Clicking jaw

What is a clicking or popping jaw?

A clicking, popping, or cracking sound in the jaw can be a sign of temporomandibular joint arthrosis or chronic arthritis. A clicking sound occurs when carbon dioxide builds up in the synovial fluid and the gas bubble bursts in movement. The temporomandibular joint is made up of muscles and tendons, as well as bone and cartilage structures. This joint is distinguished by frequent movements and is quite often injured in various ways. The temporomandibular joint is characterized by various diseases and pathologies, and the most common among them is the clicking jaw.

What are the symptoms of a clicking jaw?

This condition is quite excruciating for a person and its symptoms include pain, noise, cracking or grinding when moving the jaw and chewing. The disease is also characterized by restricted jaw mobility and severe pain that radiates to various organs in the head.

What is the cause of the condition?

A clicking jaw can be caused by a variety of health problems. For example, an injury resulting from overstretched muscles, dental problems, impaired blood supply and even psychological conditions. As for pain, it can be caused by an injury to the joint or damage to its structures.

How is the clicking jaw diagnosed?

To diagnose a clicking jaw it is necessary to undergo a radiological study,  particularly by means of X-ray or CT scans.

What are the treatments for a clicking jaw?

At an early stage of the development of the disease, you can get preventive advice, which will allow you to save the joint and delay the process of exacerbation of the disease. However, in some cases, the solution to the problem is medication or surgical intervention.

Surgical treatment is prescribed only when the patient's condition is critical and other treatment methods are considered ineffective. The procedure involves eliminating the "clicking" in the maxillofacial joint by restoring the interdependence of its structures.