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Updated: Mar 27, 2026
Systematic Assessment of Mammalian Skull Specimens for Dental and Temporomandibular Joint Pathology
Published on: August 22, 2022
Examination of failed retrieved temporomandibular joint (TMJ) implants
S Kerwell1, M Alfaro2, R Pourzal3
1Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, USA; Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, USA; Institute of Biomaterials, Tribocorrosion and Nanomedicine (IBTN), Chicago, IL, USA.
Wear and corrosion significantly contribute to the early failure of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) total joint replacement (TJR) implants. Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for improving the longevity of TMJ TJR devices and similar orthopedic implants.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Orthopedic Surgery
- Materials Science
Background:
- Temporomandibular joint disorders (TMD) often necessitate alloplastic total joint replacement (TJR) for functional restoration and pain relief.
- Understanding wear and failure mechanisms of TMJ TJR implants is critical for enhancing their in vivo longevity.
- Wear and corrosion, along with peri-implant tissue reactivity, significantly influence TJR implant performance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate and report on the wear characteristics of retrieved, failed metal-on-metal (MoM), metal-on-polymer (MoP), and titanium-nitride coated (TiN Coated) TMJ TJR components.
- To analyze the surface damage and electrochemical properties of TMJ TJR implants to understand failure modes.
- To compare findings with orthopedic total hip replacement (THR) retrievals, applying a translational research approach.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 31 TMJ TJR devices (28 retrieved, 3 control) using optical microscopy, White Light Interferometry (WLI), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and Raman spectroscopy.
- Characterization of alloy microstructure and surface topography of articulating components.
- Electrochemical analysis, including open circuit potential (OCP) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), on MoM and TiN Coated devices.
Main Results:
- Significant surface damage was observed on retrieved TMJ TJR components, including pitting corrosion, corrosion products, specific wear patterns, hard phases, depressions, and scratches.
- Electrochemical tests confirmed material properties and in vivo corrosion kinetics.
- Raman spectroscopy provided insights into corrosion mitigation.
Conclusions:
- Wear and corrosion interactions play a substantial role in the early failure of TMJ TJR devices.
- The findings provide valuable data for improving future TMJ TJR designs, with potential applications to orthopedic TJR implants due to material similarities.
- Further in vitro studies are recommended to investigate corrosion kinetics and tribocorrosion mechanisms in TMJ TJR devices.
