Effect of complete denture on the supporting oral mucosa and alveolar bone in-patients with hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia [HED]

Four young male children [10-13 years] referred from dermatology clinic for prosthetic management .The children were diagnosed as hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia with complete an-odontia of their deciduous and permanent dentition. Full upper and lower acrylic dentures were constructed for those children for physiologic and psychosocial reasons .Cytological and radiographical evaluations were carried out before and after denture wearing. Cytological examination before denture insertion showed the presence of large prickly and rounded epithelial cells indicating either incomplete differentiation of the covering surface epithelium, that is normally keratinized. After denture insertion the predominant exfoliated cells were found to be spindleform flattened cells. This may reflect the protective effect of denture wearing on the integrity, of the surface epithelium. Radiographic examinations showing slight increase in the amount of alveolar bone loss after denture insertion