and sports.

Tara has been with Texas Star Dental since 2019. She strives to make a true connection with each of her patients with the hope of making them feel at ease and making a difference in their oral health. With a “soft touch” she tries to create a pleasant, pain-free experience for everyone while providing the best possible care.

Outside of the office, she enjoys staying physically active with activities including running, skiing, golfing, and walking her two goldendoodles! She also loves traveling and spending time with friends and family.

CHRISTINA HARPRDH

Christina Harp graduated from the dental Hygiene Program at San Juan College in 2004. After her graduation, Christina worked for her general dentist in New Mexico until her husband was transferred to the great state of Texas in 2009. Since moving to Texas, Christina’s skill and knowledge has grown exponentially, eventually leading her to become a coach for other dental practices to help their hygiene programs excel in patient care and clinical skill! Even though she has helped (and still helps) coach many other offices, Christina has called Texas Star Dental “home” since 2017. She has a passion for educating patients, not just with words, but also by showing photos and explaining treatment in such a way that everyone who sits in her chair understands how to improve their oral health.

Christina has been married for 29 years to her college sweetheart. She has a talented and beautiful daughter who has graduated from Texas A&M and is now a successful wife and mother. She also has a humble and handsome son who is attending Texas State University. Christina and her family work hard and play hard, with fitness and nutrition being an important part of their lifestyle.

Virginia Martinez Office Manager

Virginia has been working in the dental field for over 14 years! Her career began in 2008, when she completed the Dental Assistant Program at Lonestar College. She worked as a dental assistant for a few years before moving to the “front office” and learned to combine her clinical knowledge with the administrative aspects of the industry. Virginia has called Texas Star Dental “home” since 2014 and finds great pride working in an office with a great reputation! She truly enjoys educating patients on their dental health and helping them make the best decision for their recommended treatment. She is fluent in both English and Spanish, allowing her to communicate with patients in their native tongue and making trips to the dentist easier and more comfortable for all!

If you are ever wondering on how to maximize your insurance benefits or have any questions about your account, she is also your go-to girl! Virginia’s passion for dentistry and lifelong learning continued to motivate her to complete an AS in Science at Lonestar College and she’s now currently working to complete her business degree in Health Care Administration!

In her spare time, she enjoys reading, spending time with family and friends, being active in her community, and of course, snuggling next to her fur baby May!