A biomechanical evaluation of the Christensen temporomandibular joint implant

The Christensen TMJ implant is often used clinically as a total joint repla cement of the temporomandibular joint. The system consists of a thin fossa component and a condylar component with a polished articular head. In this study, we analyzed the surface finish and the metal structure of the compon ents. We also measured the contact areas between the two components for dif ferent load levels. Such information may be useful in evaluating clinical p erformance as well as in making future improvements in the design of these implants.