Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesTreatmentDiagnosis
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes
Treatment
Diagnosis
This article discusses jaw clicking—what this symptom feels like, other symptoms that often occur with it, and diagnosis and treatment of conditions that can cause this symptom.
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Symptoms of Jaw Clicking
The main symptom of a clicking jaw is a popping sensation at your TMJ when you open or close your mouth. These joints can be felt just below the end of your cheekbones, in front of your ears. You might also hear an audible “click” sound with this popping.
Other symptoms often occur with jaw clicking, depending on the underlying cause. These can include:
Around 11 million to 12 million people in the United States have had temporomandibular pain. TMDs most commonly affect women aged 35 to 44 years.
What Causes Jaw Clicking?
There are three main groups of temporomandibular joint disorders. Conditions in each of these groups can cause jaw clicking, as follows:
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis (OA)in the jaw occurs over time. With this condition, joints in the jaw undergo degenerative changes—breakdown of bone, cartilage, ligaments (connecting bone to bone), muscles, and the lining of the joint.
Osteoarthritis typically affects one side of the jaw at a time.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA)is an autoimmune condition that can cause inflammation in joints throughout the body, including the jaw. Unlike OA, rheumatoid arthritis typically affects both jaw joints simultaneously. Clicking is a common symptom of RA in the jaw.
Around 20% to 40% of people with rheumatoid arthritis will have TMJ involvement.
Disc Disorders
The upper jaw bone and skull form the temporomandibular joints. Between the bones is a piece of cartilage called a disc. Jaw clicking occurs in the majority of people with disc disorders.
Muscle Disorders
Jaw clicking can occur from disorders that affect the muscles used for chewing. Examples include:
Clicking Without PainJaw clicking often occurs without pain and can even be normal. In these cases, treatment is not necessary.
Clicking Without Pain
Jaw clicking often occurs without pain and can even be normal. In these cases, treatment is not necessary.
How Is Jaw Clicking Treated?
Treatment for jaw clicking depends on the underlying cause. Sometimes, temporomandibular joint issues resolve on their own without treatment.
Jaw conditions that cause clicking are often temporary and can be treated with home remedies, such as:
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Physical therapy is often used totreat jaw-clicking disorders. Your therapist will evaluate your jaw and prescribe specific exercises based on the underlying issue. Modalities such asultrasoundorelectrical stimulationcan also reduce pain and inflammation.
Dentists and other healthcare providers also provide a variety of treatments for TMDs. These can include:
Healthcare providers that can typically help with diagnosis and treatment of joint pain include dentists, orthodontists, oral surgeons, oral medicine/orofacial pain specialists, and physical therapists.
How Is Jaw Clicking Diagnosed?
Imaging, such asX-raysormagnetic resonance imaging (MRI), can provide pictures of the bones and soft tissues to assess for damage to these structures.
When to See a Healthcare ProviderIf you don’t have pain with your jaw clicking, you likely don’t need treatment. If you have pain, difficulty moving your jaw, or if it’s locking in one position, see your healthcare provider.
When to See a Healthcare Provider
If you don’t have pain with your jaw clicking, you likely don’t need treatment. If you have pain, difficulty moving your jaw, or if it’s locking in one position, see your healthcare provider.
Crooked Jaw: Causes and How to Fix It
Summary
5 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research.TMD (temporomadibular disorders).Derwich M, Mitus-Kenig M, Pawlowska E.Interdisciplinary approach to the temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis—review of the literature.Medicina (Kaunas). 2020;56(5):225. doi:10.3390/medicina56050225Covert L, Mater HV, Hechler BL.Comprehensive management of rheumatic diseases affecting the temporomandibular joint.Diagnostics (Basel). 2021;11(3):409. doi:10.3390/diagnostics11030409Trindade D, Cordeiro R, José HC, et al.Biological treatments for temporomandibular joint disc disorders: strategies in tissue engineering.Biomolecules. 2021;11(7):933. doi:10.3390/biom11070933Yoshida K.Botulinum toxin therapy for oromandibular dystonia and other movement disorders in the stomatognathic system.Toxins (Basel). 2022;14(4):282. doi:10.3390/toxins14040282
5 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research.TMD (temporomadibular disorders).Derwich M, Mitus-Kenig M, Pawlowska E.Interdisciplinary approach to the temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis—review of the literature.Medicina (Kaunas). 2020;56(5):225. doi:10.3390/medicina56050225Covert L, Mater HV, Hechler BL.Comprehensive management of rheumatic diseases affecting the temporomandibular joint.Diagnostics (Basel). 2021;11(3):409. doi:10.3390/diagnostics11030409Trindade D, Cordeiro R, José HC, et al.Biological treatments for temporomandibular joint disc disorders: strategies in tissue engineering.Biomolecules. 2021;11(7):933. doi:10.3390/biom11070933Yoshida K.Botulinum toxin therapy for oromandibular dystonia and other movement disorders in the stomatognathic system.Toxins (Basel). 2022;14(4):282. doi:10.3390/toxins14040282
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research.TMD (temporomadibular disorders).Derwich M, Mitus-Kenig M, Pawlowska E.Interdisciplinary approach to the temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis—review of the literature.Medicina (Kaunas). 2020;56(5):225. doi:10.3390/medicina56050225Covert L, Mater HV, Hechler BL.Comprehensive management of rheumatic diseases affecting the temporomandibular joint.Diagnostics (Basel). 2021;11(3):409. doi:10.3390/diagnostics11030409Trindade D, Cordeiro R, José HC, et al.Biological treatments for temporomandibular joint disc disorders: strategies in tissue engineering.Biomolecules. 2021;11(7):933. doi:10.3390/biom11070933Yoshida K.Botulinum toxin therapy for oromandibular dystonia and other movement disorders in the stomatognathic system.Toxins (Basel). 2022;14(4):282. doi:10.3390/toxins14040282
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research.TMD (temporomadibular disorders).
Derwich M, Mitus-Kenig M, Pawlowska E.Interdisciplinary approach to the temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis—review of the literature.Medicina (Kaunas). 2020;56(5):225. doi:10.3390/medicina56050225
Covert L, Mater HV, Hechler BL.Comprehensive management of rheumatic diseases affecting the temporomandibular joint.Diagnostics (Basel). 2021;11(3):409. doi:10.3390/diagnostics11030409
Trindade D, Cordeiro R, José HC, et al.Biological treatments for temporomandibular joint disc disorders: strategies in tissue engineering.Biomolecules. 2021;11(7):933. doi:10.3390/biom11070933
Yoshida K.Botulinum toxin therapy for oromandibular dystonia and other movement disorders in the stomatognathic system.Toxins (Basel). 2022;14(4):282. doi:10.3390/toxins14040282
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