Metal braces are often viewed as a rite of passage for children and teens—but they’ve benefitted people of all ages and from all walks of life! This orthodontic treatment has even spent quite a lot of time in the pop culture spotlight, and there have been many iconic moments over the years in which braces were featured front and center, be it in real life or fictional television. Here are five of our favorite, most memorable braces pop culture moments!
Katy Perry in Her Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.) Music Video
Katy Perry has had a lot of hits over the years, but one of her earlier ones, Last Friday Night, featured an iconic music video in which the musician played a stereotypical “nerdy” version of herself. She wore big glasses, braces, and even headgear, amongst a dorky wardrobe. Although her braces in the music video weren’t real, the star did admit to eventually undergoing Invisalign treatment in 2016!
Lisa Simpson in The Simpsons, Season 4
In this 1993 episode of The Simpsons, Mr. Burns tries to get rid of all his employees’ dental insurance plans—just as Homer and Marge learn that their daughter, Lisa, will need braces. Homer ends up becoming head of the union and organizes a strike to keep his dental insurance, so that Lisa can get the life-changing orthodontic treatment she needs.
America Ferrera in Ugly Betty
Betty Suarez, played by actress America Ferrera, is the star of this beloved television series in which the bizarre 22-year-old from New York studies and works hard, but has an eclectic sense of style that lands her in the middle of the fashion industry. Betty’s braces don’t seem very effective, though, given she ends up wearing them for all four seasons!
Chuckie Finster in Rugrats
Our favorite redheaded and brace-faced toddler from the hit classic kids’ cartoon Rugrats, Chuckie is known for being best friends with the main character, Tommy Pickles. Although toddlers don’t normally have braces, in the sequel show All Grown Up, he still has his iconic braces look as a pre-teen, which is much more natural-looking.
Mike Wazowski in Monsters University
Mike is the one-eyed green monster from the hit Pixar movie Monsters, Inc, and in this prequel, we follow him during his college years as he meets his best friend and future coworker, Sully. During the movie, he’s always spotted wearing his retainer—likely because he just wrapped up his orthodontic treatment and wants to keep his results intact!
About the Practice
The team here at Simply Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics proudly serves families in Randolph and the surrounding area with Dr. Myles Clancy, Dr. Sam Alkhoury, and Dr. Nina Khedkar leading the way. We offer a wide range of orthodontic services for children of all ages, including traditional metal braces. If you have any questions about the blog or you’d like to get in touch with our team to set up an appointment, please reach out online or call today for more information or assistance. Telephone: (781) 767-7200.