Implants in children with ectodermal dysplasia: a case report and literature review

The replacement of teeth by implants is usually restricted to patients with completed craniofacial growth. Implant insertions in children or adolescents are circumvented due to several unfavorable potential effects including trauma to tooth germs, tooth eruption disorders and multidimensional restrictions of skeletal craniofacial growth. Moreover, the functional and esthetic results of the oral rehabilitation are only temporary acceptable. However, to a small number of pediatric patients suffering congenitally from severe hypodontia caused by syndromes such as ectodermal dysplasia, conventional prosthodontic rehabilitations are insufficient. We report the case of a boy with ectodermal dysplasia who exhibited a severe hypodontia and who was treated with implants inserted into the anterior mandible at the age of 8 years. The implants were functionally loaded and resulted in a high patient satisfaction. We recommend the early insertion of dental implants in children with severe hypodontia. Reviewing the current literature, several aspects of syndromic hypodontia, patient selection and implant planning are discussed.