Development of a Finite Element Model to Simulate and Study the Biomechanics of the Temporomandibular Joint

There is considerable controversy about even the anatomy of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ),much less the kinematics or biomechanisms. Consequently there is little understanding of themechanisms involved in the numerous TMJ disorders that are seen clinically. Katzberg andWestesson point out that most of the work done on the TMJ deals will the static anatomy, with littleon functional anatomy. They maintain that this is a least partially due to the fact that there are fewmethods available to study joint dynamics of the TMJ (Katzberg and Westesson, 1993). This projectinvolved the development of two-dimensional and a three-dimensional finite element models. Thesemodels were then used to study simulate and study the biomechanics of the human TMJ.Specifically, efforts were made to identify the functions of individual components and stress patternswithin the TMJ were generated and analyzed.