Braces Memories: Braces In The 50s, 60s, 70s, and 80s Survey

BRACES IN THE 50s, 60s, 70s, AND 80s SURVEY QUESTIONS

The Questions

1.How old were you when you had braces? And how long did you have them?

2.When did you have braces? What years or decade?

3.How did you feel at the time about wearing braces?

4.At the time you had braces, how common was it to see others in braces?

5.How did you react when you first got braces? How did you feel about them?

6.What did others (friends, family, others) say when they first saw you in braces?

7.Did you have any other friends who also had braces around the time when you did? Did you ever talk about either of your exeriences with braces? If so, what did they say?

8.Did any of your family members also have braces? Who? And how did they feel about their braces?

9.Did you experience any funny, unusual, embarrasing, or otherwise memorable experiences involving your braces? If so, could you tell us about it?

10.Were you called any names as a result of wearing braces? If so, what were they?

11.How did you find out you needed to get braces (parents, regular dentist, someone else)? How did you react to being told?

12.What do you recall about going to the orthodontists's office? Was it a big or small office? Were there many patients or a few? Was it near your home or a long distance away? Was there anything cool or interesting that stood out? How did each visit go?

13.Are you Male or Female

SURVEY RESPONSE 1

1.How old were you when you had braces? And how long did you have them?

9 years old, for 5 years

2.When did you have braces? What years or decade?

1974-1979

3.How did you feel at the time about wearing braces?

Wearing braces was okay.

4.At the time you had braces, how common was it to see others in braces?

Some other people had them, but not "many."

5.How did you react when you first got braces? How did you feel about them?

First 2 days were painful, then headgear was o. k.

6.What did others (friends, family, others) say when they first saw you in braces?

Mom was nice. Dad joked. Brother took me for a nerd. Classmates were surprisingly indifferent, no bullying because of headgear (although their parents made stupid remarks).

7.Did you have any other friends who also had braces around the time when you did? Did you ever talk about either of your exeriences with braces? If so, what did they say?

yes

8.Did any of your family members also have braces? Who? And how did they feel about their braces?

yes

9.Did you experience any funny, unusual, embarrasing, or otherwise memorable experiences involving your braces? If so, could you tell us about it?

Parents of schoolmates reacted negatively to me wearing headgear (also at school).

10.Were you called any names as a result of wearing braces? If so, what were they?

11.How did you find out you needed to get braces (parents, regular dentist, someone else)? How did you react to being told?

regular dentist: The was a medical indication due to severe overbite.

small office, just (very kind) orthodontist and a secretary (also in charge for other offices), but many patients

13.Are you Male or Female

Male

SURVEY RESPONSE 2

1.How old were you when you had braces? And how long did you have them?

13 and wore them for 3.5yrs

2.When did you have braces? What years or decade?

1986

3.How did you feel at the time about wearing braces?

I loved wearing braces.

4.At the time you had braces, how common was it to see others in braces?

Many other people had them.

5.How did you react when you first got braces? How did you feel about them?

was shocked at how much metal was in my mouth.

6.What did others (friends, family, others) say when they first saw you in braces?

all mentioned how much of a mouthful i had

7.Did you have any other friends who also had braces around the time when you did? Did you ever talk about either of your exeriences with braces? If so, what did they say?

yes most of my friends had them

8.Did any of your family members also have braces? Who? And how did they feel about their braces?

9.Did you experience any funny, unusual, embarrasing, or otherwise memorable experiences involving your braces? If so, could you tell us about it?

10.Were you called any names as a result of wearing braces? If so, what were they?

yes, train tracks, braceface metalmouth

11.How did you find out you needed to get braces (parents, regular dentist, someone else)? How did you react to being told?

dentist - i couldnt wait to get them

13.Are you Male or Female

SURVEY RESPONSE 3

1.How old were you when you had braces? And how long did you have them?

Age 12.Removable upper brace for 6 months. Fixed braces were rare in the UK then. I have since had a fixed brace in my 50's

2.When did you have braces? What years or decade?

1960s

3.How did you feel at the time about wearing braces?

I didn't like wearing braces.

4.At the time you had braces, how common was it to see others in braces?

Some other people had them, but not "many."

5.How did you react when you first got braces? How did you feel about them?

Initially refused to wear it. relented after 12 months( and new brace). No big deal once I got used to it.

6.What did others (friends, family, others) say when they first saw you in braces?

Very few comments other than schoolfriends noting that I had got the brace. some had a brace themselves

7.Did you have any other friends who also had braces around the time when you did? Did you ever talk about either of your exeriences with braces? If so, what did they say?

Yes. Very little discussion.

8.Did any of your family members also have braces? Who? And how did they feel about their braces?

Ye my sister had a removable upper brace then a fixed brace.

9.Did you experience any funny, unusual, embarrasing, or otherwise memorable experiences involving your braces? If so, could you tell us about it?

10.Were you called any names as a result of wearing braces? If so, what were they?

11.How did you find out you needed to get braces (parents, regular dentist, someone else)? How did you react to being told?

Told by dentist. He spoke about an "appliance" I did not know what he meant.

My general dentist also did ortho for his won patients but also for schoolfriends of mine who went to other general dentists

13.Are you Male or Female

Male

SURVEY RESPONSE 4

1.How old were you when you had braces? And how long did you have them?

12 years old. 2-1/2 years

2.When did you have braces? What years or decade?

1982-1984

3.How did you feel at the time about wearing braces?

I loved wearing braces.

4.At the time you had braces, how common was it to see others in braces?

Some other people had them, but not "many."

5.How did you react when you first got braces? How did you feel about them?

I loved getting and having braces. However, I recognized that most people disliked braces and so, for me to tell others that I liked me braces would be strange. As a result, I acted as if I didn't care one way or the other about having braces.

6.What did others (friends, family, others) say when they first saw you in braces?

There were enough other kids my age with braces that I didn't stand out, so my friends didn't say much at all, other than, "oh, you got braces." I was the first one in my family to get braces though, so my family members reacted differently, some with curiosity, others with sympathy.

7.Did you have any other friends who also had braces around the time when you did? Did you ever talk about either of your exeriences with braces? If so, what did they say?

My best friend got braces a few months before I did. We went to the same orthodontist and often compared our experiences at the orthodontist's office and also about braces in general.

8.Did any of your family members also have braces? Who? And how did they feel about their braces?

My younger sister and two younger cousins also got braces after I did. They complained about them more than I did, but not so much that it was out of the ordinary.

9.Did you experience any funny, unusual, embarrasing, or otherwise memorable experiences involving your braces? If so, could you tell us about it?

I guess it was unusual that I liked my braces. At first, I got braces only on my lower teeth. I was disappointed that they weren't all that visible. I knew that once I got braces on my upper teeth, they would be quite apparent. Finally, a few months later, I got my upper braces. I made a point not to look at them in the orthodontist's office or in school so that I could get my first look at them at home where I would have time to properly inspect them. I made a point of smiling whenever possible so that everyone else could see that I had braces.

10.Were you called any names as a result of wearing braces? If so, what were they?

Braceface, silversmile, tinselteeth, metalmouth, tingrin, traintracks

11.How did you find out you needed to get braces (parents, regular dentist, someone else)? How did you react to being told?

A few days after a cleaning and exam at the regular dentist, my mother told me that the dentist had recommended that she take me to an orthodontist. I had known for years that my teeth were kind of crooked and that I probably would need braces. I was excited, but not at all surprised. I acted as if it was no big deal.

The orthodontist's office was like most other doctor's or dentist's office. There were several patient chairs in one large room. The office was in town, maybe a mile or so from home. One of the orthodontist's assistants also had braces. Some of the assistants were kinder and gentler than others, so I always hoped that I would get one of the nicer ones.

13.Are you Male or Female

Male

SURVEY RESPONSE 5

1.How old were you when you had braces? And how long did you have them?

2.When did you have braces? What years or decade?

2001

3.How did you feel at the time about wearing braces?

Braces were no big deal either way.

4.At the time you had braces, how common was it to see others in braces?

Many other people had them.

5.How did you react when you first got braces? How did you feel about them?

Disappointed, no molar bands!

6.What did others (friends, family, others) say when they first saw you in braces?

They were a bit shocked

7.Did you have any other friends who also had braces around the time when you did? Did you ever talk about either of your exeriences with braces? If so, what did they say?

Yes I had friends who had braces when I did, but we didn't talk about it

8.Did any of your family members also have braces? Who? And how did they feel about their braces?

9.Did you experience any funny, unusual, embarrasing, or otherwise memorable experiences involving your braces? If so, could you tell us about it?

10.Were you called any names as a result of wearing braces? If so, what were they?

11.How did you find out you needed to get braces (parents, regular dentist, someone else)? How did you react to being told?

Regular dentist (also who gave me braces)

It was my regular dentist

13.Are you Male or Female

Male

SURVEY RESPONSE 6

1.How old were you when you had braces? And how long did you have them?

10. 9 years

2.When did you have braces? What years or decade?

1958-1967

3.How did you feel at the time about wearing braces?

I didn't like wearing braces.

4.At the time you had braces, how common was it to see others in braces?

Many other people had them.

5.How did you react when you first got braces? How did you feel about them?

I wanted to hide them. But everybody saw them anyway. Esp with elastics. Headgear was a problem at friends' homes.

6.What did others (friends, family, others) say when they first saw you in braces?

Asked questions. No real insults

7.Did you have any other friends who also had braces around the time when you did? Did you ever talk about either of your exeriences with braces? If so, what did they say?

Yes, same as mine, elastics and headgear as well.

8.Did any of your family members also have braces? Who? And how did they feel about their braces?

Some of them

9.Did you experience any funny, unusual, embarrasing, or otherwise memorable experiences involving your braces? If so, could you tell us about it?

A bit of thrill when seeing another person in headgear or elastics or glasses and braces.

10.Were you called any names as a result of wearing braces? If so, what were they?

No funny names

11.How did you find out you needed to get braces (parents, regular dentist, someone else)? How did you react to being told?

parents and dentist

regular dentist. Very inexpert at ortho work. Huge believer in elastics. Kept his patients in braces for years.

13.Are you Male or Female

Male

SURVEY RESPONSE 7

1.How old were you when you had braces? And how long did you have them?

15 over three years

2.When did you have braces? What years or decade?

May 1966- sept 1969

3.How did you feel at the time about wearing braces?

I hated wearing braces.

4.At the time you had braces, how common was it to see others in braces?

Some other people had them, but not "many."

5.How did you react when you first got braces? How did you feel about them?

I was miserable. Forced to wear them and the headgear that went with them. Did not leave my room for days. Did not begin to smile for months. Never stopped trying to cover them up. There was no way to hide the headgear that my mother made sure I wore the required 14 hours EVERY day and more on weekends, vacation etc. It did not matter if that meant wearing it in public.

6.What did others (friends, family, others) say when they first saw you in braces?

With headgear on was not just what they said it was the stare you got. Everything from "Oh, you have braces" to "what the hell is that thing". Most people were polite with an occasional "loser" thrown in.

7.Did you have any other friends who also had braces around the time when you did? Did you ever talk about either of your exeriences with braces? If so, what did they say?

There was not much to say. Braces sucked and everyone knew it. Then there was the rubber bands...

8.Did any of your family members also have braces? Who? And how did they feel about their braces?

Just me, older sister had perfect teeth.

9.Did you experience any funny, unusual, embarrasing, or otherwise memorable experiences involving your braces? If so, could you tell us about it?

Nothing fun and it was all unusual. Braces could be embarrassing always worried about food, snapped rubber bands etc. Headgear was beyond embarrassing. Humiliating for a teenage male. It was not my best time.

10.Were you called any names as a result of wearing braces? If so, what were they?

Try walking into high school on Monday morning after being seen wearing my headgear to the football game I got every insult. I had been 'grounded' for lying about wearing it when I went out so I was dragged to the football game. Everyone had their joke and I was branded as a geek.

11.How did you find out you needed to get braces (parents, regular dentist, someone else)? How did you react to being told?

Dentist said I needed them and I fought every step of the way.

Small office. Dr Gage was old school, did everything himself. A lot of waiting. 20 minute walk from school but a 20 minute drive home.

13.Are you Male or Female

Male

SURVEY RESPONSE 8

1.How old were you when you had braces? And how long did you have them?

16; 2.5 years

2.When did you have braces? What years or decade?

1970s

3.How did you feel at the time about wearing braces?

I hated wearing braces.

4.At the time you had braces, how common was it to see others in braces?

Some other people had them, but not "many."

5.How did you react when you first got braces? How did you feel about them?

Wished I did not need them

6.What did others (friends, family, others) say when they first saw you in braces?

They were generally supportive

7.Did you have any other friends who also had braces around the time when you did? Did you ever talk about either of your exeriences with braces? If so, what did they say?

Yes; general discussion

8.Did any of your family members also have braces? Who? And how did they feel about their braces?

9.Did you experience any funny, unusual, embarrasing, or otherwise memorable experiences involving your braces? If so, could you tell us about it?

Having to wear headgear in public

10.Were you called any names as a result of wearing braces? If so, what were they?

Braceface, metalmouth

11.How did you find out you needed to get braces (parents, regular dentist, someone else)? How did you react to being told?

Dentist; was not happy

Small office; large number of patients

13.Are you Male or Female

Male

SURVEY RESPONSE 9

1.How old were you when you had braces? And how long did you have them?

I was nine, when I first got my removable Braces and 17 when I fixed Braces and 19 Year, when I got them off

2.When did you have braces? What years or decade?

1984 until 1993

3.How did you feel at the time about wearing braces?

I didn't like wearing braces.

4.At the time you had braces, how common was it to see others in braces?

Some other people had them, but not "many."

5.How did you react when you first got braces? How did you feel about them?

I was kind of irritated and specially in the beginning used to move them around in the Mouth a lot. It took me some time to be so used to them, that I could smile normaly again. I was ashamed of showing them.

But later they where a normal part of me. I did not think anymore about them.

6.What did others (friends, family, others) say when they first saw you in braces?

I will never forget the first Day with them, it was like WTF is that? How am I supposed to talk?

My Friends where teasing me with them. Sometimes friendly, like you forgot your Birdcage, sometimes mean, that they where hiding my Box with them, so I had to come home and tell, that I lost them.

But later with the fixed Braces, It was more normal.

7.Did you have any other friends who also had braces around the time when you did? Did you ever talk about either of your exeriences with braces? If so, what did they say?

There was a Girl who had also removable Braces und another Girl with Fixed Braces. Sometimes we used to talk about the Orthodontist and how we hated wearing Braces.

I remember one of them telling us how she puked, when getting the Impression.

8.Did any of your family members also have braces? Who? And how did they feel about their braces?

My Sister got some Years after me. For her it was much more normal, I think she liked them, or was kind of proud of them.

9.Did you experience any funny, unusual, embarrasing, or otherwise memorable experiences involving your braces? If so, could you tell us about it?

I guess there was a lot of situations ... I remember one very embarrasing Moment, it was in school and I was not paying attention, but instead moving my Braces out and in and out and in again. I had developed a quirk in the beginning. Then at one Moment I realised, that it was so quiet, I turned and saw the whole Class, including the Teacher staring at me.

10.Were you called any names as a result of wearing braces? If so, what were they?

The usual stuff like Metalmouth and some other (German) names

11.How did you find out you needed to get braces (parents, regular dentist, someone else)? How did you react to being told?

The Dentist told my Parents, that I needed them.

First of all I tried to convince my parents, that my teeth are OK and we better go to another dentist, that this one is not good enough. Then I thought why me, I was not the coolest in Class and was terribly afraid, that with braces it would get even worse.

It was a small office, like a dentists Office. There were always three or four waiting. It was in the nearest Town. Usualy my Father woudl pick me up from school and then go there with me, later I had to walk from school to the Office and then to take the Bus home.

The Ortho asked me to out the Braces in, then out and in again, and sometimes, he changed something at the wire

13.Are you Male or Female

Male

Braces Memories

Braces In The 50s, 60s, 70s, and 80s Survey

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