Clicking jaw and crepitus

In the jaw, exactly like in the knee, you have a cartilage that we call meniscus (or disk). When the disk displaces anteriorly, it gets stuck between two bones, and when the lower jaw moves, we sometimes hear a clicking noise, that tells us that the disk is out of place.

There are many people for whom the meniscus are displaced from their natural position. This displacement can trigger many consequences, including : poor jaw growth, clicking jaw, jaw pain, muscles tension, misalignment, etc.

Some TMJ clicking can be painful, others are not. It does not matter if you are symptomatic or not, the situation deserves specific attention. A displaced disk can move even more and create jaw/joint degeneration which can lead to a crooked mouth and pain.

We usually equilibrate the dentition or fabricate an equilibrated night guard to reduce the pressure off the joint to reduce the risk of future damage.