Modelling of the temporomandibular joints and the role of medical informatics in stomatology

Abstract

This contribution deals with the 3D analysis of the temporomandibular joint. The main goal is to give the suitable formulation of mathematical model describing with sufficiently accuracy the TMJ and its function. The model is based on the theory of semi-coercive contact problems in linear elasticity, which leads to solving the variational inequality. The numerical solution is based on the finite element approximation of variational inequality corresponding to a generalized semi-coercive contact problem. The obtained numerical results will be discussed. Since the world is globalized new results from the bioinformatics and medical informatics play an important role. Therefore, the problem of an "international global mutual language" for surgeons in stomatology from different countries, and similarly in other branches in medicine, will be shortly discussed. © 2010 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.