Using endosseous dental implants for patients with ectodermal dysplasia.

Congenitally missing teeth and poorly developed or absent alveolar ridges are signs often associated with various types of ectodermal dysplasia. Endosseous dental implants may be used to support fixed mandibular prostheses in patients with ectodermal dysplasia. Anatomical factors and age considerations require careful attention to treatment planning.

Body and orofacial cathexis in edentulous complete-denture-wearing clients.

This description cross-sectional study examines cathexis, or satisfaction, with the body and the orofacial region in relationship to eight major demographic and health status variables in a nonprobability sample of 34 male and 47 female edentulous subjects aged 36 to 77 years. Kiyak's 27-item Body Cathexis Scale (BCS), including an innovative five-item Orofacial Cathexis Scale (OFCS), was shown to be reliable for use in elderly clients at least to age 77 (Cronbach's alpha = .95). More research is needed to validate the OFCS. Overall scores were in the neutral range, with teeth being the most negatively cathected body part. Longer periods of edentulism were associated with more dissatisfaction with the teeth. Body and orofacial cathexis were highly positively correlated. Chronic illness, education level, race, and religion were not significantly related to cathexis. Edentulism, especially recent edentulism in the elderly, female gender, and divorced marital status could be important indicators for body image disturbance.

Pattern of permanent teeth present in individuals with ectodermal dysplasia and severe hypodontia suggests treatment with dental implants.

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to assess the pattern of permanent teeth present in a self-selected sample of 17 female and 35 male patients with ectodermal dysplasia presenting for treatment with dental implants. METHODS: Mean age of sample: 18.7 years, age range: 5.9 to 60.9 years. Panoramic radiographs were examined independently by two investigators to determine the permanent teeth present. None of the sample reported extractions of permanent teeth prior to presenting for implants. RESULTS: Permanent teeth most likely to be present, reported as a percentage of the patient sample with that tooth, were: maxillary central incisors (42%), maxillary first molars (41%), mandibular first molars (39%), maxillary canines (22%), mandibular second molars (17%), maxillary second premolars (15%), and mandibular premolars (12%). Comparing dentition by quadrants, mandibular anterior teeth (canines and incisors) were least likely to be present. CONCLUSIONS: Results support previous findings that the maxillary central incisors, maxillary first molars, mandibular first molars, and maxillary canines are the most conserved teeth in hypodontia. Successful use of osseointegrated implants in the anterior mandibles of most of these patients suggests that habilitation of the mandible with dental implant-supported prostheses is a reasonable option.

Addition of an implant pillar to an existing implant prosthesis.

When an implant is lost, it is sometimes desirable to replace it to ensure adequate support of the prosthesis. Such an addition may necessitate a costly and time-consuming remake procedure. A technique is offered that, in some circumstances, may allow incorporation of the newly placed implant into the existing restoration.

Nutritional adequacy of reported intake of edentulous subjects treated with new conventional or implant-supported mandibular dentures.

The nutrient content of the diet of edentulous patients who have various oral prostheses is of concern. This study compared baseline food records to those records kept semiannually for 3 years after treatment to ascertain whether nutrient intake of edentulous patients changed after they received new implant-supported mandibular dentures (n = 41) or new conventional dentures (n = 30). No significant differences in intake of calories or of 27 nutrients were noted between the two groups (p > 0.01). A decline in the percent of calories from fat with a corresponding increase in carbohydrate calories within both groups (p < 0.01) reflected a national trend; a slight decrease in calories was similarly observed (p < 0.02). More than 40% of patients in both groups were found to have inadequate intakes of dietary fiber, calcium, or both, and 25% to 50% had low intakes of vitamins A, E, D, B6 and/or magnesium. Intakes were similar to those reported for two age-matched populations.