Selective impression technique for conventional denture rehabilitation in ectodermal dysplasia patient: a case report

Hypodontia or anodontia presents with socio-psychological problems due to impaired aesthetics, masticatory defficiency and underdeveloped jawbone mimicking marked residual bone resorption seen in ectodermal dysplasia patients.

To describe a useful impression technique which enhances retention and support of a cheap, functional removable dentures.

An 18-year old male presented with complaints of poor dental appearance. Full medical and dental histories well-taken before a dental assessment was made.

The patient was born to apparently normal parents. His main concern was poor dental appearance owing to failure of his teeth to erupt. He had adopted violent and evasive behaviours to overcome embarrassment in his early childhood. However, as he grew older, these behaviours could not compensate for the psycho-social challenges in his adulthood due to embarrassing appearance. The lips were everted with a prognanthic lower jaw bone. The lower edentulous ridge was poorly formed and small with unemployed mandibular ridge, but the first molars were present. The patient was rehabilitated with relatively inexpensive conventional removable acrylic partial dentures fabricated using selective impression technique, to enhance support, stability and retention for adequate function.

These well fitting, functional dentures improved the appearance, psychological and social behaviour of the patient while unacceptable social behaviours were prevented.