Meet Dr. Lima
Your Lafayette Dentist
Dr. Lucelia Lima was born in Brazil and moved to the United States in 1992. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Studies (Spanish Emphasis) from Southern Adventist University before completing her Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) at Loma Linda University in California.
Loma Linda is recognized as one of the top dental schools in the country for clinical training, serving more than 750 patients per day. While in dental school, Dr. Lima distinguished herself as the #1 student dentist in clinic among her class of 89 students. In addition, patient surveys conducted during her training revealed that 94% of patients described their student dentist as caring, honest, polite, cheerful, and committed to producing excellent dental work—qualities that reflect Dr. Lima’s dedication to her patients.
After graduating, Dr. Lima returned to the Southeast and has been practicing dentistry since 2004. She enjoys caring for patients of all ages and cultural backgrounds and is fluent in English, Portuguese, and Spanish. Her approach to dentistry is built on compassion, integrity, and a commitment to excellence. For Dr. Lima, dentistry is not just a career but also a ministry—a way to serve others by improving both their oral health and their confidence.
Beyond dentistry, Dr. Lima enjoys a wide variety of activities, including traveling, bicycling, knee boarding, skiing, volleyball, and both indoor and outdoor recreation. One of her favorite local spots is the Walking Bridge in downtown Chattanooga.
Most importantly, Dr. Lima is a committed Christian who strives to uphold the highest moral and ethical values in her life and career. She treats each patient with respect and care, with the goal of not only giving them a beautiful smile but also giving them a reason to smile.
Smiles like yours make it all worth it!
"I had the best experience with slate family dentistry. The staff is absolutely wonderful very kind and pleasant. Dr. Tyler Slate was great, he was very gentle done a wonderful job. His assistant was great as well she was very kind and answered all my questions. I thank you all so much for taking such great care of me today."
"I had a really great experience at Slate Family Dentistry. The staff was genuinely friendly and professional, making me feel welcome right away. They listened to my needs and provided helpful recommendations without any pressure. It’s nice to find a place where the team truly cares about their customers. I’ll definitely be coming back!"
"I had a great experience with Dr. Slate on Tuesday. I had some work done on my teeth , they mentioned I needed goggles on for this, said they do water boarding lol. I nearly burst out laughing while he was working on a tooth because of the water splashing and I started thinking about the comment about the water boarding! They are are a hoot 🤪😂😁"
"It is scary to go to the dentist for a lot of people but here they make you feel so comfortable, with their kindness, that you forget you are nervous at all. They work with you to accommodate your needs and they are sensitive to your concerns. I’ll recommend this place to anyone looking for good and friendly dental office."
"Missy Fine is and has been my hygienist for 30+ years. I have used other practices a time or two due to insurance purposes throughout my life, but no one compared. At this practice I've always received caring and courteous service."
Serving LaFayette and surrounding areas