Oral rehabilitation of a child with primary failure of tooth eruption.

This article describes the prosthetic evaluation and treatment of a 10-year-old female patient with primary failure of tooth eruption. This case is unique in that the failure of eruption affected both the deciduous and permanent dentition in all quadrants, in the absence of any other systemic abnormalities. After diagnostic articulation and a thorough discussion of the treatment with the patient and her parents, complete maxillary and mandibular overdentures were fabricated. The process followed with this preadolescent patient to ensure maximum compliance, success, and encouragement toward a positive attitude in wearing complete dentures is reported.