Determination of the biomechanical properties of the temporomandibular joint region by mechanical mobility

Abstract

I non-invasively estimated the biomechanical properties of the human temporomandibular joint (TMJ) region. The biomechanical properties, damper : c, spring : k and mass : m, were analyzed for 28 normal subjects using an automatic system composed of a device for measuring mechanical mobility of the joint and a data analysis unit with a microcomputer. The values for c, k and m were affected by posture and opening position. The coefficient of variation in the mechanical properties of the TMJ varied about 5% both over one day and over one week. The mechanical properties in males were significantly greater than those in females (p<0.05). The mechanical properties of the TMJ region could be estimated non-invasively using the method.