Osteophytes in temporomandibular joint, a spectrum of appearance in cone-beam computed tomography: Report of four cases

Abstract

Osteophyte is one of the hallmark radiographic feature of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) degenerative joint disease that has been used to define the presence of disease. The development of osteophyte is an attempt to stabilize the overload caused by occlusal forces, representing areas of newly-formed cartilage. It can cause various clinical symptoms such as pain, decreased jaw movements, nerve compression, and subsequently compromise joint function. Here, we report four cases of patients with TMJ arthritis showing different appearance of osteophyte using cone-beam computed tomography. This paper also reports two cases of bridging osteophyte at the temporomandibular joint, which has not been reported previously in literature.