Jaw Joint Sounds

Your jaw should open and close smoothly and straight with no bumps, clicks or cracking sounds if there is no damage in the joint. Below are links to 3 video clips that show a normal joint, a damaged joint and a severely damaged joint.

Normal Joint (Click to see movie)

The disc between the moving bones is ‘hour glass’ shaped and moves smoothly along with the jaw bone as it moves back and forth when it opens and closes. Look at the position and size of the disc and how it stays between the bones during movement.

Damaged Joint Makes Sounds And Opens And Closes With A Bump (Click to see movie)

When the joint is damaged the disc is pulled from between the bones. Notice how it looks smaller and flatter and has been pulled out from between the bones (to the right). It is only between the bones when the jaw moves open and forward (to the right in the movie). As the disc gets between the bones it makes the bump or click or pop sounds. Treatment is important at this stage so it does not get worse.

Severely Damaged Joint No Longer Makes Sounds (Click to see movie)

If your jaw used to bump or pop or click and that stops, it means that the damage has probably gotten much worse. Notice that the disc is pulled way forward (to the right in the movie). Even when the jaw bone moves forward, the disc never gets between the bones. It is much worse and this joint can develop arthritis so treatment is really important here.