Bangkok’s grey gamble: Elderly caught playing their cards wrong

[george]

How about a blue smile?

False braces fitted with coloured rings latest fad in Bangkok

BANGKOK: -- Sport a sunny yellow smile, or a cheeky pink one - or just match your smile to your mood, or outfit.

That's the latest fad on Bangkok's streets: False orthodontic braces fitted with coloured rings.

The Thai teenage craze has transformed the once-hated devices into essential pieces of jewellery for the hip, despite health professionals' warnings over their dangers.

Popular market stalls bristle with devices to suit every taste and budget.

'The coloured rings are very cute,' said Jessica, a 14-year-old schoolgirl with an orange smile.

She paid 1,000 baht ($40) for her braces.

Fifty baht buys a simple wire set decorated with green, pink or yellow beads that can be self-fitted by curling the two ends of the wires around the molars.

For more than 4,000 baht, one can fix 10 colour rings on both the upper and lower sets of teeth.

Others come complete with a false palate - in discreet pale pink, of course - or even sporting cartoon characters.

'A stall sprung up near my school with a batch of false braces going for 50 baht.

'All the stock ran out in a few hours, and when it returned its prices had doubled,' said high-school student Pink on an Internet forum on the subject.

The fitting of real dental braces complete with follow up treatment with an orthodontist over several years costs between 10,000 and 50,000 baht, or sometimes more, according to the national federation of orthodontists.

Such expenses, beyond the reach of most Thais, are not covered by health insurance.

Preechaya, 15, wearing a real medical brace with green and orange rings, had hers made by an orthodontist because of problems with her teeth.

'The colours make it pretty. But if I had the choice, I would prefer not to wear it.'

Some teenagers with real dental problems are attaching the fake braces, either because of a lack of information or lack of access to proper treatment.

Dentists therefore propose two services: Genuine braces for patients needing them and who can afford them and fake ones for fashion.

The fakes do not affect the position of the teeth but the pressure they exert on the girls' jaws make them awkward and they can be painful, said Dr Somchai Satravaha, president-elect of Thailand's orthodontist association.

She warned of dangers.

'If they do not sterilise the various instruments being used to fix the braces, it could possibly open the door to viruses such as hepatitis B,' she said.

In the long term, the false braces may also be eroded by the effects of saliva, with potentially harmful metals being absorbed by the wearer.

-- AFP 2004-11-11

[dr_Pat_Pong]

How about a blue smile?

False braces fitted with coloured rings latest fad in Bangkok

BANGKOK: -- Sport a sunny yellow smile, or a cheeky pink one - or just match your smile to your mood, or outfit.

That's the latest fad on Bangkok's streets: False orthodontic braces fitted with coloured rings.

The Thai teenage craze has transformed the once-hated devices into essential pieces of jewellery for the hip, despite health professionals' warnings over their dangers.

Popular market stalls bristle with devices to suit every taste and budget.

'The coloured rings are very cute,' said Jessica, a 14-year-old schoolgirl with an orange smile.

She paid 1,000 baht ($40) for her braces.

Fifty baht buys a simple wire set decorated with green, pink or yellow beads that can be self-fitted by curling the two ends of the wires around the molars.

For more than 4,000 baht, one can fix 10 colour rings on both the upper and lower sets of teeth.

Others come complete with a false palate - in discreet pale pink, of course - or even sporting cartoon characters.

'A stall sprung up near my school with a batch of false braces going for 50 baht.

'All the stock ran out in a few hours, and when it returned its prices had doubled,' said high-school student Pink on an Internet forum on the subject.

The fitting of real dental braces complete with follow up treatment with an orthodontist over several years costs between 10,000 and 50,000 baht, or sometimes more, according to the national federation of orthodontists.

Such expenses, beyond the reach of most Thais, are not covered by health insurance.

Preechaya, 15, wearing a real medical brace with green and orange rings, had hers made by an orthodontist because of problems with her teeth.

'The colours make it pretty. But if I had the choice, I would prefer not to wear it.'

Some teenagers with real dental problems are attaching the fake braces, either because of a lack of information or lack of access to proper treatment.

Dentists therefore propose two services: Genuine braces for patients needing them and who can afford them and fake ones for fashion.

The fakes do not affect the position of the teeth but the pressure they exert on the girls' jaws make them awkward and they can be painful, said Dr Somchai Satravaha, president-elect of Thailand's orthodontist association.

She warned of dangers.

'If they do not sterilise the various instruments being used to fix the braces, it could possibly open the door to viruses such as hepatitis B,' she said.

In the long term, the false braces may also be eroded by the effects of saliva, with potentially harmful metals being absorbed by the wearer.

-- AFP 2004-11-11

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Gonna try a set George ? It'd probably look excellent with your new found slimness

[chonabot]

Steady on Doc , has George been under the Liposuctionist's pump?

Btw I'm aiming for 2000 tonight ( posts that is ) just to piss Udon off.

Drinking ( cough) Wolf Blass Chardonnay Semillhon 1990, as the wife has hurt her hoof and can't get to the Offie to get me some decent Red in.

[dr_Pat_Pong]

Steady on Doc , has George been under the Liposuctionist's pump?

Btw I'm aiming for 2000 tonight ( posts that is ) just to piss Udon off.

Drinking ( cough) Wolf Blass Chardonay Semillhon , as the wife has hurt her hoof and can't get to the Offie to get me some decent Red in.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Udon is in Sydney and drinking on the cheap. Turn the light off, and you won't know the difference.

[chonabot]

George , I'm aiming to shed a few pounds , for the wife , can you give me any tips ?

[dr_Pat_Pong]

George , I'm aiming to shed a few pounds , for the wife , can you give me any tips ?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

There's a rumour about that the old chap has taken to the 'baccy again and is under stress. Keep sane and keep the pud' Chon.

[chonabot]

George , I'm aiming to shed a few pounds , for the wife , can you give me any tips ?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

There's a rumour about that the old chap has taken to the 'baccy again and is under stress. Keep sane and keep the pud' Chon.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Sage advice Doc , but alas, unless I lose some weight we'll have to upgrade the caravan .

Grape picking is limited at the best of time in Dodger land.

I blame Neil Kinnock.