Morphological and biomechanical features of the temporomandibular joint disc: An overview of recent findings

Abstract The temporomandibular joint is a type of synovial joint with unique structure and function. Between the mandibular condyle and the mandibular fossa there is a dense fibrocartilaginous oval articular disc, temporomandibular joint disc. This disc serves as a nonossified bone, thus permitting the complex movements of the joint, and plays a major role in jaw function by providing stress distribution and lubrication in the temporomandibular joint. Pathological mechanical loads are one of the principal causes of temporomandibular joint disc displacement. There is a high frequency of temporomandibular joint disc disorders and treatment options are very limited. For this reason, it is necessary to examine possible alternatives to current treatment options like physiotherapy, drugs, splints or surgical techniques. Recent discoveries in the field of structure and functions of temporomandibular joint disc have created the need for their particular systematization, all in order to create an implant that would be used to replace the damaged disc and be more similar to the natural one. There is a need to more fully meet the morphology and biomechanical properties of the temporomandibular joint disc, and using tissue engineering, make a substitute for it, as faithful as possible, in a case where the natural TMJ disc is damaged so much that the normal function of the joint can be preserved only through implanted disc. Therefore, the aim of this paper was to describe morphology and structure, as well as biomechanical properties of the TMJ disc, in light of the possible applications of this knowledge for the purposes of tissue engineering.