Hello board, considering ortho clinical trial!

[ThatTooth8]

Hi there! To introduce myself, I'm a 32-year-old postdoctoral fellow in cancer research and mom-to-be (any minute now, 4 days past due!). I have severely crowded lowers and mildly crowded uppers.

Working in a medical research facility, I came across a study recruiting patients with "severe lower arch crowding". I went for a qualification test and for the first time ever, I was told that I have "perfect teeth" (for the study)! I would pay $1000 for them to study and completely fix my teeth with braces, uppers and lowers, and my insurance will cover 50% of that! I will either be in the control group, with regular braces treatment only, or the study group which receives a small surgery and then braces.

I can start as soon as I can have x-rays, after the baby decides come out! But should I? Do I really want them experimenting on my mouth? Will it be too much to handle, new mom and new to braces, at the same time?

[SunshineRay]

I would do it!

[Leebie3]

DO IT! It really isn't that much to handle having braces.. Go for the opportunity to have them fixed at minimal cost

[MrsCharisma]

That's AWESOME!!!! Do it!

[Kurisu]

It's never too late to get braces! Braces are not that much maintenance at all, especially since your out-of-pocket expense is low. Totally ok to eat baby food, if necessary, since it's soft. hehe

Wishing you the best on your new born!

[djspeece]

Hopefully they have provided you with a good overview of the study and a copy of the consent document you will need to sign so that you have a clear idea of what they are trying to accomplish, follow-up care that will be provided, and so forth. Not to be cute, but there is really no such thing as a "small surgery" (I am an RN) so get the actual name of the procedure. I would probably also be pretty clear about the follow-up routine for either of the experimental groups, because now you may have to worry about a baby sitter, or taking your infant to clinic. That may not be a good idea initially.
I can't speak to the Motherhood aspect, but as the father of twins who was the one who got up with them every night ("But you're the nurse, Dan") and did the "diapers / feeding / oh we're wide awake now Daddy let's play" routine and I don't think braces would have been that big of a deal. I was fairly sleep-deprived and perhaps you will be too, which will probably make the time fly by faster.
Best of luck for a wonderful delivery and congratulations!

[bbsadmin]

I am not sure what the surgery entails, but IMO you should research this before going ahead with it. Get a consultation or two from regular orthodontists to see what they'd do to fix your teeth. That way you can compare the treatment plans. A person should never rush into any sort of surgery without knowing the information and the risks.

For example, if you plan to nurse your baby, what if your mouth gets infected and you need to take antibiotics? Do you think that you could deal with the initial exhaustion of new motherhood AND pain in your mouth? Not only that, but you won't be able to eat totally normally for the first few weeks after braces, so if you are nursing that might not be a good idea, because when you're nursing you need a lot of extra calories and proper nutrition.

Please think it over carefully and gather all of your information before going ahead with it.