Why Does My Jaw Click or Pop?

A clicking, popping, or cracking sound when you open your mouth, chew, or yawn is one of the most recognisable symptoms of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder. The TMJ is the hinge joint on each side of your head that connects your lower jaw to your skull, and it is one of the most complex joints in the body. According to the Australian Dental Association, TMJ disorders affect an estimated 5 to 12 per cent of the population, with symptoms ranging from occasional painless clicking to chronic pain and restricted jaw movement. At Townsville Dental Clinic, we take a conservative, evidence-based approach to TMJ diagnosis and treatment.

Understanding the TMJ

The temporomandibular joint is not a simple hinge. It is a sliding hinge joint that allows the jaw to move up and down, side to side, and forward and back. Key structures include:

• Condyle — the rounded end of the lower jawbone that fits into the joint socket
• Articular disc — a small, flexible cartilage pad that sits between the condyle and the skull, acting as a shock absorber and allowing smooth movement
• Muscles of mastication — the masseter, temporalis, and pterygoid muscles that power jaw movement
• Ligaments — that hold the joint components in alignment

When any of these structures is damaged, displaced, or inflamed, TMJ symptoms develop.

Why the Jaw Clicks

Disc Displacement with Reduction

The most common cause of jaw clicking is disc displacement with reduction. The articular disc shifts forward of its normal position when the mouth is closed. As you open your mouth, the condyle slides forward and catches the back edge of the displaced disc, pulling it back into position with an audible click. When you close, the disc slips forward again, sometimes producing a second, softer click (reciprocal click).

This condition is extremely common — studies suggest it is present in 25 to 35 per cent of the general population — and in many cases, it causes no pain and requires no treatment.

Disc Displacement without Reduction (Locked Jaw)

If the disc displaces further and the condyle can no longer recapture it, the jaw locks. The disc acts as a physical barrier to normal condyle movement, resulting in:

• Inability to open the mouth fully (limited to 25–30 mm instead of the normal 40–50 mm)
• A feeling of the jaw catching or getting stuck
• Pain on attempting to open wide

This is a more significant condition that typically requires treatment.

Other Causes of Jaw Sounds

• Osteoarthritis — degeneration of the joint surfaces produces a grinding or grating sound (crepitus) rather than a clean click
• Muscle spasm — tense jaw muscles can cause the joint to track unevenly, producing sounds
• Hypermobility — excessive looseness in the joint ligaments allows the condyle to slide too far forward, producing a clunk

When Jaw Clicking Is Concerning

Seek assessment if you experience any of the following:

• Pain — in the joint, ear, temple, or jaw muscles, particularly during chewing
• Locking — the jaw gets stuck open or closed
• Progressive limitation — you cannot open as wide as you used to
• Headaches — frequent headaches, especially on waking (suggesting associated bruxism)
• Ear symptoms — fullness, ringing (tinnitus), or pain in the ear without infection
• Neck and shoulder pain — TMJ dysfunction often coexists with cervical (neck) muscle tension
• Change in bite — feeling that your teeth no longer meet correctly

Diagnosis at Townsville Dental Clinic

Our TMJ assessment includes:

1. Clinical examination — palpation of the joint and muscles, measurement of mouth opening, assessment of jaw movement patterns, and listening for joint sounds
2. Bite analysis — checking how the teeth come together and whether the bite may be contributing to joint stress
3. Imaging — panoramic X-ray to assess the bony structures of the joint. If further detail is needed, we may refer for a cone beam CT (CBCT) scan or MRI of the joint
4. Medical and dental history — identifying contributing factors such as bruxism, stress, trauma, and medications

Treatment Options

Treatment follows a conservative-first philosophy. The majority of TMJ disorders respond to non-surgical management.

Self-Care (First Line)

• Soft diet during flare-ups — avoid hard, chewy, or crunchy foods
• Heat packs applied to the joint area for 15 to 20 minutes
• Anti-inflammatory medication — ibuprofen 400 mg every 6 to 8 hours for short-term use
• Jaw relaxation exercises — conscious relaxation of the jaw muscles throughout the day, with teeth apart and lips together
• Avoid wide opening — stifle yawns, cut food into small pieces

Custom Occlusal Splint

A custom night guard reduces nocturnal clenching force and allows the jaw muscles to relax during sleep. This is the most commonly prescribed dental treatment for TMJ disorder and bruxism.

Physiotherapy

A physiotherapist specialising in TMJ can provide manual therapy, dry needling, and tailored jaw exercises to improve joint mobility and reduce muscle tension.

Advanced Options

For cases that do not respond to conservative treatment:

• Botox injections — into the masseter and/or temporalis muscles to reduce clenching force
• Arthrocentesis — a minimally invasive joint washout to remove inflammatory debris
• Surgery — reserved for structural joint pathology that has failed all other treatment

Related Services

• TMJ Treatment
• Teeth Grinding Treatment

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