The Most Attractive Dental Braces Are Least Effective: Study Says

Unfortunately, the most effective orthodontic braces are the ones considered the ugliest, University of Ohio researchers found.

Orthodontic braces also known as dental braces is a device used in orthodonticsdefine to align teeth and their position with regard to a persons bite. Often used to correct cosmetic and structural flaws alike, the technique is commonly used to correct malocclusions such as underbites, overbites, cross bites and open bites.

Interestingly, the latest survey conducted to gauge the public’s attitude about the attractiveness of various styles of braces indicates that the types that have the least visible metal are the ones considered most attractive, the survey results reveal.

For the survey Henry Fields, professor and division chair of orthodontics at Ohio State University along with his team showed 200 adults images of teeth with orthodontic appliances. On a scale of 1 to 100 the respondents were required to rate the appliances as ‘extremely unattractive’ to ‘extremely attractive’.

As the image focused only on the patients’ mouth and not the face, the attractiveness of the person wearing the appliances was not a factor, researchers clarified.

Based on responses, the stainless steel braces often considered the most effective orthodontic device managed to fetch the least scores. Its average ratings hovered between 25 and 40 on the 100-point scale.

The clear or tooth-colored and less visible than metal, ceramic braces received an average rating of about 55 and 70 on the scale.

Interestingly, the clear tooth trays and teeth with no visible appliances scored the highest on the attractiveness scale with 90 points. Creating the appearance of appliance-free teeth, these braces are applied from behind the teeth.

"The paradox is that the more aesthetic these dental appliances are, the more difficult they are to manage for the orthodontist," Fields marked. "But those are what people like the most."

The results of the study feature in the recent issue of the American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics.