The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is considered as one of the complex joints of the human body. Mandibular condylysis is distinguished from condylar aplasia by its non-association with aural/facial anomalies, and also as normal development appears to proceed until the lytic event occurs. It is further distinguished from primary and secondary condylar hypoplasia by the following: Absence of condyle rather than it being small, the normal development appears to proceed until the lytic event occurs, and its non-association with aural/facial anomalies or temporomandibular ankylosis. In the present report, a patient with a unilateral missing mandibular condyle with contralateral TMJ ankylosis is presented and the treatment is outlined and discussed.
Keywords: Ankylosis; condyle; temporomandibular.