Temporomandibular Joint Essay

\section{Introduction}
\subsection{Background}
The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is essential to numerous key human functions, in particular, expression of emotion, chewing, swallowing and speech. Generally considered a load bearing joint, the TMJ is prone to a range of disorders due to structural and/or positional abnormalities \cite{Tanaka2008}. Research conducted in the 1980s showed that 16\% to 59\% of those tested, suffered symptoms and 33\% to 86\% showed clinical signs \cite{Carl}. The most common joint pathology for the TMJ is osteoarthritis, which can lead to critical deformities both functional and morphological \cite{Zarb}. For severe cases, a total joint replacement is considered to be a functional solution, by which the joint is
The former refers to resorption or deposition of bone, whereas the latter refers to the resorption or reinforcement of lamellar bone within the existing osteons \cite{Cowin1976}.
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Bone Remodelling involves three types of cells, osteoblasts, osteocytes and osteoclasts. Following the osteoblastic process, the osteoblasts develop into lacunae, otherwise known as osteocytes. These are responsible for the provision of calcium and other ions between the blood plasma and bone minerals \cite{mclean1968fundamentals}. If aged, the osteons can be resorbed to maintain the physiological function of the bone \cite{Cowin1976}. From experimental studies conducted in the past 30 years, Turner notes the following three rules to consider for bone adaptation:
\begin{itemize}
\item Bone adaptation is driven by dynamic and not static loading \item Only a short duration necessary to initiate adaptation, which consequently diminishes with time \item Bone cells become accustomed to routine loading, and are more responsive to changes in
These theories are considered to be analogous to the jaw bone given the modification of relevant constants and parameters