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A plain-language guide to choosing an orthodontist in Rhode Island: board certification, what reviews actually tell you, airway and jaw growth, practice ownership, and how to make the most of a free kids' consultation.
Search for an orthodontist in Rhode Island and you will find dozens of names, all with nice websites and smiling photos. Most parents have no way to tell them apart. After years of answering this question at consultations in Providence and Wakefield, here is the honest version of what actually separates one orthodontic practice from another.
Any dentist can legally offer braces or clear aligners. An orthodontist is a dentist who went on to complete a two to three year residency in orthodontics after dental school. Board certification through the American Board of Orthodontics goes one step further and is voluntary, so it tells you something about how seriously a doctor takes the specialty.
At Anchor Orthodontics, Dr. Courtney Lavigne is a board-certified orthodontist who is also an Accredited Member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AAACD), a distinction held by fewer than 1% of dentists worldwide. She is the only practitioner in the country holding both credentials. Dr. Lauren Cardarelli earned her DMD, her orthodontic certificate, and a Master of Dental Science at UConn, where she served as chief resident.
Review count and rating are the fastest way to gauge a practice, but the text matters more. Look for parents describing how the office explains things, how kids feel about visits, and whether the doctor recommended against treatment a child did not need. As of July 2026, Anchor Orthodontics holds a 5.0 Google rating at both offices, with about 200 reviews in Providence and nearly 300 in Wakefield.
Straight teeth are the easy part. The harder questions are whether a child's jaws are growing well and whether they can breathe well, day and night. The upper jaw finishes most of its forward growth between ages 7 and 9, which is why the American Association of Orthodontists recommends every child see an orthodontist by age 7. A good evaluation looks at the airway, the bite, and the face, not just the teeth.
Dr. Lavigne lectures nationally on airway-focused orthodontics and works with pediatricians, ENTs, sleep physicians, speech pathologists, and myofunctional therapists. Signs like mouth breathing, snoring, restless sleep, and grinding are worth an orthodontic evaluation even if the teeth look fine.
Most kids who come in for an early evaluation do not need treatment right away. The honest answer is often that everything looks good and your child should come back in a year. If a practice recommends Phase 1 treatment for nearly every seven year old who walks in, get a second opinion. When early treatment is truly needed, it should have a clear goal and a clear endpoint. At Anchor, Phase 1 always runs under a year, typically 8 to 10 months.
Rhode Island has both doctor-owned practices and offices owned by corporate dental groups. Ownership shapes decisions. When the orthodontist who plans your child's care also owns the practice, the treatment plan and the business incentives belong to the same person, and that person is in the room with you. Anchor Orthodontics is independent and doctor-owned.
Consultations for kids at Anchor Orthodontics are complimentary, and no referral is needed. A good consultation includes digital X-rays and photos, an honest read on whether treatment is needed now or later, and a clear quote with monthly payment options. Visit two or three practices if you want. The right office will not pressure you.
Anchor Orthodontics has two Rhode Island offices: 133 Pitman St in Providence, serving the East Side, East Providence, Pawtucket, Barrington, and nearby Massachusetts towns, and 24 Salt Pond Rd in Wakefield, serving South Kingstown, Narragansett, Newport, and all of Washington County. Call (401) 782-1221 or book online at anchororthodontics.com.
