The role of prosthodontists in habilitation and rehabilitation in rare disorders: the ectodermal dysplasia experience.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this article is to highlight the strong worldwide trend of enhancing the opportunities for individuals with rare disorders to get adequate information and treatment. Hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia is used as an example.


METHODS
The development in recent years of databases for rare disorders, the establishment of resource centers in dentistry, and the strong movement of user influence by the formation of patient organizations and exchange of information through the Internet are described. Reference is made to the recent Scandinavian consensus conference on ectodermal dysplasia.


RESULTS
Motives for the centralization of treatment planning to resource centers for persons with rare disorders, the compilation of treatment outcomes in databases, and the advocation of a multidisciplinary team approach in dentistry are presented.


CONCLUSIONS
The prosthodontic profession has a key position in the habilitation and rehabilitation of many different diagnoses of rare disorders.
Bergendal
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National Oral Disability Centre, Institute for Postgraduate Dental Education, Box 1030, SE-551 11 Jönköping, Sweden. birgitta.bergendal@ltjkpg.se
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003142:Communication; D003255:Consumer Organizations; D019992:Databases as Topic; D004476:Ectodermal Dysplasia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006295:Health Resources; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007391:International Cooperation; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D010344:Patient Advocacy; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D010348:Patient Care Team; D011476:Prosthodontics; D012944:Social Support; D013577:Syndrome; D016896:Treatment Outcome