History Main / PubescentBraces

[[folder:Web Comics]]
* Kat Vance from ''Webcomic/SequentialArt'' wore braces and a retainer in her grade school days; see strip #239. AlphaBitch Hilary Locke kept a photo of Kat with her orthodontic devices, and added it to a nostalgia slideshow at her school reunion; see strip #035.
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This is usually done in flashbacks. These are rarely BracesOfOrthodonticOverkill but instead are more normal braces made to show that the character is either HollywoodHomely or a {{Nerd}}.

[[folder: Comic Books]]

Is TruthInTelevision to an extent. Even if Hollywood tends to play this up a bit, braces are a common part of growing up, with about four million Americans at any given time undergoing some sort of orthodontic treatment, and about eighty percent of them being between the ages of six and eighteen. Of course, in the real world, braces can be worn at any age, meaning they are not just pubescent but in the usa, some health insurances only pay for it for people under a certain age (early to mid 20), making this tropes due to the pricetag of paying out of pocket.

Is TruthInTelevision to an extent. Even if Hollywood tends to play this up a bit, braces are a common part of growing up, with about four million Americans at any given time undergoing some sort of orthodontic treatment, and about eighty percent of them being between the ages of six and eighteen. Of course, in the real world, braces can be worn at any age, meaning they are not just pubescent.

[[folder:Live-Action Film]]

This is usually done in flashbacks. These are rarely BracesOfOrthodonticOverkill but instead are more normal braces made to show that the character is HollywoodHomely or a {{Nerd}}.

This is usually done in flashbacks. These are rarely BracesOfOrthodonticOverkill but instead are more normal braces made to show that the character is either HollywoodHomely or that they are a HollywoodNerd.

A character wearing braces to signify them as being young and in that awkward puberty stage where they're still growing (usually under fourteen though older kids with these sort of braces aren't uncommon). Often the character looks gangly or nerdy/dorky but by the time they're removed, they've [[SheIsAllGrownUp grown]] into a more attractive and mature-looking individual.

To show that they are young, characters wearing these tend to be a BurgerFool.

* ''Film/AWedding'': Muffin, the bride, is in her late teens, still has braces, and is one of the more unassertive and innocent characters.

* ''Film/Wedding1978'': Muffin, the bride, is in her late teens, still has braces, and is one of the more unassertive and innocent characters.

** For the duration of ''Island'', Beth wears braces that are part of her nerdy and "awkward teen years" look. During the two days between ''Island'' and ''Action'', Beth takes the opportunity to get her braces replaced with a retainer. The change boosts her confidence, not in the least because she also got a hot new boyfriend out of her visit to the dentist.

* In middle school Kim from ''WesternAnimation/KimPossible'' looked more gangly and immature. She also wore braces.

* Jimmy from ''WesternAnimation/EdEddNEddy'' has what appears to be [[BracesOfOrthodonticOverkill a non-removable retainer]], usually rendered as a featureless loop surrounding his head. Jimmy's voice is unusually high pitched, and he follows Ed's sister Sarah in much the same way a young child would.

* Toby from ''WesternAnimation/{{Trollhunters}}'' is the same age as Jim (approximately 16) but has braces to highlight his immaturity, awkwardness, and geekiness.

[[folder: Literature]]
* ''Literature/WhateleyUniverse'': Mobius is first seen as a high school freshman and has braces at that point.
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[[folder: Live Action TV]]

[[folder: Theatre]]

-->''When you're a skinny child of fifteen, wired with braces from ear to ear,''
-->''You doubt that you will ever be appealing.''
-->''Then Hallelujah! You are sixteen and the braces disappear,''
-->''And your skin is smooth and clear, and you have that happy grown-up female feeling.''

[[folder: Video Games]]

[[folder: Web Animation]]
* The "Hero Of The Month" short of ''WebAnimation/DCSuperheroGirls'' for Franchise/WonderWoman has a portion that depicts her as a toddler and as a preteen. She wore braces when she was younger but by the time of the series they've been removed.

[[folder: Webcomics]]

[[folder: Western Animation]]
* In the ''WesternAnimation/AmericanDad'' episode “Hayley Smith, Seal Team Six,” a younger Hayley is seen in a photo book wearing braces.

* [[WesternAnimation/BeavisAndButtHead Butt-Head]]. As [[WesternAnimation/BeavisAndButtHeadDoAmerica the film]] shows, he has been wearing them for quite a few years, complete with retainers during his prepubescence.

** Mabel Pines-- she and Dipper are 12 years old during the summer when the show takes place, though only Mabel wears braces. Mabel is less concerned than Dipper is about "acting mature" (though she does show a lot of emotional maturity for her age). (Also: a photo flashback reveals she's had braces at least since she was 9 years old.)