Ectodermal Dysplasia Dentistry

Your Forever Smile Starts Here

Ectodermal Dysplasia is caused by a single abnormal gene or pair of abnormal genes. The chance for parents to have an affected child depends on the type of Ectodermal Dysplasia that exists in the family. In some families the mistake in the gene was a fresh mistake (mutation) in their child and the likelihood of another child being affected is very low. There are other families however that have an inherited form of Ectodermal Dysplasia with recurrence risk ranging from 25% to 50%.

Dr. Paul S. Petrungaro whose advanced education, experience and technique specifically serve patients with ectodermal dysplasia. This condition in the oral cavity may require complex dental treatment from early childhood (beginning at age 4) throughout adulthood.

ORAL CHARACTERISTICS

Missing primary and/or adult teeth

Malformed teeth

Abnormal tooth eruption

An abnormal tooth-loss sequence

Widely spaced teeth

Cavity-prone teeth

Undeveloped ridges in the gum area

Abnormal tooth growth patterns.

ECTODERMAL DYSPLASIA

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

WHAT ARE ECTODERMAL DYSPLASIAS?

Ectodermal dysplasias are a group of 150 inherited genetic disorders that impair the development of the organs of the skin, hair, nails, sweat glands, and teeth. Children are born with ectodermal dysplasias, but signs and symptoms aren’t always apparent at birth, and getting the correct diagnosis can be difficult.

Dr. Paul Petrungaro at Start Smiling Chicago specializes in the dental care needs of children and adults with the rare genetic condition.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF TOOTH REPLACEMENT?

A dental prosthesis and/or tooth replacement is very helpful for the progressive development of speech and facial growth in a young child. It also helps maintain healthy self-esteem, preventing psychological complications throughout your child’s maturation.

WHAT TREATMENT IS NECESSARY FOR ECTODERMAL DYSPLASIAS?

A young ectodermal dysplasia patient often requires several stages of treatment. This is due to the:

Growing and changing child
Unusual growth patterns
Missing boney ridges in the gum area and dental structures

This treatment is best served by Prosthotontist and Periodontist specialists, trained experts that specialize in determining the proper dental treatment sequence for patients with ectodermal dysplasias.