Controllability of temporomandibular joint loading by coordinative activities of masticatory muscles: a...

Masticatory and bite forces, when applied to the teeth, generate tremendous compressive energy in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). Excessive 'TMJ loading', if left untreated, deteriorates articular functions. Normally, it is controlled, to a certain extent, by stomatognathic means. In an attempt to clarify this control mechanism, we analyzed the relationship between TMJ loading and the activities of the masticatory muscles, by employing a static two-dimensional jaw model. This comprises two rigid bodies, the upper and lower jaws, including three dominant muscles, i.e. the masseter, the anterior portion of the temporalis and the lateral pterygoid. Static equilibrium analyses determined that TMJ loading can be minimized, under controlled bite conditions, by pointing the loading vector in a direction solely indicated by individual morphological factors, such as the position and orientation of the masseter and the temporalis. This theoretically optimum direction of TMJ loading was also anatomically acceptable, because the load is applied exactly to those portions of the articular disk and mandibular head that can most easily sustain it. Interestingly, this factor was absolutely independent of both the activities of the lateral pterygoid and the direction of bite force. Consequently. TMI loading can be minimized, by coordinating the activities of the masseter and the anterior portion of the temporalis.