Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 31, 2026
In situ Compressive Loading and Correlative Noninvasive Imaging of the Bone-periodontal Ligament-tooth Fibrous Joint
Published on: March 7, 2014
Implant-supported mandibular splinting affects temporomandibular joint biomechanics
Balthasar Zaugg1, Christoph H F Hämmerle, Sandro Palla
1Clinic of Fixed and Removable Prosthodontics and Dental Material Science, University of Zurich, Plattenstrasse 11, CH-8032 Zurich, Switzerland.
Objectives:
Mandibular functional movements lead to complex deformations of bony structures. The aim of this study was to test whether mandibular splinting influences condylar kinematics and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) loading patterns.
Materials And Methods:
Six subjects were analyzed by means of dynamic stereometry during jaw opening-closing with mandibles unconstrained as well as splinted transversally by a cast metal bar fixed bilaterally to two implant pairs in the (pre)molar region. Statistical analysis was performed by means of ANOVAs for repeated measurements (significance level α=0.05).
Results:
Transversal splinting reduced mandibular deformation during jaw opening-closing as measured between two implants in the (pre)molar region on each side of the mandible significantly by 54%. Furthermore, splinting significantly reduced the distance between lateral condylar poles (average displacement vector magnitude of each pole: 0.84±0.36 mm; average mediolateral displacement component: 45±28% of the magnitude) and led to a medial displacement of their trajectories as well as a mediolateral displacement of stress-field paths.
Conclusions:
During jaw opening-closing, splinting of the mandible leads to a significant reduction of mandibular deformation and intercondylar distance and to altered stress-field paths, resulting in changed loading patterns of the TMJ structures.
