[An implant-supported mandibular overdenture. A godsend for a child with anodontia].

An 8-year-old boy with ectodermal dysplasia had only 6 deciduous maxillary teeth and an edentulous mandible. As a result, he suffered from aesthetic and functional problems. The maxilla was already rehabilitated by a removable partial denture with wire clasp arms and retentive composite resin extensions on the abutment teeth. Consideration was given to the fabrication of a conventional complete mandibular denture. The underdevelopment of the alveolar ridge and absence of the buccal vestibule, however, rendered this impractical. Although the placement of implants in patients who are still growing is not generally recommended, a decision was made, based on a study of the literature, to insert 2 implants in the intraforaminal region as a support for an overdenture. Subsequently, an implant-supported mandibular overdenture on 2 ball attachments was fabricated. Two years after inserting the implants, no complications had arisen. The patient was satisfied with the functional and aesthetic results of the treatment.