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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
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 listedPatient reviews
Sourced from Google
Been going here since I was a kid. I love the staff,everyone is so friendly and helpful they take great care of their patients. I also had a tooth extraction here it went very smooth and quick. I always walk out with clean teeth after cleanings! 10/10 experience everytime.❤️
As a parent of two 2-year-old, I’m so grateful we found this dental office. The staff is kind and patient, and the doctor was so understanding and human — they truly listened and helped us feel at ease. The dentist was gentle and great with little ones, making the visit smooth and stress-free. Highly recommend for parents of toddlers!
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.
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.
This is one of the worst places to take your children. The staff shows little concern for how parents or children feel and seem more focused on making money than providing compassionate care. Children are already nervous and scared during dental visits, yet the dental hygienist responded by saying, “That’s even better that you decided not to schedule the appointment.” That type of comment is completely unprofessional, insensitive, and unacceptable when working with children and families.
Questions about this practice
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