Miho Hirose

Modeling of the effect of friction in the temporomandibular joint on displacement of its disc during prolonged clenching

PURPOSE The effect of the frictional coefficient in the temporomandibular joint on the disc during prolonged clenching was examined. MATERIALS AND METHODS For this purpose, a finite element model of the temporomandibular joint based on magnetic resonance images from a volunteer subject was used. Muscle forces applied for clenching were used as a loading condition for stress analysis during 10 minutes. With respect to the frictional coefficient between articular surfaces, 3 different values ranging from micro = 0.001 to micro = 0.1 were established. RESULTS At the onset of clenching, large stresses were found in the central and lateral part of the intermediate zone in the disc, and its stress distribution was not markedly changed during 10 minutes of clenching. In the retrodiscal tissue, stress relaxation occurred during the first 2 minutes of clenching. When the frictional coefficient between articular surfaces increased, the anterior, lateral, and central points in the disc moved further forward. At the end of 10 minutes of clenching, the disc showed a more anterior position as the frictional coefficient increased. CONCLUSION This result indicates that increase of the frictional coefficient between the articular surfaces may be a major cause for the onset of the disc displacement.

Influence of Friction at Articular Surfaces of the Temporomandibular Joint on Stresses in the Articular Disk: A Theoretical Approach with the Finite Element Method

The present study was designed to assess stress and displacement of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disk during jaw opening with different frictional coefficients (micro) from 0.0001 to 0.5 at the TMJ disk and bony component interfaces using three-dimensional finite element (FE) models of individual TMJs based on magnetic resonance (MR) images. An asymptomatic female volunteer and a female patient with anterior disk displacement without reduction were selected, and serial sagittal and frontal slices of their MR images were used for the TMJ reconstruction procedure. The condylar movement was recorded during jaw opening by a Gnatho-hexagraph and used as the loading condition for the subsequent stress analysis of the model. In the asymptomatic subject, relatively high von Mises stresses were observed in the anterior and lateral regions of the disk during jaw opening, and the superior boundary, contacting with the glenoid fossa, exhibited lower stresses than those on the inferior boundary facing the condyle. In the symptomatic subject, although the stress value in the disk was relatively low, the posterior connective tissue exhibited high stress throughout jaw opening. Additional increments in stress values and disk displacement were observed as the coefficient of friction increased, especially in the asymptomatic subject. It is concluded that an augmentation in the friction between the disk, glenoid fossa, and condyle produces an increment in stress and displacement of the disk.

Stress analysis in the mandibular condyle during prolonged clenching: a theoretical approach with the finite element method

Abstract Parafunctional habits, such as bruxism and prolonged clenching, have been associated with functional overloading in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), which may result in internal derangement and osteoarthrosis of the TMJ. In this study, the distributions of stress on the mandibular condylar surface during prolonged clenching were examined with TMJ mathematical models. Finite element models were developed on the basis of magnetic resonance images from two subjects with or without anterior disc displacement of the TMJ. Masticatory muscle forces were used as a loading condition for stress analysis during a 10 min clenching. In the asymptomatic model, the stress values in the anterior area (0.100 MPa) and lateral area (0.074 MPa) were relatively high among the five areas at 10 min. In the middle and posterior areas, stress relaxation occurred during the first 2 min. In contrast, the stress value in the lateral area was markedly lower (0.020 MPa) than in other areas in the symptomatic model at 10 min. The largest stress (0.050 MPa) was located in the posterior area. All except the anterior area revealed an increase in stress during the first 2 min. The present result indicates that the displacement of the disc could affect the stress distribution on the condylar articular surface during prolonged clenching, especially in the posterior area, probably leading to the cartilage breakdown on the condylar articular surface.

Effect of hyperactivity of the lateral pterygoid muscle on the temporomandibular joint disk.

In this study, the effect of hyperactivity of the lateral pterygoid muscle (LPM) on the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disk during prolonged clenching was examined with a mathematical model. Finite element models of the TMJ were constructed based on magnetic resonance images from two subjects with or without internal derangement of the TMJ. For each model, muscle forces were used as a loading condition for stress analysis for 10 min clenching. Furthermore, an intermittent increase of the LPM force with intervals of 1 min was applied. In the asymptomatic model, large stresses were found in the central and lateral part of the disk at the onset of clenching. In the retrodiscal tissue, stress relaxation occurred during the first 2 min of clenching. When the force of the LPM increased temporarily, the disk moved anteriorly and returned to its original position afterward. In the symptomatic model, large stresses were observed in both the posterior region of the disk and the retrodiscal tissue throughout clenching. Upon temporary increase of the LPM force, the disk was elongated anteriorly, which appeared to be irreversible. These results indicate that hyperactivity of the LPM may be involved in the progression of disk displacement.