Teeth shifted over & Front tooth to be removed?

[Jane]

This is a question about my baby sis. She's 5.

Her bottom teeth are shifted to one side. The alignment is a full 3 teeth off of center. The dentist suggested that my mother wait no more than 6 months before getting her into braces to begin to correct the problem. She is a somewhat hesitant 5 year old, but cooperative in most things. Does this sound like a decent plan? Anyone have experience with braces on very young children? Anyone have a child with "shifted" teeth? Is it related to pacifier use?

Also, the root of one of her front teeth is dying. The dentist recommends pulling it and replacing it with a fake held by surrounding teeth. The root is not currently damaged. Anyone else have this in their kids? It's scary to me, she already has some speech delay. I hope that this won't be worse for her, but I don't want her permanent teeth to be stained or damaged.

I'd love to hear any information, good, bad, gossip, experiences, anything. Thanks!

[Jane]

Anyone?

I'd love even friend-of-a-friend-of-a-friend stories. I don't have any experience at all. Please?

[malamamama]

I am sorry that I don't have any advice or experience to share with you. I have heard of the braces going on children around 8, but not 5. But I am a mama, not a dentist. I know that it is a lot easier to "guide" potential problems than to fix them later. Is it possible for your mom get a second opinion?
As for the dying nerve, it seems like pulling it would be to prevent an infection from starting up in the nerve area, which can lead to complications. And if a spacer is put in place, then there wouldn't be speech issues. Is it one of the middle teeth? Seems that she would be losing them in another year or so anyway.....hmmmmmm....again, a second opinion would give more perspective here.
If you do a search for nerve or dead nerve or something like that, you might find some more perspectives.
I don't know much here......
What a fortunate 'lil sis she is to have you for a big sis.

[Smilemomma]

[Jane]

Thank you malamamama and Smilemomma!

I do think repairing a problem is tougher than preventing it, so I tend to agree with you, malamamama.

I have also gone into the archives and searched on information for my mother, as you suggested Smilemomma.

As far as the tooth, it's a baby tooth. I guess it looks like it was jammed up at one time and may be causing spots on the tooth underneath, on X-Ray. Mom vaguely remembers her falling off the monkey bars and banging her front teeth. The main concern is the permanent tooth being damaged. Now that I think about it, there isn't a clear logical path between the dying tooth and damaging the other one. (ie no infection) I will have mom ask about the connection next time.

I think when I heard about the appointment, I was just a little stunned and frentic. It's like the dental issues of a teen or adult are closing in on a (our) baby. Like it's going to rob her of some of the benefits of being young. And the idea that her permanent front tooth will be discolored or damaged is disturbing.

I think I am the one who is lucky to be her big sister. She was adopted intra-family. I know that if my dh and I had already been married, she probably would have been ours. So I have a lot of responsibility to her, anyway. She's my big girl.