Management of soft tissue problems in overdenture treatment of congenital and acquired defects: a case report.

Overdentures provide a valuable treatment alternative in situations in which patients have congenital or acquired defects involving the jaws and teeth. In the treatment of patients with ectodermal dysplasia, overdentures can be particularly advantageous in restoring esthetics and function. A problem associated with overdenture treatment in these situations can be the development of soft tissue inflammation and hyperplasia adjacent to the remaining teeth. The inflammation of the gingival tissues surrounding the remaining teeth may be caused by trauma from the overdenture itself. When the overdenture is tooth supported, the likelihood of soft tissue inflammation developing as a result of trauma from the denture base will be significantly reduced. In addition, follow-up treatment at regular intervals is necessary to ensure satisfactory soft tissue health.