| ■ Braces Don't Boost Mental Well-Being: Study | 07.02.05 |
| Getting braces during childhood does not boost a person's quality of life or mental well-being in adulthood, according to a U.K. study that tracked about 1,000 children for 20 years. The study authors said their findings show that there's no evidence to support the widespread belief in the dental profession that orthodontics improve self-esteem or psychological health, BBC News reported. The Welsh schoolchildren in the study were followed from 1981, when they were ages 10 or 11, until 2001. Those who did receive braces to correct crooked teeth did say they were happier with their teeth. However, they did not have better self-esteem or mental health than those who had no orthodontic treatment. In previous research, the same team found that not having orthodontics as a child did not have a negative effect on future dental health, BBC News reported. ----- |