Most children are not thrilled about getting braces — until they find out the brackets can be shaped like stars or footballs. WildSmiles braces are exactly that: fully functional brackets in fun shapes, so treatment becomes something your child chooses rather than endures. Providence Orthodontics offers WildSmiles as one of our types of braces.
What WildSmiles Braces Are
WildSmiles are shaped brackets — stars, hearts, footballs, diamonds, and more — that bond to the teeth and connect to an archwire just like standard brackets. The shape is cosmetic; the mechanics are conventional. Dr. Jessica Collins adjusts the wire at regular visits, and teeth move under the same steady, controlled pressure any fixed appliance provides.
Children usually pick a shape for the upper front teeth, where it shows, and pair it with colored elastic ties that they can change at every appointment. School colors, holiday combinations, and birthday choices come up a lot. It is a small thing that gives a child some ownership of a process that otherwise happens to them.
Why It Matters More Than It Sounds
Orthodontic outcomes depend heavily on cooperation: brushing well, avoiding bracket-breaking foods, wearing elastics when asked, and showing up for visits. A child who is genuinely excited about their braces is a child who takes care of them. Parents regularly tell us the shaped brackets turned a source of dread into something their child shows off to friends.
WildSmiles are one option among several. Some children are better suited to standard metal brackets, tooth-colored ceramic brackets, or Invisalign for kids clear aligners, and some need interceptive orthodontics first to guide jaw growth before any tooth movement begins. At the complimentary exam Dr. Collins will explain what your child’s case actually needs and which options can deliver it.
Getting Started
Following the American Association of Orthodontists, we recommend a first orthodontic evaluation by age 7. Many children are simply monitored at that stage, and treatment begins later when enough permanent teeth are in. Our exam includes a digital 3D scan with the iTero scanner and our other orthodontic technology, so there are no uncomfortable impressions, and we go through the findings with you before recommending anything.
Once braces are on, the routine is the same as with any braces for kids: brush after every meal, floss daily, skip hard and sticky foods, and come in every several weeks for a short adjustment. Our comfort and home care page covers the first-week adjustment period, and our braces FAQ answers the questions parents ask most.
Common Questions About WildSmiles
- Do shaped brackets work as well? Yes. The bracket shape is cosmetic; the archwire does the work, and treatment proceeds the same way it would with standard brackets.
- Does treatment take longer? No — length depends on the correction needed and on cooperation, not on bracket shape.
- Can we mix shapes? Most children put shaped brackets on the upper front teeth where they show and standard brackets elsewhere. We will show you the options at your visit.
- Do they cost more? Any difference is modest, and our team reviews payment options in full before treatment begins.
- Are they harder to clean? Cleaning is the same as any fixed appliance: brush after meals, floss daily, and we will demonstrate the technique in the chair.
Who Is Treating Your Child
Dr. Jessica Collins is a board-certified orthodontist who earned her DMD at Boston University and completed her orthodontic residency at the University of Washington. She plans every case from digital records — an iTero digital scan, plus imaging where jaw growth or root position matters — which you can read about on our orthodontic technology page.
Our office is at 151 Waterman Street, Suite #6 in Providence, open Tuesday through Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Call (401) 274-5024, meet the Providence Orthodontics team, or read about your first visit before you come in.
Request A Free Consultation
Let your child pick their own smile — request a free consultation or contact our Providence office at (401) 274-5024. Dr. Collins and the Providence Orthodontics team will review the exam findings and your payment options before treatment begins.