Objective To construct a temporomandibular joint (TMJ) model including mandible by means of three-dimensional finite element methods and to investigate the stress distribution of the condyle during clenching of edentulous jaw with complete denture.Methods The three-dimensional model (3-DFEM) of TMJ including mandible of edentulous jaw patient was constructed by helix-CT scanned transverse sections.The stress distribution of the condyle was analyzed under load.Results The three-dimensional finite element model of TMJ including mandible of edentulous jaw was established,then loaded and calculated on the corresponding situs of posterior tooth of the model.Analytic results showed the stress on the neck of condyle obviously surpassed that on the top of condyle.The stress decreased from external to interior on anterior and posterior incline,and decreased from anterior to posterior on interior and external incline of the condyle.Compressive stress was dominant in the anterior incline and upper 12 of lateral part (near the top of the condyle),and tensile stress was dominant in the inferior 12 (near the neck),so the lateral inferior part was featured by high stress distribution.In the posterior and interior part,tensile stress occupied the upper 12 and compressive stress was main in inferior 12.Conclusion The edentulous jaw of patients had the compressive stress and tensile stress simultaneously on the whole condyle.But the stress is different in level and feature of distribution.The external anterior incline is featured by the highest stress distribution,and it is consistent with the feature of the TMJ of healthy people.