The recent Braces Fan Survey on this blog is different from previous surveys. All of my previous surveys involved experiences of wearing braces. (See the survey results on the right panel of this blog.) However, this survey is about perceptions of braces. More specifically, this is a survey for people who consider braces to be interesting and cool.
There is a great variety and answers, and of ways in which braces are perceived, even among admirers.
One thing that is not different among survey responders of the Braces Fan Survey, unlike in previous surveys, is that they are all male.
This survey was open to people who have worn braces and those who have not, and its reflected in the split showing that both types of people responded to the survey.
Getting on the questions about whether survey takers enjoyed seeing braces on other people, experiencing braces on their own, or both, there is some divergence. One thing this surveys shows is just how many different ways there are to appreciate braces. People who think braces are cool have appreciated braces both on themselves and on other people.
Do you prefer to see braces on other people, or to wear braces yourself?
There is a great variety and answers, and of ways in which braces are perceived, even among admirers.
One thing that is not different among survey responders of the Braces Fan Survey, unlike in previous surveys, is that they are all male.
Are you male of female?
| 100% (15) | Male | |
|---|---|---|
| 0% (0) | Female |
15 voters have answered this question.
Have you ever worn braces?
| 73% (11) | Yes | |
|---|---|---|
| 26% (4) | No |
15 voters have answered this question.
Getting on the questions about whether survey takers enjoyed seeing braces on other people, experiencing braces on their own, or both, there is some divergence. One thing this surveys shows is just how many different ways there are to appreciate braces. People who think braces are cool have appreciated braces both on themselves and on other people.
Do you prefer to see braces on other people, or to wear braces yourself?
| 13% (2) | To see other people wearing braces on their teeth | |
|---|---|---|
| 0% (0) | To get braces on my own teeth | |
| 40% (6) | Both, but mostly to see others with braces | |
| 40% (6) | Both, but mostly to get braces on my own teeth | |
| 6% (1) | Both equally | |
| 0% (0) | Other (fill in blank) |
15 voters have answered this question.
The next two questions involve when survey takers consider it to be the best time to have braces, and what time in the recent past have braces been most fun or interesting. A surprising diversity on both questions. Survey takers spread their responses as when in person's life is it the best time to go through a experience between the teens, twenties, thirties, and forties. A similar spread occurs in the question about which recent decade braces were most fun and interesting, with answers logged in for the Seventies, Eighties, Nineties, Oughts, and Teens (2010s). This is good news for me, since I had my braces in my thirties, during the Oughts (2003-2005 to be exact).
The next two questions involve when survey takers consider it to be the best time to have braces, and what time in the recent past have braces been most fun or interesting. A surprising diversity on both questions. Survey takers spread their responses as when in person's life is it the best time to go through a experience between the teens, twenties, thirties, and forties. A similar spread occurs in the question about which recent decade braces were most fun and interesting, with answers logged in for the Seventies, Eighties, Nineties, Oughts, and Teens (2010s). This is good news for me, since I had my braces in my thirties, during the Oughts (2003-2005 to be exact).
At what time in a person's life is it the best time to have braces?
| 20% (3) | Teenager | |
|---|---|---|
| 40% (6) | Twenties | |
| 33% (5) | Thirties | |
| 6% (1) | Forties | |
| 0% (0) | Fifties | |
| 0% (0) | Over 60 | |
| 0% (0) | Other |
15 voters have answered this question.
In what decade were braces most fun or interesting? (Give one choice.)
| 0% (0) | Fifties (1950s) | |
|---|---|---|
| 0% (0) | Sixties (1960s) | |
| 33% (5) | Seventies (1970s) | |
| 20% (3) | Eighties (1980s) | |
| 13% (2) | Nineties (1990s) | |
| 20% (3) | Oughts (2000s) | |
| 13% (2) | Teens (2010s) |
15 voters have answered this question.
Moving forward to which situations braces fans think would be interesting to experience, there is a very close split between those who would like to be the only member of a group with braces, and one who would like to wear braces in a group where braces are common. This survey question is kind-of interesting, and I think speaks to the types of personalities of braces fans. It seems to indicate that some braces fans want to be "the" person with braces (and maybe stand out as such?), and others want to be part of a braces wearing group (and maybe see oneself as part of a group with tin grins?). As noted, there are different ways to experience braces, and to find them interesting.
Other questions asked what the survey responder would do if a friend had to wear braces but was uncomfortable about it, and about certain specific experiences each survey responder would find intriguing or interesting to experience. A wide variety of different interests here. About the "friend getting braces" question, its definitely good to see that no survey taker would make fun of their soon to be braced friend.
If you had a good friend was told they would definitely need braces, but who was very uncomfortable about doing it, what would be your most likely response?
Which of the following situations would you prefer?
| 46% (7) | Being the only one of your group of friends who has braces. | |
|---|---|---|
| 53% (8) | Having braces among a group of friends where all or most of that group has braces. |
15 voters have answered this question.
Other questions asked what the survey responder would do if a friend had to wear braces but was uncomfortable about it, and about certain specific experiences each survey responder would find intriguing or interesting to experience. A wide variety of different interests here. About the "friend getting braces" question, its definitely good to see that no survey taker would make fun of their soon to be braced friend.
If you had a good friend was told they would definitely need braces, but who was very uncomfortable about doing it, what would be your most likely response?
| 26% (4) | Tell them you like braces in the hope that it would bring comfort | |
|---|---|---|
| 66% (10) | Try to comfort them, but don't reveal you like braces | |
| 6% (1) | Not say anything to them about braces, but make it a point to hang around them to see them deal with their braces | |
| 0% (0) | Make fun of their braces | |
| 0% (0) | Not be that interested | |
| 0% (0) | Other |
15 voters have answered this question.
Which of the following situations would you like to live out? (Choose as many as are applicable.)
| 20% (3) | Having to wear headgear 24/7, including in public. | |
|---|---|---|
| 46% (7) | Seeing someone else have to wear headgear 24/7, including in public. | |
| 6% (1) | Having a noticeable speech impediment caused by your braces. | |
| 0% (0) | Seeing and hearing someone else having a noticeable speech impediment caused by their braces. | |
| 13% (2) | Having to wear a Herbst or other noticeable fixed appliance (this would not include headgear). | |
| 6% (1) | Seeing someone else have to wear a Herbst or other noticeable fixed appliance (this would not include headgear). | |
| 6% (1) | Having just plain braces (fixed braces only, with no other appliances). | |
| 0% (0) | Seeing someone else with just plain braces (fixed braces only, with no other appliances). |
15 voters have answered this question.
This is a good time to mention the responses to the essay questions. Specifically three survey takers provided responses to the essay questions, and they're pretty interesting responses. As to the question "What do you like most about wearing braces yourself?" one survey respondent said that he liked "the feeling of restraint and the inability to take them out." Another responded "the metal smile." The third responder said that the question was not applicable to him (he had not worn braces).
There was also a similar question: "What do you like most about seeing braces on others?" There were only two responses to this question. One response said that "I like the look of metal stuff in another's mouth." Another responder (a non braces wearer), said that he liked "How they cope with them: eating appointments, embarrasment, etc."
Finally there was an essay question that said: "If you could make it come true, what would your braces experience fantasy be like? Share your dream." Two responses on this one. One responder said: "nice good visible metal brackets, bands with rubberbands, touguecrib and headgear would be great." Notably, this responder was the same one who mentioned metal in the question about what he liked about braces on himself, and what he liked about braces on others. As this reviewer would note, the metal look is one aspect of what braces fans think are interesting and cool about braces. The other responder said that he would like: "Orthodontist, fitting a substantial amount of metal to someone who had previously made fun of people with braces." A cool braces dream.
Lastly, a question about that classic follow up to fixed braces: retainers. As the rest of this survey showed, there's a lot of diversity among braces wearers. Answers about ho much they found retainers interesting ranged accross the board.
There was also a similar question: "What do you like most about seeing braces on others?" There were only two responses to this question. One response said that "I like the look of metal stuff in another's mouth." Another responder (a non braces wearer), said that he liked "How they cope with them: eating appointments, embarrasment, etc."
Finally there was an essay question that said: "If you could make it come true, what would your braces experience fantasy be like? Share your dream." Two responses on this one. One responder said: "nice good visible metal brackets, bands with rubberbands, touguecrib and headgear would be great." Notably, this responder was the same one who mentioned metal in the question about what he liked about braces on himself, and what he liked about braces on others. As this reviewer would note, the metal look is one aspect of what braces fans think are interesting and cool about braces. The other responder said that he would like: "Orthodontist, fitting a substantial amount of metal to someone who had previously made fun of people with braces." A cool braces dream.
Lastly, a question about that classic follow up to fixed braces: retainers. As the rest of this survey showed, there's a lot of diversity among braces wearers. Answers about ho much they found retainers interesting ranged accross the board.
11. What do you think about retainers?
| 35% (5) | Retainers are as cool and interesting as fixed braces. | |
|---|---|---|
| 7% (1) | Retainers are cool and interesting on their own, but not as much as fixed braces. | |
| 21% (3) | Retainers are cool and interesting, but only as an afterthought to fixed braces (not on their own). | |
| 21% (3) | Retainers are just slightly of interest. | |
| 14% (2) | Retainers don't interest me at all. |
14 voters have answered this question.
The survey and its responses, which are outlined in this post, are found here: Braces Fan Survey Responses.
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