The influence of unilateral disc displacement on stress in the contralateral joint with a normally positioned disc in a human temporomandibular joint: an analytic approach using the finite element method.

Objectives: To investigate the influence of unilateral disc displacement (DD) in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) on the stress in the contralateral joint, with a normally-positioned disc, during clenching.

Study Design: A finite element model of the TMJ was constructed based on MRI and 3D-CT of a single patient with a unilateral DD. A second model with bilateral normally-positioned discs served as a reference.