Researchers at Ohio State University found that people prefer less metal in braces, rating metal braces - such as those worn by the star of "Ugly Betty" - as more unattractive. But they also found that orthodontists say that stainless steel braces are the most effective and easiest for them to handle while they are trying to give patients a more attractive smile.

People say they prefer less visible braces that allow them to see a smile that doesn't flash a mouthful of highly visible metal.

But orthodontists say that braces that combine clear ceramic brackets with thin metal or clear wires are more likely to wear out and are also more difficult for them to work with.

"The paradox is that the more aesthetic these dental appliances are, the more difficult they are to manage for the orthodontist," senior study author Henry Fields, professor and division chair of orthodontics at Ohio State University, said in a statement Wednesday. "But those are what people like the most."

The survey of 200 adults used standardized images of teeth with various braces on them, asking respondents to rate the appliances as being unattractive or attractive.