A retrospective survey of 358 local Chinese adult orthodontic patients was undertaken to determine the motivating factors behind orthodontic treatment and the discomfort caused by fixed orthodontic appliances. From the completed questionnaires of 203 patients, the principal conclusions were that the improvement in dento-facial aesthetics following orthodontic treatment enhanced their self-confidence and self-esteem in a majority of patients; discomfort in oral soft tissues and teeth were transient and did not exceed 7 days; transient pain from teeth was experienced by 91% of patients and in 39% of these patients the discomfort to teeth was experienced with each new archwire or elastic force application. These results may be useful in relating discomfort levels to prospective orthodontic patients. It was also evident in the study that several cross-cultural differences existed in the attitudes of our patients compared to those reported in Caucasians.