Brilliant Smiles For All

Dr. Romia Goff and Dr. Lauren Lockhart make orthodontics a family affair

Ask most children what they want to be when they grow up and you get the response: doctor, firefighter, police officer, sports star, etc.

When you ask Dr. Romia Goff of Brilliant Smiles Orthodontics, his answer is “dentist.”

“I’m like Hermey, the elf in the holiday classic ‘Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer’ who didn’t want to build toys but rather be a dentist,” Dr. Goff said. “Since I was a kid, I didn’t want to do anything other than become a dentist.”

That decision to follow his desire paid off and after graduating with a doctorate of dental medicine from the University of Florida College of Dentistry in 2005, Dr. Goff moved back to his hometown of Jacksonville and obtained his certificate of advanced graduate studies in orthodontics from Jacksonville University's School of Orthodontics. 

While at Jacksonville University, he met Lauren Lockhart, who also had a lifelong dream of being an orthodontist. Today they are husband and wife and share the same passion for helping people of all ages have the teeth and smile that can light up a room.

Everything Brevard sat down with Dr. Goff and Dr. Lockhart to learn more about their growing practice and their commitment to serving others, not just in their offices but also in the community through several philanthropic ventures.

EB: What is one of the things you enjoy most about what you do?

Dr. Goff: One of the most gratifying aspects of being an orthodontist is meeting a shy or timid patient, helping transform their smile, and watching that same patient exude a new found confidence and excitement when their braces come off. 

EB: To what do you attribute your success, going from one to five offices in just 10 years?

Dr. Goff/Dr. Lockhart: A lot of prayers being answered, a lot of planning and a lot of work. It was our vision from the start to have a successful practice and we’ve had so many people who have been supportive of our vision and our dreams, including the local dental community. When we decided to set up a practice in Brevard, we received a lot of encouragement from dentists who welcomed us and told us the area needed orthodontists and even helped us find locations. We’re incredibly grateful for their help and the relationships we’ve built with them.

EB: What do you believe sets you apart from other practices?

Dr. Goff: When you walk into one of our offices, the first thing you notice is it’s bathed in purple. It’s Lauren’s favorite color and mine, too, and purple is the color of royalty. We want each patient to feel like they are being treated like royalty when they walk in the door. 

Dr. Lockhart: The next thing is being greeted by our staff and getting a feeling of being truly welcomed into a family. We create an environment where everyone feels safe and comfortable, where they can ask us anything, discuss anything, even if it’s not related to their treatment. 

Dr. Goff: We like learning about each patient and what makes them special. It’s about making a connection, so on their first visit, regardless if it’s a child or adult, we ask them to tell us about themselves so we can get to know them more than just as a patient but as a person.

EB: Speaking of patient visits, how are you handling that aspect during the pandemic?

Dr. Goff: We’re adhering to CDC guidelines for sanitation and social distancing. Patients text us upon arrival and they’re led straight from the front door to a treatment room. When their treatment is finished, they reverse course and receive a text from us regarding their visit and next treatment. All staff wear masks and the offices are cleaned and sanitized between each patient’s visit.

EB: You stress the importance of children seeing an orthodontist at an early age. At what age and what are the benefits?

Dr. Lockhart: The standard age is 7 years. At that age, we’re establishing a relationship and starting an observation period. We’re checking on how the teeth are coming into the mouth. If we can catch some issues early on, like identifying habits that could cause their teeth to grow in improperly,  we can do something about it and when it is time for braces, it will make that process even shorter and less complicated. We do not usually put braces on a 7-year old; at that age, we’re really working on preventative measures.

EB: You do a lot to help children outside of providing orthodontic care. Share some of the programs you’ve established.

Dr. Goff: We believe in helping others, especially children, so we’ve established a Kidz Klozet where parents can come in and select clothes, shoes, jackets and other items for their youngsters at absolutely no cost. We also have Violette the Tooth Fairy who visits schools and who teaches children about the importance of good dental hygiene and hands out gift bags filled with toothpaste, a brush and floss.

By far our most important is our Holiday Meal program. With the help of our staff and many volunteers, we prepare hundreds of holiday meals for the Christmas season and deliver them to local schools, where parents can then pick them up. We get a great amount of support from the community, especially from our fellow dental professionals, along with local businesses, plus Walmart, Publix, and Aldi. 100% of the funds raised go to preparing and delivering those meals. We don’t take a dime.

Brilliant Smiles

4531 N. Wickham Road, Suite A, Melbourne, 

(additional offices in Merritt Island, Palm Bay, Satellite Beach and Titusville)

321-779-0000

brilliantsmilesorthodontics.com

Facebook: @brilliantsmilesorthodontics

Instagram: @brilliantsmilesorthodontics

Read more articles in our digital magazine.