Overdenture with Access Post System of an Ectodermal Dysplasia: A Case Report

Abstract

Ectodermal dysplasia is a genetic disorder in which there are congenital birth abnormalities of 2 or more ectodermal structures. The treatment options for patient with ectodermal dysplasia varies depending on the age, degree of malformation of teeth, no of teeth present and the growth and development of the stomatognathic system. This case report discusses the prosthodontics rehabilitation of young patient with ectodermal dysplasia with acces post over denture . Keywords- Access post system, Ectodermal Dysplasia, Prosthetic rehabilitation, Overdenture. I. Indroduction The National Foundation for Ectodermal Dysplasia (NFED) defines ectodermal dysplasia (ED) as a genetic disorder in which there are congenital birth defects of 2 or more ectodermal structures. The structures may include skin, hair, nails, teeth, nerve cells, sweat glands, parts of the eye and ear. 1 More than 150 different variants of Ectodermal dysplasia have been described. 2 Hypohidrotic and hidrotic are the two forms of Ectodermal dysplasia. In both types teeth and hair are similarly affected but manifestations in nails and sweat glands and the hereditary pattern tend to differ. 3 The X linked hypohidrotic form or Christ Siemens syndrome is characterized by clinical triad of hypohidrosis, hypotrichosis and hypodontia. Hidrotic form is inherited as an autosomal dominant trait and affects teeth, hair and nails but usually spares the sweat glands. 4 The prosthodontics rehabilitation of patients suffering from ED depends on anodontia or hypodontia. In complete anodontia, the treatment would be conventional/implant supported complete dentures. In patients with partial anodontia, removable/fixed partial dentures and overdentures may be considered. In this present case, an access post system overdenture was the treatment of choice; the objective was to preserve the remaining residual ridge and to restore the lost function and esthetics.