Coronoid hyperplasia in chronic progressive trismus.

Hyperplasia of the coronoid process of the mandible has been observed in conditions like Oral submucous fibrosis, TMJ ankylosis, etc. The etiopathogenesis of this coronoid overgrowth has not been clearly sequenced or adequately hypothesized, and no definite mechanism has so far been advocated to explain this elongation of the coronoid process in the above mentioned conditions. Coronoid hyperplasia is seen in both these conditions despite being completely unrelated etiologically. However, progressive hypomobility of the mandible seems to be the common underlying condition in both the cases. We attempt to hypothesize a mechanism of coronoid hyperplasia, which appears to be independent of the underlying etiological factor causing trismus in these conditions.