ABSTRACT
Total replacement of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) has been an option since the 19th century, but the recent prosthetic choices arose following development of the Christensen prosthesis in 1963. While initially this was cobalt chrome on acrylic, the subsequent modification to metal-on-metal led to metallosis and it was removed from the market. The current two commonly used prostheses are either a stock or custom-made variant (Stryker TMJ Concepts and Zimmer Biomet) and consist of a metal on ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fossa. Zimmer Biomet (formerly Lorenz) make a stock and custom prosthesis with similar components to the Stryker TMJ Concepts system. The Concepts system fossa has a titanium mesh base bonded to UHMWPE, whereas the Zimmer Biomet fossa is all UHMWPE. The indications and contraindications for total replacement of the TMJ were published by a UK consensus study group.
