A 61-year-old white man with advanced gout and rheumatoid arthritis was seen at the East Orange Veterans Administration Hospital Dental Clinic with a severe anterior open-bite caused by advanced bilateral destruction of the condylar heads of the mandible. In spite of the severe joint involvement, there was no history of temporomandibular joint discomfort. Both joints were still capable of hinge and gliding movements, although they were limited in their capacity to glide. The glenoid fossae and articular eminences appeared uninvolved radiographically. Whether the temporomandibular joint pathosis reported here can be attributed to gout and/or rheumatoid arthritis is debatable. In lieu of evidence to the contrary, however, the consensus is that these two diseases are the only etiologic factors in the joint destruction. © 1968.
