Implant-Retained Overdentures for Young Children With Severe Oligodontia: A Series of Four Cases

PurposeThe treatment need is high in children with severe oligodontia and anodontia, because they often have functional and esthetic problems owing to missing teeth. Because the intraforaminal region barely grows after eruption of the permanent mandibular incisors, dental implant treatment should be considered a treatment option for these children. The purpose of our study was to assess the treatment outcomes regarding satisfaction and the care and aftercare of implant-retained mandibular overdentures in a series of 4 young children without erupted mandibular teeth from either severe oligodontia (n = 3) or anodontia (n = 1).Patients and MethodsFour children without erupted mandibular teeth, aged 6 to 13 years, were provided with an implant-retained overdenture on 2 implants. The surgical and prosthetic care and aftercare were scored by the clinicians. Also, the patients and their parents were queried about how satisfied they were with the overdenture.ResultsThe median follow-up of the patients was 5.2 years (range 3.2 to 8.4). No implants were lost, no cases of peri-implantitis occurred, and the need for treatment and aftercare was low. Patient and parent satisfaction with this treatment was high.ConclusionsA 2-implant, retained overdenture in children with no erupted mandibular teeth is a safe treatment modality when appropriate treatment and aftercare can be provided.