Dental implants in patients with ectodermal dysplasia: A systematic review

Area of Science:

• Oral surgery and implantology
• Genetics and developmental biology
• Prosthodontics and restorative dentistry

Background:

• Ectodermal dysplasia (ED) is a group of inherited disorders characterized by abnormal development of ectodermal structures, frequently affecting teeth and oral tissues.
• Individuals with ED often require complex dental rehabilitation, including the use of dental implants to restore function and aesthetics.
• Assessing the long-term success of dental implants in this specific patient population is crucial for treatment planning and patient management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the clinical outcomes and survival rates of dental implants placed in patients diagnosed with ectodermal dysplasia (ED).
• To synthesize evidence from existing literature regarding the success of oral implants in individuals with ED.
• To provide data that can inform clinical decision-making for implant-based rehabilitation in ED patients.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive electronic literature search was conducted across five major scientific databases (PubMed/Medline, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, J-Stage, Lilacs) without time restrictions.
• Included studies were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, and calculation of implant failure probabilities.
• Data from 90 publications involving 228 patients with ED who received 1472 implants were systematically reviewed.

Main Results:

• A total of 1472 implants were placed in 228 ED patients, with a mean age of 20.2 years; 24.6% of implants were placed in children.
• The overall 20-year cumulative survival rate (CSR) for dental implants in ED patients was 84.6%, with a calculated failure probability of 4.5%.
• Additional procedures like bone grafting and distraction osteogenesis were performed, showing varying success rates, with distraction osteogenesis having a 10.1% failure rate.

Conclusions:

• Dental implants demonstrate a high survival rate in patients with ectodermal dysplasia (ED), regardless of age (infants to adults).
• The 20-year CSR of 84.6% supports the use of oral implants as a viable treatment option for restoring dentition in individuals with ED.
• Further research may focus on optimizing surgical and prosthetic protocols to further enhance long-term implant success in this challenging patient group.