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Some temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders start during childhood. An early treatment can avoid later surgical operation. However, it is difficult to design an early treatment because of the radiation that computed tomography scanner causes to children [1]. Also, the orthopantomography (OPG) is a planar image that causes difficulty to study the TMJ [2]. Thus, the purpose of this study is to design a computational tool able to represent the stresses at the TMJ by using an OPG image. For that purpose, a parametric finite element (FE) model of the human TMJ using active shape models (ASM) [3] obtained by OPGs was developed.

Many of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders occur during growth. An early treatment would improve the life of the patients and avoid later surgical treatment [1]. Nowadays, TMJ treatments are exclusively performed from a clinical point of view. Finite elements (FE) models are not used due to the complex geometry of the TMJ and because the properties of the soft tissues are unknown [2]. Thus, the purpose of this study is multiple: 1. To diagnose the TMJ disorder in a child patient using FE analysis. 2. To characterize the behaviour of the tissues of the TMJ using porous-fibrous material models. 3. To numerically design a non-invasive treatment. 4. To clinically perform the designed treatment.

It is well known that the periodontal ligament (PDL) plays a key role in transferring loads from the teeth to the alveolar bone, and it is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore that PDL performs greatly in tooth movements [1]. Some authors stress that the use of 3D geometry is mandatory; and plane models should never be used to simulate the tooth/bone system under load [2]. Although, more recent studies [3] proposed porohyperelastic models, the material properties of PDL are still not clarified [2][3]. The aim of this study is to validate and evaluate a finite element (FE) model based on the real geometry of a specimen extracted from a fresh human cadaver obtained by computer micro-tomography (µCT). For that purpose, the PDL behaviour was defined as a porous hyperelastic anisotropic material.

It is well known that the periodontal ligament (PDL) plays a key role in transferring loads from the teeth to the alveolar bone, and it is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore that PDL performs greatly in tooth movements [1]. Some authors stress that the use of 3D geometry is mandatory; and plane models should never be used to simulate the tooth/bone system under load [2]. Although, more recent studies [3] proposed porohyperelastic models, the material properties of PDL are still not clarified [2][3]. The aim of this study is to validate and evaluate a finite element (FE) model based on the real geometry of a specimen extracted from a fresh human cadaver obtained by computer micro-tomography (µCT). For that purpose, the PDL behaviour was defined as a porous hyperelastic anisotropic material.