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Smile Starters- Winston Salem provides orthodontic care in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, for children and teens.

About Smile Starters- Winston Salem
Staff who work well with autistic and special-needs children make this a common choice for families with young kids needing traditional or lingual braces.
Smile Starters is a general dental practice in Winston-Salem that also offers orthodontic treatment, including traditional and lingual braces. Reviews frequently point to staff who handle neurodivergent and special-needs children with patience, and several parents note toddlers who now enjoy dental visits after starting here. The lobby is often described as clean and spacious, with a design several reviewers call cute. Explanations of treatment plans, sometimes using models or x-rays, are noted as helpful by parents trying to understand a child's care.
Summary of 200 patient reviews, August 2024–September 2026, updated September 2026
Smile Starters- Winston Salem provides orthodontic care in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, for children and teens.
Dr. Rafael Rivera Jr. leads the practice, which was established in 2008 and operates nine locations to serve families across the region. The practice offers treatment options designed for younger patients, focusing on early intervention and adolescent orthodontics. Families can schedule appointments through the online booking system, allowing convenient access to care without phone calls during business hours. Dr. Rafael Rivera Jr. brings years of experience treating pediatric and teenage patients. The multi-location structure provides flexibility for families seeking care closer to home or school, with appointments available across the nine office sites. Smile Starters accepts most insurance plans, helping families use existing coverage for orthodontic treatment. For patients without insurance, the practice offers a Smile Starters Club Membership as an alternative payment option. This membership structure provides access to care for families who may not have traditional dental insurance benefits. The practice has accumulated 1,151 reviews on Google with a 4.6 rating, reflecting feedback from families who have received treatment. Smile Starters serves the Winston-Salem area and surrounding communities in North Carolina. Individual treatment needs vary, and families should schedule a consultation to determine appropriate care options for their child.
Treatments offered
Who They Treat
Smile Starters- Winston Salem provides orthodontic treatment for the following age groups:
Orthodontists at this office
Dr. Rafael Rivera, D.D.S.
NPI verified · no bio or photo on file
Insurance accepted
4 plans listedWhat patients say
Latest review 2 weeks ago
What patients praise
Things to know
Who it suits
Orthodontic care in reviews
Few reviews discuss orthodontic treatment specifically; the feedback above reflects general dental visits.
| Oct 2023 | 0 |
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| Nov 2023 | 0 |
| Dec 2023 | 10 |
| Jan 2024 | 8 |
| Feb 2024 | 23 |
| Mar 2024 | 15 |
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| May 2024 | 7 |
| Jun 2024 | 11 |
| Jul 2024 | 9 |
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| Nov 2024 | 16 |
| Dec 2024 | 15 |
| Jan 2025 | 11 |
| Feb 2025 | 15 |
| Mar 2025 | 17 |
| Apr 2025 | 9 |
| May 2025 | 16 |
| Jun 2025 | 17 |
| Jul 2025 | 13 |
| Aug 2025 | 22 |
| Sep 2025 | 14 |
| Oct 2025 | 17 |
| Nov 2025 | 8 |
| Dec 2025 | 16 |
| Jan 2026 | 5 |
| Feb 2026 | 32 |
| Mar 2026 | 19 |
| Apr 2026 | 21 |
| May 2026 | 15 |
| Jun 2026 | 13 |
| Jul 2026 | 25 |
| Aug 2026 | 23 |
| Sep 2026 | 12 |
| Theme | Praise | Criticism |
|---|---|---|
| Friendly staff | 87 | 16 |
| Great with kids | 28 | 11 |
| Gentle, comfortable care | 20 | 10 |
| Scheduling & wait times | 15 | 14 |
| The dentist | 11 | 5 |
| Clear explanations | 12 | 4 |
| Office & technology | 8 | 1 |
| Responsiveness | 7 | 3 |
Recent reviews from Google
They did great with my 19m old. He was not a fan but it went pretty smooth for his first visit.
Do not go here. My child had appointment for the dentist. She came to the dentist and everything was good until they started doing Anastasia and just fixing teeth they were really rough and not paying attention to their job, they would laugh, talk with each other move their hand while they’re doing the shots, and not just be paying attention to what they’re doing, also while my child was trying to say that it was really painful they just would just ignore it. This was the worst ever experience of going to dentist in her life.
It was a pleasure to be seen as soon as we entered the office. We set down, and I was about to open my book. I didn't get a chance because we were called to the exam room 1 minute after arriving.
Really tough on my 11 yo. They knew going in she had anxiety and spoke roughly to her. There are reasons you cant see in to procedure room when its not a cleaning. My daughter now fears the dentist.
In person, ever since I was little, I have never had a problem at this location. The staff is usually very friendly! Again, let me emphasize the in person part. However over the phone, I’m not really sure if these girls like to have a little power trip while trying to book people or get whatever situated but every time I call, I have the absolute worst experience ever. Rude, cut you off, and very impatient. They say the calls are recorded for “training purposes” and I really wish that was the case because it’s very clearly that these girls have absolutely no etiquette when trying to talk to somebody over the phone. Never an issue in person however, wonder why that is.
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