Jaw & Joint Clicking

A normal, healthy TMJ is quiet during function.

Jaw Joint Clicking

A normal, healthy TMJ is quiet during function. The movement of the jaw during opening and closing is smooth without any sliding to one side or sudden changes in direction. When the muscles of the TMJ are over contracted or unhappy, the jaw will often deviate to one side or deflect due to this abnormal muscle contraction.The condyle of the lower jaw sits in what is known as the glenoid fossa of the upper jaw. This is the socket part of the upper jaw where the hearing and balance mechanisms are housed. This ball and socket joint is held together by ligaments.

TMJ, either from an accident or from clenching or grinding of the teeth, there can be damage to the ligaments holding the disc in place. This results in the disc slipping out of its proper position. When the jaw opens, the tissue holding the disc towards the back of the joint causes the disc to move on top of the condyle, which results in a clicking or popping sound.

There is a cartilaginous disc between these two bones that acts as a cushion, preventing the condyle from grinding against the glenoid fossa. This disc has no blood supply and so is nourished by synovial fluid which aids in the smooth movement of the jaw. The back part of the disc is held in place by a band of tissue that has a very rich nerve and blood supply. The front of the disc is connected to a muscle called the lateral pterygoid, which is responsible for pulling the disc forward when the jaw is opening.

Because there is a blood supply to the discal tissue, this trauma can lead to an inflammatory process. If the tissue is severely damaged, the upper and lower jaw bone can contact each other during opening. Over time, the bone surfaces can become rough, which results in a grinding sound when opening and closing the jaw. This is known as Crepitus, and overtime, can lead to arthritis of the joint.

A normal, healthy TMJ is quiet during function. The movement of the jaw during opening and closing is smooth without any sliding to one side or sudden changes in direction. When the muscles of the TMJ are over contracted or unhappy, the jaw will often deviate to one side or deflect due to this abnormal muscle contraction.The condyle of the lower jaw sits in what is known as the glenoid fossa of the upper jaw. This is the socket part of the upper jaw where the hearing and balance mechanisms are housed. This ball and socket joint is held together by ligaments.

TMJ, either from an accident or from clenching or grinding of the teeth, there can be damage to the ligaments holding the disc in place. This results in the disc slipping out of its proper position. When the jaw opens, the tissue holding the disc towards the back of the joint causes the disc to move on top of the condyle, which results in a clicking or popping sound.

In some cases, the disc can get stuck in front of the condyle, which results in an inability to open the jaw very far. This results in a type of Locked Jaw position. But as the jaw closes, the disc slips out – usually without much noise.

TMJ can lead to irreversible damage. Thus it is extremely important to try a correct the problem before the damage has occurred. Having clicking, popping or snapping in the TMJ is the most common symptom of a joint problem. The patient may or may not have pain when the clicking occurs.

Using Neuromuscular dentistry, we will correct the bite, which helps to reposition the disc to its proper place. When the bad bite is corrected and the disc is back where it belongs, the clicking and popping in the jaw will stop, the muscles relax, and the pain will be alleviated Neuromuscular Dentistry works to realign the bite, which also realigns the displaced disc. Once the jaw is realigned and the disc is back in place theclicking and popping sounds in the jawstop and the muscles holing the disc in place can relax, alleviating the jaw, face, head, neck, back, and shoulder pain that resulted.