Camouflaging changes in the appearance of a patient with ectodermal dysplasia

This clinical report describes an innovative method to ease the transition of a patient from old implant-retained prostheses to enhanced prostheses that altered the vertical dimension, esthetics, smile, and overall facial appearance. This procedure was accomplished by a customized labial bow, such as the one commonly used for a removable Hawley-type retainer, adjusted to follow the contour of teeth waxed into a denture. This option was adopted because it is reversible, nondamaging to the denture teeth, yet still camouflages the appearance of the maxillary denture and changes in facial contour during the early transition stage from the old to the new prostheses.