N
National OrthodonticRegistry
AboutFor Practices
Practice loginRegister your practice
N
National OrthodonticRegistry
AboutFor Practices
Practice loginRegister your practice
Book OnlineCall

Tap to connect directly with this practice

  1. Home
  2. /North Carolina
  3. /Winston-Salem Orthodontists
  4. /Smile Starters- Winston Salem
Board CertifiedAccepting new patients

Smile Starters- Winston Salem

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

2041 Silas Creek Pkwy, Winston-Salem, NC 27103
4.6(1,151 reviews)
Call Now(336) 777-1272Book OnlineWebsiteDirections
Smile Starters- Winston Salem

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

Traditional BracesTraditional BracesLingual BracesLingual Braces
GuidesAdult braces cost guide →Teen braces cost guide →Braces cost for kids →

Who They Treat

Smile Starters- Winston Salem provides orthodontic treatment for the following age groups:

Children
Ages 6–11
Teens
Ages 12–17
Adults
Ages 18+

Orthodontists at this office

provider
headshot

Dr. Rafael Rivera, D.D.S.

NPI verified · no bio or photo on file

Lead OrthodontistNPI VERIFIEDAccepting New Patients21 yrs experience

Insurance accepted

4 plans listed
AetnaCignaHumanaRenaissance Dental
Smile Starters accepts most insurances. They also offer a Smile Starters Club Membership program for patients without insurance.

What patients say

Latest review 2 weeks ago

What patients praise

  • Reviews often highlight staff who work well with autistic and special-needs children, helping anxious kids grow more comfortable with visits over time.
  • Parents mention treatment plans being explained with the help of models or x-rays so both they and their children understand what to expect.
  • The office is described as clean, spacious, and appealingly designed.

Things to know

  • A few reviews describe distressing experiences during procedures with very young children, including one account of injections given without pain relief.
  • Some reviews mention long waits, occasionally exceeding an hour past the scheduled appointment time.

Who it suits

  • Young children, including toddlers
  • Patients with special needs
  • Families with several kids in treatment

Orthodontic care in reviews

Few reviews discuss orthodontic treatment specifically; the feedback above reflects general dental visits.

Last 90 days
61 reviews
averaging 4.3★
Last 12 months
211 reviews
averaging 4.5★
Owner replies
0% of reviews
Reviews per month
32
Oct 2023Sep 2026
Reviews per month
Oct 20230
Nov 20230
Dec 202310
Jan 20248
Feb 202423
Mar 202415
Apr 202417
May 20247
Jun 202411
Jul 20249
Aug 202410
Sep 20249
Oct 202410
Nov 202416
Dec 202415
Jan 202511
Feb 202515
Mar 202517
Apr 20259
May 202516
Jun 202517
Jul 202513
Aug 202522
Sep 202514
Oct 202517
Nov 20258
Dec 202516
Jan 20265
Feb 202632
Mar 202619
Apr 202621
May 202615
Jun 202613
Jul 202625
Aug 202623
Sep 202612
Average rating by year
  • 20235.0
  • 20244.6
  • 20254.7
  • 20264.5
1★5★
Treatments patients mention
  • Early (phase 1) treatment3
What patients talk about
PraiseCriticism
  • Friendly staff87 / 16
  • Great with kids28 / 11
  • Gentle, comfortable care20 / 10
  • Scheduling & wait times15 / 14
  • The dentist11 / 5
  • Clear explanations12 / 4
  • Office & technology8 / 1
  • Responsiveness7 / 3
What patients talk about
ThemePraiseCriticism
Friendly staff8716
Great with kids2811
Gentle, comfortable care2010
Scheduling & wait times1514
The dentist115
Clear explanations124
Office & technology81
Responsiveness73

Advertisement

Claim your profile free to remove ads from this page.

Recent reviews from Google

4.6
1,151 reviews
Christina Ramirez
Christina Ramirez
4 weeks ago
“

They did great with my 19m old. He was not a fan but it went pretty smooth for his first visit.

Review from Google

Roman
Roman
a month ago
“

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.

Review from Google

ROSA PORTER
ROSA PORTER
a month ago
“

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.

Review from Google

KERRIE STEPP
KERRIE STEPP
2 months ago
“

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.

Review from Google

fernanda
fernanda
3 months ago
“

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.

Review from Google

Read all 1,151 reviews on Google →

Questions about this practice

What orthodontic treatments does Smile Starters- Winston Salem offer?+
Smile Starters- Winston Salem offers: Traditional Braces, Lingual Braces.
Does Smile Starters- Winston Salem accept dental insurance?+
Smile Starters- Winston Salem accepts Aetna, Cigna, Humana, Renaissance Dental.
Is Smile Starters- Winston Salem accepting new patients?+
Smile Starters- Winston Salem is currently welcoming new patients in Winston-Salem, NC. Call (336) 777-1272 or book online to schedule.
Where is Smile Starters- Winston Salem located?+
Smile Starters- Winston Salem is located at 2041 Silas Creek Pkwy. Get directions: https://maps.google.com/?cid=4216649857222438817&g_mp=CiVnb29nbGUubWFwcy5wbGFjZXMudjEuUGxhY2VzLkdldFBsYWNlEAIYBCAA
What are the office hours for Smile Starters- Winston Salem?+
Smile Starters- Winston Salem office hours: Mon 8:00 AM–5:00 PM, Tue 8:00 AM–5:00 PM, Wed 8:00 AM–5:00 PM, Thu 8:00 AM–5:00 PM, Fri 8:00 AM–5:00 PM, Sat Closed–Closed, Sun Closed–Closed.
Does Smile Starters- Winston Salem offer payment plans?+
Yes, Smile Starters- Winston Salem offers flexible payment plans to make orthodontic treatment affordable.
Who are the orthodontists at Smile Starters- Winston Salem?+
Smile Starters- Winston Salem is staffed by Dr. Rafael Rivera. The practice is board-certified.
What is the patient rating for Smile Starters- Winston Salem?+
Smile Starters- Winston Salem has a 4.6-star rating based on 1151 patient reviews on Google.
How long has Smile Starters- Winston Salem been in practice?+
Smile Starters- Winston Salem has been providing orthodontic care since 2008, serving the Winston-Salem, NC community for over 18 years.

Other Smile Starters- Winston Salem locations

Smile Starters - Asheville
247 Biltmore Ave, Asheville · 4.0 (960) · Board certified
View →

Research with AI

ChatGPTPerplexityClaude
2041 Silas Creek Pkwy
Winston-Salem, NC 27103
Get Directions
(336) 777-1272
smilestartersdental.com/
Book Online
aomwinston@smilestartersdental.com
Open in Google Maps
Accepting new patients
Est. 2008
Payment Plans Available
Online Booking Available

Accessibility & Parking

Wheelchair Accessible Entrance
Wheelchair Accessible Parking
Wheelchair Accessible Restroom
CashCredit CardsDebit CardsContactless / NFC
Mon8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Tue8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Wed8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Thu8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Fri8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
SatClosed
SunClosed

Social Profiles

Smile Starters- Winston Salem on TikTok
Google reviews synced
SOURCED

Claim your listing to update info, add photos, and respond to reviews. Claimed profiles are ad-free.

Are you the owner? Claim this listing
Back to Winston-Salem Orthodontists

Nearby orthodontists in Winston-Salem

Within 1 miles

Ardmore Dentistry

4.9 · (375) · Winston-Salem

Bisig + Chermak + Rudnicke Orthodontics

4.8 · (92) · Winston-Salem · 1.3 mi

✓ Board certified · AAO member

H2O Orthodontic Specialists

4.8 · (60) · Winston-Salem · 1.4 mi

✓ Medicaid · Free consult

View all Winston-Salem orthodontists →
N
National OrthodonticRegistry

The nationwide directory for finding orthodontic care. 4,705+ practices across all 50 states.

Popular Cities

  • Los Angeles, CA
  • New York City, NY
  • Houston, TX
  • Chicago, IL
  • Phoenix, AZ
  • Miami, FL
  • Dallas, TX
  • Atlanta, GA

Browse by State

  • California
  • Texas
  • Florida
  • New York
  • North Carolina
  • Ohio
  • Arizona
  • Virginia
  • All states →

Discover

  • Find an Orthodontist
  • Invisalign
  • Cost Guides
  • Research
  • About Us
  • Contact

For Practices

  • Claim Your Practice
  • Verified Practice
  • Featured & Premium
  • Practice Login

© 2026 National Orthodontic Registry. All rights reserved.

PrivacyTermsllms.txt