In a developing country like Indonesia – whose economy collapsed after the Asian currency crisis of 1998 – orthodontic services were in short (or no) supply until recently and the rich would have sent their children overseas for braces. As they still do for education.
Most families find it hard to afford orthodontists and their children have to go without. Luckily Indonesians have pretty good dental hygeine and nice teeth, especially compared with the rest of Asia.
It is increasingly common to see adults wearing dental braces and many a Jakartan smile is adorned with a row of metal.
Arief is the boyfriend of someone I know. I have only met him a few times but last Saturday I noticed his braces had been removed and mentioned it to him. He smiled back through a row of perfect white teeth.
"Congratulations." I said.
At that point someone whispered that the braces had not been for straightening hsi teeth; that they were purely cosmetic.
So I asked him:
"Did you need braces for your teeth?"
-- "No. Accessories only."
"Accessories? REALLY ...?"
-- "Yes."
"Why"
-- "Fashion."
"How long did you have them?"
-- "6 months"
It has become fahionable to wear dental braces, real dental braces which applied by an orthodontist but without any tightening bands. This luxury, unuttainable to many, carries social status.
It's fashion, Jim, but not as we know it.
It may sound strange but judge ye not: there are many worse crimes being committed in the name of fashion. Like selling your kidney for an iPad 2. Or carrying a dog around in a Fendi Baguette.
1 comment:
I just wonder how many headings that I have missed the pun - loved this one and totally missed it the first time and just noticed as I was arrowing down.sfc
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