Jaw joint clicking - harmless or a warning sign?
Cracking in the jaw joint - when yawning or chewing - often sounds harmless, but is a sign that something in the masticatory system is out of balance. Even if it is not (yet) painful, it should be taken seriously - because if left untreated, it can lead to permanent damage to the joint, muscles and teeth.
What happens when cracking?
The temporomandibular joint works like a finely tuned mechanism. The joint head (the "head" of the lower jaw) moves on a small disc of connective tissue - the discus - when it opens and closes.
This disk ensures that the movement is smooth and pain-free - similar to a sled that glides on a track.
If there is a cracking sound, this is an indication that the rod end is no longer ideally positioned on the disk. For example, it may have slipped backwards and jumps back onto the disc when the mouth is opened - this is the typical "cracking" sound.
Possible causes of cracking
The reasons for this can be very different. Here are some common triggers:
Teeth grinding or clenching: Constant pressure pushes the joint head backwards and upwards - and it slides off the disc.
Upper jaw that is too narrow: pushes the lower jaw backwards, similar to a foot in a shoe that is too small - you can't move forward properly.
Incorrect bite: If the teeth do not meet harmoniously, the lower jaw often has to shift to the side - this can sometimes be recognized by the fact that the chin is slightly asymmetrical.
Permanent incorrect loading: The masticatory system tries to "spare" itself, which can lead to muscle tension and pain - comparable to the gait you unconsciously adopt when you have a blister on your foot.
How can this be treated?
The good news: TMJ problems are usually treatable. It is important to identify the cause individually - because every solution must be tailor-made.
Bite splints often help as a first step: they relieve the joint, show whether tooth contact is the problem and guide the joint back into a healthy position.
Long-term therapy: The aim is to achieve this physiological state even without a splint - through:
Adjustment of the bite
Harmonization of the jaw position
In some cases also orthodontic measures
My approach
I take the time to really understand the causes and correlations of your individual case in order to find the right therapy for you. Because only when the masticatory system is back in balance can it function without pain and with long-term stability.