Real Braces Survey: We Have A Winner

 

The winner of the Real Braces survey for the coolest looking braces in TV and movies is Kim Fields, who wore her real braces when she played Tootie in the '80s sitcom The Facts of Life.

And here's the runner up: Sean Astin, who had real braces when he played Mikey in the classic '80s film Goonies. 

Survey Results: Braces Fan Survey

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.

Are you male of female?

	100% (15)	Male
	0% (0)	Female

15 voters have answered this question.

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

Survey Results: LIKED Wearing Braces/DISLIKED Wearing Braces

My most recent set of surveys investigated the extent people liked or disliked wearing braces, and why they felt that way.  I did two surveys, one which was titled LIKED WEARING BRACES, and another titled DISLIKED WEARING BRACES.  Both surveys had essentially the same questions, with some minor word changes to deal with the differences of each survey's orientation (i.e. liking vs. disliking).

One of the interesting things about this two-survey format is that we can compare, side by side, how people who LIKED wearing braces compared with those who DISLIKED.  In fact, variety seems to be case in both of these surveys.

There were 4 people who took the LIKED WEARING BRACES survey, and 6 who took the DISLIKED WEARING BRACES survey. There were males and females who took both surveys, with more males than females in both cases.

(LIKED) Male or female?

	75% (3)	Male.
	25% (1)	Female.

4 voters have answered this question. 

(DISLIKED) Male or female?

	66% (4)	Male.
	33% (2)	Female.

6 voters have answered this question.

There was a good amount of variation as to how long each survey taker had worn braces, from a year to over three years.

(LIKED) How long did you have to wear fixed braces? (i.e. brackets or bands, not removable appliances.) Give the closest answer.

	0% (0)	Less than a year
	50% (2)	A year
	25% (1)	A year and a half
	25% (1)	Two years
	0% (0)	Two and a half years.
	0% (0)	Three years.
	0% (0)	Over three years (How long?)

4 voters have answered this question. 

(DISLIKED) How long did you have to wear fixed braces? (i.e. brackets or bands, not removable appliances.) Give the closest answer.

	0% (0)	Less than a year
	0% (0)	A year
	33% (2)	A year and a half
	0% (0)	Two years
	16% (1)	Two and a half years
	33% (2)	Three years
	16% (1)	Over three years (how long?)

6 voters have answered this question.

All of the survey takers had fixed braces, and most had them on both upper and lower fixed braces. Most also had retainers. Other than that, there were a variety of other appliances worn, with a little more appliances seeming to be present on the DISLIKE side.

(LIKED) Which of the following ortho appliances did you have? (Pick as many of the following as you had. You can make more than one choice.)

	100% (4)	Fixed Braces (Upper teeth)
	75% (3)	Fixed Braces (Lower teeth)
	50% (2)	Elastics
	0% (0)	Headgear
	0% (0)	Facemask
	25% (1)	Bite plate
	0% (0)	Sagittal Appliance
	0% (0)	Lip Bumper
	0% (0)	Tongue crib or rake
	0% (0)	Expander
	0% (0)	Herbst Appliance
	0% (0)	Frankel Appliance
	0% (0)	Bionator
	0% (0)	Nightguard
	0% (0)	Coil springs
	50% (2)	Retainer
	25% (1)	Anything else?

4 voters have answered this question. 

(DISLIKED) Which of the following ortho appliances did you have? (Pick as many of the following as you had. You can make more than one choice.)

	100% (6)	Fixed Braces (Upper teeth)
	100% (6)	Fixed Braces (Lower teeth)
	83% (5)	Elastics
	0% (0)	Headgear
	0% (0)	Facemask
	0% (0)	Bite plate
	0% (0)	Sagittal Appliance
	0% (0)	Lip Bumper
	16% (1)	Tongue crib or rake
	33% (2)	Expander
	16% (1)	Herbst Appliance
	0% (0)	Frankel Appliance
	0% (0)	Bionator
	0% (0)	Nightguard
	16% (1)	Coil springs
	66% (4)	Retainer
	0% (0)	Anything else?

6 voters have answered this question.

And now, the point of the survey: LIKING or DISLIKING wearing braces. Here the surveys show some variation, but also some strong feelings especially among those who really love or really hated wearing braces. There seem to be some strong feelings, both positive or negative, about the experiences people had in braces.

(LIKED) You picked a survey about how you liked wearing braces. How much did you like wearing braces? Answer on a scale from 1 to 5.

	0% (0)	1 (I liked wearing braces a little.)
	25% (1)	2
	0% (0)	3
	0% (0)	4
	75% (3)	5 (I loved wearing braces very much.)

4 voters have answered this question. 

(DISLIKED) You picked a survey about how you disliked wearing braces. How much did you dislike wearing braces? Answer on a scale from 1 to 5.

	16% (1)	1 (I disliked wearing braces a little.)
	0% (0)	2
	16% (1)	3
	33% (2)	4
	33% (2)	5 (I totally hated wearing braces.)

6 voters have answered this question.

The people taking the LIKED WEARING BRACES survey were asked the questions: "Why did you like wearing braces as much as you did?" and "What did you like most about wearing braces?" Those taking the DISLIKED WEARING BRACES survey were asked the similar questions: "Why did you dislike wearing braces as much as you did?" and "What did you dislike most about wearing braces?" So both sides got to tell why they felt the way they did.


One survey taker who DISLIKED WEARING BRACES noted the pain of braces.
She said that "They were painful and a hassle-the brackets would break and then I would have to schedule an appointment and spend a long time at the orthodontist office..."  As to the thing she disliked most about braces this reviewer specified that she wore a "Herbst appliance. Ouch."

The self-consiousness and stigma of braces was mentioned by other survey takers who DISLIKED braces. One responded that he disliked braces because they "Made me feel self-conscious at times, but more than anything they were just an annoyance."

Another DISLIKE survey taker wrote that "while I knew I needed them I was one of a few kids that had them. Braces wearers were routinely made fun of. I was mad that my big sister only had to wear removables and I needed both fixed upper & lower braces." This same reviewer said that what he disliked most about braces was "Looking different. Getting made fun of. Pain."

One reviewer on the DISLIKE side admitted that "I actually liked how they looked - didn't make me feel any less self-conscious though!

On the LIKED side, one survey taker said that "I loved the look and feel of braces on my teeth. Also the psychology of being made to get braces. Before I had braces, I envied others who had them. I wish I was made to get them earlier."  About the thing he liked most about braces, this same reviewer responded that he liked "The feel of having them in my mouth, and the brace-mouthed look I got."

Another who LIKED braces said that he liked braces because "It was something I always wanted to do for myself and my orthodontist and staff made it a great experience," and that his the thing he liked most about wearing braces was "Seeing how fast my teeth straightened."

Survey takers of both LIKED and DISLIKED surveys were asked about how they felt about being seen with braces, and here, again, the responses were varied, although the differences between surveys takers who "always tried to hide" their braces, and those who smiled and showed them off was notably different for both surveys.

(LIKED) How did you feel about people seeing your braces?

	0% (0)	I always tried to hide my braces.
	0% (0)	Although I disliked people seeing my braces, I "grinned and bared" them.
	50% (2)	It was no bother to me whether people saw my braces or not.
	25% (1)	I smiled my tingrin, but tried not to be too obvious.
	25% (1)	I loved to show off my braces whenever I could.

4 voters have answered this question.  

(DISLIKED) How did you feel about people seeing your braces?

	50% (3)	I always tried to hide my braces.
	0% (0)	Although I disliked people seeing my braces, I "grinned and bared" them.
	33% (2)	It was no bother to me whether people saw my braces or not.
	16% (1)	I smiled my tingrin, but tried not to be too obvious.
	0% (0)	I loved to show off my braces whenever I could.

6 voters have answered this question.

One thing that survey takers who LIKED WEARING BRACES and who DISLIKED WEARING BRACES had in common was that most said they would get braces again, regardless of whether they liked it or not, because of the benefits that orthodontic treatment provided.

(LIKED) Regardless of whether you liked or disliked wearing braces, if you had to do it again, would you have chosen to have braces anyway? (For example, to fix a dental problem?)

	100% (4)	Yes. (Mention why.)
	0% (0)	No. (Mention why.)

4 voters have answered this question.
(DISLIKED) Regardless of whether you liked or disliked wearing braces, if you had to do it again, would you have chosen to have braces anyway? (For example, to fix a dental problem?)

	83% (5)	Yes. (Mention why.)
	16% (1)	No. (Mention why.)

6 voters have answered this question.

I recommend checking out the actual survey results for the LIKED WEARING BRACES SURVEY and the DISLIKED WEARING BRACES SURVEY, by clicking on the links. Interesting variety, and some contrasts.

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

The survey of people who wore braces during the 50s, 60s, 70s and '80s has concluded and the results are ready. You can either click here to go to the results, or access them on the right hand side of this site, under Braces Survey Responses. The results really were quite interesting, and shows how the braces experience has changed and differed over the years.  Thanks to all who took this survey!

This survey had a total of 9 people responding, however there a few cases where certain respondents didn't respond to all the questions. 

The gender of the survey takers was lopsided. Unlike the previous survey, the response to the question of "Are You Male or Female," showed all 8 responses to that question were male. One survey taker did not answer that question. 

Are you Male or Female

	100% (8)	Male
	0% (0)	Female

8 voters have answered this question.

The response to the question of how common it was to see others in braces (at the time the responder had braces) was grouped together between responding that many other people had them (33%) and the middle ground answer that some people had them, but not many (66%). All 9 survey takers responded to this question.

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

	0% (0)	Very common. They were everywhere.
	33% (3)	Many other people had them.
	66% (6)	Some other people had them, but not "many."
	0% (0)	Not very common at all. You could see them here and there.
	0% (0)	Very rare. Besides me you hardly saw them.

9 voters have answered this question.

The place where the survey responses really started to differ was regarding how positive or negative the experience of wearing braces was for that survey responder. The responses are literally spread out across the board from hating wearing braces (2 responses, 22%), to loving wearing braces (also 2 responses, 22%), and every response in between. The biggest response was that the responder didn't like wearing braces, but didn't hate it (3 responses, 33%).

How did you feel at the time about wearing braces?

	22% (2)	I hated wearing braces.
	33% (3)	I didn't like wearing braces.
	11% (1)	Braces were no big deal either way.
	11% (1)	Wearing braces was okay.
	22% (2)	I loved wearing braces.

9 voters have answered this question.

In this question, I would say there seemed to be a shift in how positively or negatively braces were experienced over the years. Both survey responses saying they loved wearing braces came from responders who wore their braces during the 1980s (although there was an additional responder who wore braces during that same period who didn't like wearing braces). The two survey responses saying they hated braces were respectively from the late 60s (1966-1969), and the 1970s. 

Some of the most negative accounts of wearing braces came from the period of the '60s and '70s. In regard to the question "How did you react when you first got braces? How did you feel about them?" one survey responder answered:

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.  

The experience of wearing headgear drew some comments. The same responder who gave the above quote responded to the question "What did others (friends, family, others) say when they first saw you in braces?" with this response: 

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.

And to another question the same survey responder gave this answer:

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.   

Another responder (in answering "What did others (friends, family, others) say when they first saw you in braces?") gave this response about the different responses of family members:

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).

Other responses included that others asked questions, that others were supportive, that others were "a bit shocked," and that "all mentioned how much of a mouthful i had."

As noted by the headgear responses mentioned above, teasing was part of the braces experience for many. Here was another response mentioning that:

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.

Survey responders mentioned being called metalmouth, braceface, tinselteeth, tingrin, traintracks and similar names. 

Those survey responders who said they loved having braces gave positive responses about their braces experiences. On such survey responder said they "couldn't wait to get them."  Another gave the following response:

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.

Check out the full survey responses by clicking here.