Photography By Margaret Licarione

Imagine going to a dentist with a “no fear practice.” Add to that a calming ambience that creates a comfortable, state-of-the-art, Zen-like environment. 

Serving complimentary gourmet coffees and providing a tea and lemon water bar, an Internet bar and warm, scented towelettes post-treatment, this practice comes almost as close to heaven as a dental practice can.

Once you enter the treatment rooms, there are flat-screen TVs, pillows and blankets and the best experience you will have at the dentist. During the holiday season, guests were even greeted with warm, freshly baked cookies upon arrival. 

As Grace Lim Kim, vice president of operations at NuYu Dental, says, “we love to pamper our guests.” Dr. Kevin Kim, the main dentist at NuYu Dental, adds with a smile, “Yes, we like to welcome our patients as guests.”

From the beginning of the dental exam, you know you are in the right chair with one of the most intelligent, progressive and caring dentists you have ever met. Not only does the present reflect Kevin’s character, but his past dental career speaks volumes. 

In August 1999, Kevin and his wife, Grace, were part of a dental health missions team that built a 3,500-square-foot community center and “educated the local community on the importance of good oral hygiene in Managua, Nicaragua,” Grace says. 

“We built the community center next door to the families [who] live in disparate conditions,” Kevin adds. “The center provided a centralized location for the community and facilitated access to information, education and resources.”

Kevin’s upbringing taught him how to give back. “This is how the universe works.”

Some of his other global volunteer work includes performing fillings and extractions for locals in the mountainous region of Guadalupe Victoria, Mexico, and helping develop a dental outreach program in the Kiribati Islands.

Being a “homegrown” Californian, Kevin is both excited and enthusiastic to bring his years of dental experience to the greater Austin-Round Rock community with exceptional dentistry. 

After completing his dental degree at Loma Linda University, one of the nation’s leading Christian universities in dental research, Kevin continues to stay abreast with dental technologies and extensive continuing education. 

He is a proud member of the American Dental Association, the Texas Dental Association, the Capital Area Dental Society and the Round Rock Chamber of Commerce.

In 2005, Kevin got recruited to Houston, where he practiced for five years. Moving to Austin a year ago, Kevin and Grace really enjoy the progressive attitudes “that Austinites promote: healthy living, sustainability and the beautiful green hills of Central Texas Hill Country,” Grace says. “All sorts of inspiring imagery rises when we think of living in Austin.”

Spending the year researching and location scouting for NuYu Dental, they launched NuYu Dental in July 2011. Although the practice is located in Round Rock, guests go to see the doctor from all parts of Austin.

It seems that NuYu’s philosophy fits in extremely well with Austin. And let’s not forget Round Rock and the surrounding cities.

The inspiration and desire to uplift the community in living a healthier life by excellent dental care can be seen in the NuYu logo. The brown hand tree trunk represents the NuYu philosophy of “reaching out” to the community.

The “new growth green leaves” developing from the foundation of a strong tree trunk is “growth as a result of trust, rapport and integrity as the foundation in the patient-and-doctor relationship,” Kevin emphasizes.

Kevin is currently the lead dentist at NuYu Dental with in-house specialists by appointment.

“We anticipate bringing on board two additional dental associates and two dental hygienists, as well as four additional dental assistants over the course of a year as the practice grows,” Grace says of future expansion plans. 

To accommodate guests, office hours are from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays, and the office has Saturday appointments. 

Understanding that many people dislike going to the dentist is a wonderful acknowledgement on the part of NuYu Dental. Focusing on anxiety, the practice treats guests with the highest quality of care, an atmosphere that does not have a “waiting room” (it is a relaxing lounge) and other techniques to help them unwind. 

These include nitrous oxide that is streamlined throughout the entire building and other sedation options that create a soothing experience so “by the time our guests leave, they have experienced a visit like none other, and find themselves looking forward to their next appointment.

“We try to provide a positive experience in all aspects, whether it is the world-class dental care, outstanding customer service, sedation options [or] our flexible financing plans.”

Offering a variety of services from treating chronic bad breath to preventative mouth guards and cosmetic veneers to six-month braces (short-term orthodontic) options for adults, the list is endless.

“I was able to study and train for the short-term braces technique from a New York-based specialist,” Kevin says. “It is wonderful for those adults [who] did not have the opportunity or desire to correct their smile as children. A retainer is required; depending on the guest, it may be a fixed retainer or a removable one. 

“I emphasize to my guests that there is an option and technique for every smile. Creating a new smile reinvents the individual in many ways. It serves as a confidence booster and makes all possibilities open. Different avenues begin to appear.”

Every new guest receives the option of a free cosmetic dentistry consultation. Once the staff determines your cosmetic dentistry needs, the patient coordinator works with you to create a payment plan through the practice’s flexible financing options. 

Accepting many insurance plans also helps clients decide what they can do. Being a family and cosmetic dental practice, NuYu provides all dental services with VIP treatment.

Cosmetic dentistry changes people’s lives. “Cosmetic dentistry is better today than ever before,” the Kims emphasize. “Procedures that were once a dream are now made possible through the use of high-quality materials that are durable and provide the client with a real, gorgeous smile. 

“We will do whatever it takes to address their primary concern from dental anxiety to teeth cleaning and a complete transformation by giving them the smile of their dreams.”

Austin and Round Rock are proud to welcome Kevin and Grace to the community – not just because of Kevin’s dental expertise and philosophy, but also because the practice is considered the closest to what is known as “green dentistry.” Running an environmentally friendly practice, the Kims explain this exceptional system:

“We use mercury-free fillings, and our digital X-rays reduce radiation up to 80 percent. In addition to eliminating the need to use chemicals that are necessary to process conventional X-rays, even our drinking water and the water being used during treatments is cleaner than bottled water because of the outstanding filtration system.”

Being committed to the community, NuYu takes accountability in doing its part to reduce its carbon footprint. The state-of-the-art office is powered by emerging technologies. 

Examples cited are paperless dental charting programs and the daily housekeeping staff who use green cleaning supplies according to OSHA standards.

NuYu’s message is loud and clear: “Everyone deserves to be treated with respect, and our guests deserve nothing but world-class dentistry. Exploring the possibilities of a new you is just a smile away.”

NuYu Dental is located at 201 University Oaks Blvd., Ste. 770, Round Rock, Texas 78665. For more information, call 512-579-0069, visit www.nuyudental.com, look for the practice on Facebook or follow @nuyudental on Twitter. You may also Google “nuyu dental reviews” to read guest reviews.