The jaw might click when you eat, speak, or move your mouth, like with yawning. The jaw will occasionally click naturally as air bubbles are released after becoming trapped in the joint.
Frequent popping, cracking, or grinding of the jaw joint is indicative of a deeper issue. If that’s coupled with discomfort, lack of mobility or swelling, it’s important to see. Your dentist.
Persistent jaw cracking that is not benign, bubbles of gas being popped, is often diagnosed as Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ). TMJ is a condition affecting the jaw joint and surrounding muscles, causing pain, swelling, popping and grinding noises, as well as an impact on the function of the joint.
Other symptoms include:
- Locking of the jaw
- Headaches, tension around the temples and jaw
- Impacting sleep quality
- Worsening when using the jaw to speak and eat
What causes the jaw to click?
Temporomandibular joint disorder can be caused by a few different things; for instance, physical contributors can include grinding the teeth (bruxism) or a misaligned bite. The pressure ultimately impacts the jaw joint.
Excessive wear of the jaw joint can also cause TMJ to develop. Another physical factor which can result in TMJ is injury or trauma to the jaw.
One non-physical factor that can be attributed to TMJ is stress. When a person’s body is under stress, it can create tension, ultimately evolving into TMJ disorder.
Is there a treatment for jaw clicking?
TMJ disorder can often be eased with painkillers and by using simple techniques to relieve pressure from the jaw, like massaging the area and switching to softer foods. If stress is causing TMJ, then seeing a doctor to look at ways to reduce your stress levels could be beneficial.
If bruxism is the root of the issue, the dentist may suggest using nightguards to cushion the jaw and protect the teeth from being ground down.
For more complex diagnoses, more invasive interventions may be needed to treat TMJ, which include injections, physiotherapy, and surgery. Two types of injection can be used to treat TMJ, the first being anti-inflammatory medication, which is used to reduce the inflammation of the muscle and joint.
Botulinum A toxin (Botox) can also be injected into the jaw to relax the muscles and release any tension by limiting the jaw’s mobility.
Surgery is the last option for treatment and is done when all other treatments have failed or aren’t suitable for the individual. There are various types of surgeries which look to address specific issues around TMJ:
- Open surgery is used to remove any excess growth, which could be tissue, growth, realigning your jaw disk to its proper positioning, or repairing any damaged parts of the joint.
- Joint replacement is when the natural jawbone is removed and replaced with a biocompatible prosthetic, which helps restore the jaw to its primary functions.
- Fluid removal may be needed to aspirate any buildup, relieving pressure in the jaw.
If you’re concerned by a persistent popping, especially if coupled with other symptoms, contact our dental practice for a consultation. We can promptly diagnose and recommend top-quality treatment from our specialist dentists.