ELONGATION OF THE STYLOID PROCESS, DENTAL IMPLICATIONS. LITERATURE REVIEW AND PRESENTATION OF 5 CLINICAL CASES

The styloid process is a thin, long and cylindrical bone projection from the lower surface of the temporal bone, from the junction of the petrous and tympanic parts below the external auditory meatus and just anterior to the mastoid process, measuring 2 to 2.5 cm. It is normally located between the internal and external carotid arteries. It allows the insertion of the stylopharyngeus, stylohyoid and styloglossus muscles, as well as the stylomandibular and stylohyoid ligaments. In cases where the styloid processes are elongated, they can be observed through X-ray examinations, such as lateral and anterior-posterior skull radiographs. In the literature, the panoramic radiography is defined as the most used to diagnose diseases or conditions associated with an elongated process. With this work, 5 cases of elongated styloid processes, the use of panoramic radiography for its diagnosis and its possible dental implications are reported.