Nearly one-fifth of the population of England and Wales believe their teeth would benefit from straightening with braces, according to new research from Ipsos MORI, a leading U.K. research firm.
However, despite the growing demand for orthodontic treatment from adults, 72% of Brits are unaware of the lingual option, according to Ipsos MORI.
The study was commissioned by the British Lingual Orthodontic Society (BLOS) to assess awareness, attitudes, and experience of orthodontics, with a focus on lingual braces such as Invisalign. Interviews were conducted in-home among a representative sample of 877 adults in England and Wales aged 15+, Nov. 13-19, 2009.
Rob Slater, chairman of BLOS, welcomed the positive attitude to orthodontic braces among the British. However, he noted, "The fact that so many young people today have conventional braces, thanks to the National Health Service, might explain the lack of awareness of invisible lingual braces."
Other attitudes revealed by the survey include:
- People living in the southeast part of England are more likely to believe they need braces. Of those living in the southeast, 30% felt their teeth would benefit from orthodontics, compared to 7% of those living in the southwest.
- Gender does not greatly affect outlook among those who felt their teeth would benefit from treatment: 18% of men responded positively, compared to 19% of women.
- Asked whether they would consider giving orthodontics as a present to a friend or a loved one, 6% of those interviewed said they definitely would, equating to 3.1million people in England and Wales.
- In the 70+ age category, 6% said their teeth would benefit from straightening, but generally, those in the younger age categories (44 and below) are more likely to believe in the benefits of orthodontics than those who are aged 45 and above. For instance, 25% of those in the 15-17 age group said they would definitely benefit from teeth straightening, compared to 5% in the 45-54 age group.
