ABSTRACT
Tissue engineering of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is very much in its infancy. Similar to efforts directed at the replacement of other diseased joints, tissue engineering of the TMJ requires a detailed understanding of anatomy, normal joint activity and various pathologies. The body of knowledge available for the TMJ is relatively incomplete compared to other joints, which accounts for many of the problems encountered in previous reconstructive attempts. To date, very little is known about the manner in which the joint functions and the environment most conducive to its physiology. Even less is known about the impact of skeletal morphology and the presence or absence of a dentition. However, it is believed that both these parameters affect the type and range of motion as well as the forces created during joint function. The manner by which disease affects the TMJ has been derived largely from orthopedic and rheumatology studies of other diarthrodial joints. As various investigators attempt to apply basic tissue engineering techniques to produce replacement components for the TMJ, aggressive efforts are also underway to characterize its normal and abnormal behavior. These studies will provide an essential
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basis for the development of successful and lasting tissue engineering techniques for the reconstruction of the TMJ.
