Skip to main content
  • Research article
  • Open access
  • Published:

Finite elements analysis of the temporomandibular joint disc in patients with intra-articular disorders

Abstract

Background

Intra-articular disorders (ID) or anterior and/or medial displacement of the temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ) disc are the most common form of TMJ dysfunction (TMD). TMD causes changes in the friction coefficient during TMJ movement. Herein, we provided a three-dimensional (3D) finite-elements model (FEM) including the maxilla, disc, and mandible and evaluated the stress distribution with different friction coefficient.

Methods

Fourteen volunteers without TMD and 20 patients with MRI-diagnosed TMD were selected. CT and MRI data were collected to build the 3D FEA model of the mandible and TMJ disc. Stress distribution with different friction coefficient was measured.

Result

In the normal model, stress distribution on the TMJ disc was 2.07 ± 0.17, 1.49 ± 0.14, and 1.41 ± 0.14 MPa with 0.001, 0.3, and 0.4 friction coefficient, respectively. In the TMD model, stress distribution was 3.87 ± 0.15, 7.23 ± 0.22, and 7.77 ± 0.19 MPa respectively.

Conclusion

When the friction coefficient of the side with anterior displacement increased, stress on the disc, condyle and mandible of the opposite side increased. Simultaneously, stress values of the disc, condyle and mandible were higher than those of the normal lateral joint.

Peer Review reports

Background

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is a bilateral diarthrodial joint of the jaws in the human skeleton [1]This unique joint is the only synovial joint in humans wherein the articulating surfaces are covered by fibrocartilage [2]. TMJ disorder (TMD) is a common condition with an estimated incidence of 20–25% [3, 4]. Anterior and/or medial displacement of the articular disc or intra-articular disorders (ID) are the most common form of TMJ dysfunction. Although exact causes of TMD are complicated and remain inconclusive, ID, microtrauma and intra-articular stress are considered some of the major causes of TMD.

Research on biomechanics of TMJ is limited by the complicated structure of the joint. Traditional biomechanics can cause trauma and have several disadvantages such as non-repeatability and presenting difficulty in comparing different force distributions.

Finite element analysis (FEA) is a numerical method for solving mechanical problems for complex structure. In recent times, FEA has been widely used for research on medical biomechanics, especially that of orthopaedic devices under various loading conditions [5,6,7]. Owing to imaging difficulties, studies regarding FEA of the TMJ disc are still scarce. In Tanne’s research [8], the 3D FEM of the mandible (including the cortical bone, cancellous bone, articular cartilage, and joint disc) was established by slicing a skull specimen. The joint disc was simulated as a 2-mm-thick tissue covering the surface of skeletal process, which was used to discuss the stress conduction mode of the cranio-maxillary system under stress. Based on a normal human mandibular specimen, CT scanning was used to establish the mandibular model [9]. The stress, strain, deformation, and condylar reaction of the jaw were systematically analysed by this mandibular model. Based on the CT image of a cadaveric head, the 3D FEM of the mandible was established by manual recording. The solid model of the joint disc was established by manual tomography [10,11,12,13]. Despite the progress in modeling of TMJ, those model was not capable of accurate soft tissue reconstruction and ignored the influence of the disc in cases with abnormal intra-articular structure. Furthermore, the friction coefficient change in the TMJ of patients with TMD has been rarely considered in previous studies.

In the present study, the CT and MRI images of both volunteers without TMD and TMD patients were collected. Subsequently, three-dimensional (3D) FEA models including the maxilla, disc and mandible were established using 3D data registration technology. This protocol provided data for FEA as well as 3D view of changes in every patient’s TMJ anatomy. Moreover, this protocol could not only aid in diagnosis and treatment of TMDs but also help explore the influence of friction coefficient change in disc displacement.

Methods

Patients

From April 2017 to June 2018, healthy volunteers (6 mal and 8 female, age: 18–60 years) and TMD patients (9 male and 11 female, age, 17–60 years) at the Department of Oral Surgery, Central Hospital Affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University were selected. We classified all patients after consultation. The following patients were excluded: (1) those who had undergone any maxillo-facial surgery; (2) those with a history of mental illness; (3) volunteers who were diagnosed with TMD by at least one MRI specialist; and (4) those diagnosed with TMD by two MRI specialists and who had experienced pain with coexisting clicking for > 1 year as well as limitation of mouth opening were included in the study population.

CT and MRI and data collection

CT scans were performed for all subjects by using 320-channel multidetector scanners (Brilliance, Philips, Netherlands). CT settings were axial 0.625 mm collimation, 120 kVp, auto exposure and table speed of 60 or 32 mm/s.

MRI images were acquired using a 1.5-T scanner (Symphony, Siemens, Olangan, Germany) with a 7.5-cm surface coil. A 3-mm section thickness with a 140-mm field of view and spin-echo multi-section images were used. MRI images were independently evaluated by two experienced oral and maxillofacial radiologists at two different time points. In case of disagreement, final assessment was reached by consensus.

Construction of FEM of TMJ

A surface mesh model was imported into the FEA software in the initial graphics exchange specification (IGES) format. The volume model was constructed using the bottom-up ‘dot-line-plane-body’ approach. Isotropic, homogeneous and continuous linear elastic materials, which accorded with small deformation conditions, were used. Material constants of each material used in the experiment were extracted from previous studies [14,15,16] (Table 1).

Table 1 Properties of TMJ structures

The maximum masticatory muscle strength of each muscle was calculated by using Koolstra’s formula Li, max = P. A I, where P is an intrinsic strength constant with a value of 0. 37,106 N/m2.

Contact was a nonlinear issue, and we could simulate the contact state of the articular disc and condyle, the contact state of the temporal bone (such as separation and compression) and sliding and friction of the articular disc relative to the articular surface in the functional state. Effects of a lower friction coefficient of a joint on stress distribution in TMJ remain unclear [17]. According to Tanaka et al. [15, 18] the friction coefficient of normal TMJ is 0.001. When a disc is displaced, the quality and quantity of synovial fluid changes, which leads to an increase in the friction coefficient. Taking these changes into account, the friction coefficient of the side with anterior displacement of the joint disc was set to 0.001 0. 3 and 0. 4, respectively.

Statistical analysis

All values are presented as the mean ± standard deviation (SD). Differences between the experimental and control groups were evaluated by using Student’s t-test. Values were determined to be significant at *P<0.05, **P<0.01, and ***P < 0.001.

Results

A 3D finite element model (FEM) of the normal TMJ system was established with 3891 nodes, 184,412 solid elements, 120 cable elements (Link10), 1897 contact elements and 1176 target units. On the other hand, a 3D FEM of anterior disc displacement of unilateral TMJ was established with 49,763 nodes, 237,167 solid units, 120 cable elements (Link10), 2082 contact units (Conta174) and 1812 target units (target 170) (Figs. 1 and 2).

Fig. 1
figure 1

3D FEM of a normal TMJ system

Fig. 2
figure 2

3D FEM of unilateral irreducible disc displacement

Results showed that maximum stress of the normal lateral articular disc in the normal and pathological models appeared in the lateral part of the middle band. In the normal model, stress distribution was more uniform and the joint disc and the condyle were also subjected to higher load at the junction of the articular disc and the condyle (Fig. 3). On the other hand, in the pathological model, stress concentration was observed during anterior displacement of the articular disc (Fig. 4).

Fig. 3
figure 3

Stress distribution in a normal TMJ model: a upper surface, b lower surface. Different color represents corresponding stress

Fig. 4
figure 4

Stress distribution of the normal side disc in a pathological model: a upper surface, b lower surface. Red area is the main loading zone (C-D) Stress distribution in an anteriorly displaced lateral disc: c upper surface, d lower surface; f = 0.001. Red area denotes the main loading zone (E-F) Stress distribution on condylar of ID model: e normal side, f displaced side

When the friction coefficient of the side with anterior displacement increased, stress on the disc, condyle and mandible of the opposite side increased. Simultaneously, stress values of the disc, condyle and mandible were higher than those of the normal lateral joint (Table 2, Fig. 5).

Table 2 Peak values of stress on surfaces of the articular disc and condyle (MPa)
Fig. 5
figure 5

Peak values of stress on surfaces of the articular disc and condyle (MPa). a Stress distribution of the disc; b stress distribution of the condyle; c stress distribution of the mandible

Discussion

Owing to difficulties associated with direct in vivo measurements [19], computational FEM has been employed to predict the mechanochemical environment inside the TMJ under load [20, 21]. For the TMJ disc, previous FEA predicted mechanical stress distribution, fluid pressurization, and disc lubrication using elastic, nonlinear viscoelastic models [22,23,24] or poroelastic or biphasic mixture models [25, 26]. In patients with chronic unilateral mastication and relapse, FEA for postoperative treatment strategy such as occlusal splint would also help to predict complications after the treatment [27]. However, the impact of joint loading on the TMJ disc in patients with TMD remains unknown. As such, the study objective was to predict the force distribution in unloaded and loaded TMJ discs by using computational modelling approaches. Specifically, with subject-specific FE models developed to predict 3D force distribution in human TMJ discs with different friction coefficient.

In this study, TMJ was scanned using high-resolution CT and MRI in vivo. Advantages of CT and MRI were used to establish the joint fossa, maxilla and mandible, which included the articular fossa, maxilla and mandible. A 3D digital model of the entire dentition and the articular disc was created. All masticatory muscles, ligaments and adhesions in TMJ were simulated.

The disc is located between the condyle and the temporal bone. It functions as a cushion for stress in the joint. TMD affect stress distribution and interactions between structures in the TMJ to a certain extent, which has a negative impact on the structure and function of the joint. In Arnett and Gunson’s study, the compressive stresses were mainly loaded on the front of the condyles, causing pathological stress distribution and resorption of the condyle [28]. In this study, stress of the normal disc was concentrated in the lateral part of the middle band, and stress distribution was more uniform. However, when anterior displacement of the joint disc occurred, stress concentration was noted in the middle band of the joint disc. Such high stresses tend to lead to thinning or perforation of the joint disc. Tanaka et al. also reported that anterior displacement of the disc resulted in increase of compressive and shear stresses of the articular disc during median occlusion, which could easily cause disc thinning and perforation [29]. Moreover, Pérez-Palomar et al .[14] conducted a finite element study of the TMJ system with anterior disc displacement and found that the pressure and shear force in the posterior disc zone after anterior disc displacement of TMJ were higher than those observed in normal TMJs.

The articular capsule is lined by the synovium, and the sub-intimal layer is rich in blood vessels. It primarily provides a liquid environment for the articular surface and functions as a lubricating agent. By changing the friction coefficient of the disc of the affected side, we observed peak stress changes of the disc, condyle, and mandible and found that when the friction coefficient of the disc on the displaced side increased, increased disc friction could be observed in the corresponding side as well. Stress increased in the condyle and mandible of TMD patients, which was very similar to the results of a previous study [14]. Simultaneously, stress values of the disc, condyle, and mandible were higher than those of normal joints. According to a previous research study [30], the contact stress in the disk at the non-deviated side of patients with mandibular asymmetry in the intercuspal position (ICP) was reported to reach 2.66 MPa. Mongini et al. [31] believed that anterior disc displacement may result in flattening of the anterior oblique plane of the condyle, which is consistent with our findings that increase of the friction coefficient after anterior displacement of the articular disc leads to increase in stress on the anterior oblique plane of the condyle. NitZna et al. showed that TMJ lesions were related to abnormal position of the articular disc and increase of friction coefficient [32]. This study further proved that TMJ disease is closely related to its stress distribution. Hence, prevention and treatment of TMJ disease can be achieved by maintaining interactions among structures in normal TMJ.

Our study has some limitations. The sample size is small and heterogenous. We aim to increase the sample size of the study in future to validate these results and obtain more precise results. It is known that biomechanical models of the human TMJ are not perfect, rather they are based on a number of assumptions and simplifications. More specifically, biomechanical model could not mimic the influence of different cytokines such as IL-4, IL-6, and IL-12 [33,34,35]. In future studies, we aim to determine the nutrient environment in TMJ discs by using combined experimental and computational modelling approaches.

Conclusion

3D FEMs including maxilla, articular fossa, mandible, total dentition and disc displacement of TMJ were established. At any angle, the mesh division was even and flat, and coordination between the meshes was good. Such models can directly display spatial relationships among the articular disc, mandible, articular fossa and other structures. In addition, these models can simulate various occlusal states such as the centric occlusion and forward and lateral occlusal relationships. Stress of normal TMJ disc is concentrated in the lateral part of the middle and middle zone. Stress distribution is more uniform, and stress concentration occurs in the middle zone of the joint disc before disc displacement, which can easily cause thinning or perforation of the plate. Per our research, increasing the friction coefficient between the disc and the condyle will lead to an increase in force in the TMJ region. Stress in the TMJ region with anterior displacement is greater than that in the undisplaced side, suggesting that the mechanical environment of TMJ plays an important role in the normal physiological function and formation and outcomes of TMDs.

Availability of data and materials

The datasets used and/or analysed during the current study available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Abbreviations

TMJ:

Temporomandibular joint

ID:

Intra-articular disorders

FEA:

Finite elements analysis, finite elements model

TMD:

TMJ disorder

References

  1. Zhou ZH, et al. Improved anchoring nails: design and analysis of resistance ability : tensile test and finite element analysis (FEA) of improved anchoring nails used in temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disc anchor. BMC Oral Health. 2018;18(1):150.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Tanaka E, van Eijden T. Biomechanical behavior of the temporomandibular joint disc. Crit Rev Oral Biol Med. 2003;14(2):138–50.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Katzberg RW, et al. Anatomic disorders of the temporomandibular joint disc in asymptomatic subjects. J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 1996;54(2):147–53 discussion 153-5.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Ribeiro RF, et al. The prevalence of disc displacement in symptomatic and asymptomatic volunteers aged 6 to 25 years. J Orofac Pain. 1997;11(1):37–47.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Liebl H, et al. In-vivo assessment of femoral bone strength using finite element analysis (FEA) based on routine MDCT imaging: a preliminary study on patients with vertebral fractures. PLoS One. 2015;10(2):e0116907.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Parraga QJ, et al. Should a native depth-dependent distribution of human meniscus constitutive components be considered in FEA-models of the knee joint? J Mech Behav Biomed Mater. 2014;38:242–50.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Zhang M, et al. Development of an integrated CAD-FEA system for patient-specific design of spinal cages. Comput Methods Biomech Biomed Engin. 2017;20(4):355–64.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Tanne K, et al. Biomechanical effect of anteriorly directed extraoral forces on the craniofacial complex: a study using the finite element method. Am J Orthod Dentofac Orthop. 1989;95(3):200–7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Anderson DD, Daniel TE. A contact-coupled finite element analysis of the radiocarpal joint. Semin Arthroplast. 1995;6(1):30–6.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Donzelli PS, et al. Biphasic finite element simulation of the TMJ disc from in vivo kinematic and geometric measurements. J Biomech. 2004;37(11):1787–91.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Koolstra JH, van Eijden TM. Combined finite-element and rigid-body analysis of human jaw joint dynamics. J Biomech. 2005;38(12):2431–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Korioth TW, Romilly DP, Hannam AG. Three-dimensional finite element stress analysis of the dentate human mandible. Am J Phys Anthropol. 1992;88(1):69–96.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Koolstra JH, van Eijden TM. Prediction of volumetric strain in the human temporomandibular joint cartilage during jaw movement. J Anat. 2006;209(3):369–80.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Perez DPA, Doblare M. Finite element analysis of the temporomandibular joint during lateral excursions of the mandible. J Biomech. 2006;39(12):2153–63.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Tanaka E, Tanne K, Sakuda M. A three-dimensional finite element model of the mandible including the TMJ and its application to stress analysis in the TMJ during clenching. Med Eng Phys. 1994;16(4):316–22..

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Chirani RA, et al. Temporomandibular joint: a methodology of magnetic resonance imaging 3-D reconstruction. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod. 2004;97(6):756–61.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Westling L, Holm S, Wallentin I. Temporomandibular joint dysfunction. Connective tissue variations in skin biopsy and mitral valve function. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol. 1992;74(6):709–18.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Tanaka E, et al. Stress distribution in the temporomandibular joint affected by anterior disc displacement: a three-dimensional analytic approach with the finite-element method. J Oral Rehabil. 2000;27(9):754–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Urban JP, et al. Nutrition of the intervertebral disk. An in vivo study of solute transport Clin Orthop Relat Res. 1977;129:101–14.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Selard E, Shirazi-Adl A, Urban JP. Finite element study of nutrient diffusion in the human intervertebral disc. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2003;28(17):1945–53 discussion 1953.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Ferguson SJ, Ito K, Nolte LP. Fluid flow and convective transport of solutes within the intervertebral disc. J Biomech. 2004;37(2):213–21.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Koolstra JH, van Eijden TM. Consequences of viscoelastic behavior in the human temporomandibular joint disc. J Dent Res. 2007;86(12):1198–202.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Tanaka E, et al. Effect of hyperactivity of the lateral pterygoid muscle on the temporomandibular joint disk. J Biomech Eng. 2007;129(6):890–7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Del PA, et al. Clenching TMJs-loads increases in partial edentates: a 3D finite element study. Ann Biomed Eng. 2008;36(6):1014–23.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Beek M, Koolstra JH, van Eijden TM. Human temporomandibular joint disc cartilage as a poroelastic material. Clin Biomech (Bristol, Avon). 2003;18(1):69–76.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Spilker RL, Nickel JC, Iwasaki LR. A biphasic finite element model of in vitro plowing tests of the temporomandibular joint disc. Ann Biomed Eng. 2009;37(6):1152–64.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Cortese A, et al. A modified novel technique for condylar positioning in mandibular bilateral sagittal split osteotomy using computer-assisted designed and computer-assisted manufactured surgical guides. J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2019;77(5):1069.e1–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Arnett GW, Gunson MJ. Drs. G. William Arnett and Michael J. Gunson on esthetic treatment planning for orthognathic surgery. Interviewed by Dipak Chudasama. J Clin Orthod. 2010;44(4):227–35 quiz 251.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Tanaka M, et al. Analysis of Deinococcus radiodurans’s transcriptional response to ionizing radiation and desiccation reveals novel proteins that contribute to extreme radioresistance. Genetics. 2004;168(1):21–33.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Shu J, Zhang Y, Liu Z. Biomechanical comparison of temporomandibular joints after orthognathic surgery before and after design optimization. Med Eng Phys. 2019;68:11–6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Mongini F. Remodelling of the mandibular condyle in the adult and its relationship to the condition of the dental arches. Acta Anat (Basel). 1972;82(3):437–53.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Nitzan DW. The process of lubrication impairment and its involvement in temporomandibular joint disc displacement: a theoretical concept. J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2001;59(1):36–45.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Tanaka OM, et al. A finite element analysis of the maxillary first molar PDL with maxillary protraction in a mixed dentition class III malocclusion. Orthod Craniofac Res. 2015;18(4):242–50.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Maeda Y, et al. Histomorphometric analysis of overloading on palatal tooth movement into the maxillary sinus. Am J Orthod Dentofac Orthop. 2015;148(3):423–30.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Taskaya-Yilmaz N, et al. A possible etiology of the internal derangement of the temporomandibular joint based on the MRI observations of the lateral pterygoid muscle. Surg Radiol Anat. 2005;27(1):19–24.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the native English-speaking scientists of Elixigen Company (Huntington Beach, California) for editing our manuscript.

Funding

This project has received research support funding from the Wenzhou health and family planning commission. The funds were used to purchase the required software, rent the CT and MRI machines, and for manuscript editing.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Contributions

GF X was responsible for the analysis and interpretation of the data; CY H recorded the data; F Z built the 3-D model; FJ X collected samples; LL F was responsible for the conception and design of the study and critical revision of the manuscript. All authors read the final version of the manuscript and approved the publication of this article.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Guofeng Xiong.

Ethics declarations

Ethics approval and consent to participate

The study design was approved by the Ethical Committee of Wenzhou Central Hospital. All participants provided written informed consent.

Consent for publication

Not Applicable.

Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Additional information

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if changes were made. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article's Creative Commons licence, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article's Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/. The Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication waiver (http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/) applies to the data made available in this article, unless otherwise stated in a credit line to the data.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Lai, L., Huang, C., Zhou, F. et al. Finite elements analysis of the temporomandibular joint disc in patients with intra-articular disorders. BMC Oral Health 20, 93 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12903-020-01074-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12903-020-01074-x

Keywords