Osseointegration and guided bone regeneration in ectodermal dysplasia patients.

Dental and surgical implant treatment for patients affected by ectodermal dysplasia syndrome can be very complicated. The guided bone regeneration (GBR) membrane technique together with bone grafting is used to facilitate the placement of osseointegrated implants in a prosthetically guided position. Two groups with the same bony anatomical features were assessed. The first consisted of 13 ectodermal dysplasia patients in whom 66 implants with bone grafts and membranes were inserted. In the second control group, 120 implants with GBR were placed in 20 patients. The implants were assessed at the second stage of surgery, and at a follow-up after 1, 2, and 3 years of functional loading. There was no statistically significant difference in the osseointegration rate between the two groups. Despite the anatomical defects associated with the decreased occlusal vertical dimension and the reduced edentulous alveolar ridges, both in height and width, osseointegrated implants together with GBR and bone grafts can be used successfully in patients with ectodermal dysplasia syndrome.