At what age should implants be placed in a patient with ectodermal dysplasia who requires implant-supported prostheses?

Correct answer: B. After age 21, when skeletal maturity is confirmed

• A. Incorrect. Legal adulthood at 18 does not guarantee skeletal maturity of the facial bones, particularly in males where growth may continue into the early 20s.
• B. CORRECT. The standard recommendation is to wait until age 21 (or confirmed skeletal maturity via cephalometric analysis) before placing implants in ectodermal dysplasia patients. Facial bone growth, particularly vertical alveolar growth, continues until early adulthood. Premature placement results in the implant appearing in infraocclusion as surrounding bone continues to grow.
• C. Incorrect. At 14–15, significant facial growth is still occurring, especially in males.
• D. Incorrect. Placing implants at age 6–8 would be highly problematic — the implants would be significantly out of position by the time growth is complete.