Dental prosthetic rehabilitation of a child with ectodermal dysplasia: A case report

Abstract

Ectodermal dysplasias (EDs) form a part of the complex group of rare congenital diseases, primarily observed as a result of the abnormal development of embryonic ectodermal derivatives. A 5-year-old male child reported to the Department of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, with the typical features of hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia (HED), i.e., diff usely sparse hair, eyelashes and eyebrows, subsequent problems with thermoregulation and dry skin. The facial profi le showed a prominent forehead, sunken nasal bridge ("saddle nose"), and everted lips. Oral prosthetic rehabilitation was planned for the child to improve both the vertical and sagittal skeletal relationship, additionally providing better esthetics, improved speech, and masticatory function. The case report thus presents the early prosthetic oral rehabilitation of a young boy with HED associated with severe anodontia in the primary dentition.