[Hypodontia due to ectodermal dysplasia: rehabilitation with very early dental implants]

Anhidrotic ectodermal dysplasia is a rare disease combining hypodontia, hypotrichosis, and hypohidrosis. The quality of life is greatly impaired very early, with major difficulty for feeding and drawbacks of usual dental prostheses. Early implant placement is a therapeutic alternative. It is usually performed in areas of stable growth, such as the mandibular symphysis. We report the case of very early implant placement in a child presenting with hypodontia related to ectodermal dysplasia.

A 6-year-old male patient was treated with maxillary and mandibular implant-borne prosthetic rehabilitation. Five implants were placed in the mandible and seven in the maxilla. The esthetic and functional outcome was satisfactory, improving the quality of life.

Very early implant-borne prosthetic rehabilitation is an alternative, which could become a first line treatment. It restores oro-facial functions allowing for a better development of maxillo-facial bones. This alternative is not without risks. But is it acceptable to wait until teenage with an inadequate removable prosthesis, because growth is not completed?