Is a clicking jaw a bad thing? Should I do something about it?

A clicking jaw is officially called a disc dislocation with reduction. The jaw joint has a superior and inferior joint. These joints are separated by a disc. This disc is held onto the jaw bone by ligaments and blood supply that helps it stay over the jaw bone during movement.

Normal TMJ

A click without pain or changes in function such as speaking, eating, sleeping, etc. is not something that is considered an injury or pathological. Current literature says that clicking is not dysfunction. You can do exercises and address postural needs so that the clicking does not progress and cause more serious problems in the future.

A jaw joint becomes dysfunctional when the clicking stops and you get stuck. This is called a locking jaw or disc dislocation without reduction. When episodes of locking occur, it is time to seek professional assistance with the jaw. The locking may cause pain in the joint. The distress of not being able to open your mouth may become strong as well. Daily tasks such as speaking, eating, brushing teeth, etc may be painful and limited.

Who do you reach out to for help when you have a locked jaw? This is normally your Dentist and a specialized Craniofacial Physical Therapist. The Dentist may assist with medication and a quick splint therapy while your Physical Therapist is going to assist with muscle relaxation, assisting with joint positioning, and exercises to help free the disc as well allowing you to open and then hopefully keep the disc in a more stable position to reduce the locking.

Therapy can be very effective with proper education and techniques to help you reduce the disc back to its place especially early after the lock. The longer you wait for treatment the more difficult it can be to correct. Education will assist you with ways to reduce the likelihood of the locking, decrease the pressure into the disc for clicking, and help you overall reduce the

probability of other issues of the neck and jaw. All physical therapy is not the same, and Craniofacial Physical Therapy is a highly trained speciality that is required for comprehensive treatment of the TMJ. Call your Craniofacial Specialist if you are having locking or difficulty with opening your mouth. (Photo: https://saunders-therapy.com/tmj-treatment/)

American Academy of Orofacial Pain Specialist

A click is something you can work on to prevent future locking episodes from occuring due to posture and alignment deficits. There are programs such as Healing Your Head that can give you the guidance to reduce possible future issues before you need to see a specialist.