Reading Time: 10 min read 
Published: 15/03/2024 
Last Updated: 20/03/2024 
A clicking jaw is often a sign of temporomandibular disorder (TMD). This is a disorder of the jaw joint that affects 25% of people in the UK [1]. This number may seem high, but in most cases, symptoms are mild and get better on their own. However, some people have more serious symptoms that require medical treatment.
Here, we’ll cover the causes, diagnosis, and treatment options for TMD, and how our TMJ (temporomandibular joint) consultants can diagnose and treat a clicking jaw.
Clicking jaw and TMD
TMD can affect your jaw joint, jaw muscles, and the nerves associated with chronic facial pain [2]. It alters the movement of your jaw and can make daily activities challenging, such as eating or yawning.
Opening and closing your mouth may be painful and difficult if you have TMD. It may affect your speech and make certain words harder to say. Here are a few other symptoms you may experience with TMD:
- Headaches
- Ear pain or ringing in your ears
- Jaw pain
- Neck and shoulder pain
- Dizziness
- Restricted jaw movement
You have two TMJs (one in front of each ear), so TMD may affect one or both sides at the same time. Your jaw may click one side or both when you open your mouth really wide (like when you yawn), or it may happen when you close your mouth and then open it again.
Jaw clicking with a big yawn is usually normal and no cause for concern. If your jaw clicks when you close your mouth and reopen it, the cartilage that cushions your jaw joint may be sliding in and out of place. This can affect activities like chewing and speaking.
Causes of TMD
Several habits and medical conditions can cause TMD. Here are a few of the most common causes:
Jaw arthritis
Your TMJs are among the most complex and active joints in your whole body. You use them every time you speak, eat, and open your mouth.
It’s no surprise that the jaw can sometimes be affected by osteoarthritis (degenerative joint disease). There’s also a risk of TMJ involvement in people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA); 67-71% of people with RA have at least one symptom of TMD [3].
Bruxism
The medical name for teeth-grinding is bruxism, and it’s often linked to stress and anxiety [4]. Bruxism during sleep can cause severe muscle pain around the jaw and many of the symptoms of TMD [5].
Bone abnormalities in your jaw joint
Some people are born with a jaw that’s shaped differently, which can cause symptoms of TMD. Damage to your jaw joint through trauma or dental work can also cause symptoms of TMD.
Nail biting and thumb sucking
Biting your fingernails and sucking your thumb increases your risk of developing TMD [6]. These habits force your jaw to overwork certain movements and can cause or aggravate TMJ pain.
Malocclusion
Malocclusion is when your teeth aren’t aligned properly. Some types of malocclusion can cause symptoms of TMD, such as headaches [7]. Malocclusion can often be improved or corrected with orthodontic or dentistry treatment.
Muscle tension
If you’re stressed and anxious, the muscles around your neck, face, and jaw may tense up. This can alter the movement pattern of your jaw joint, leading to jaw pain and other symptoms of TMD.
Myofascial pain syndrome (MPS)
MPS causes chronic muscle pain, usually localised to one area of your body. If you have MPS in your jaw, it can cause your jaw to click alongside other symptoms of TMD.
If you have MPS, you may have trigger points (painful knots of muscle) in your jaw. They may cause pain if you apply pressure to them. Your jaw pain may be worse with stretching or straining the muscles around your jaw.
Sleep apnea
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and central sleep apnea (CSA) can both cause symptoms of TMD. OSA is when your throat muscles relax and stop air flowing into your lungs, so you wake up and catch your breath. CSA is when your brain sends the wrong messages to the muscles that control breathing, so there are pauses in breathing while you’re asleep.
OSA is the most common type of sleep apnea, and 80% of cases are undiagnosed and untreated [8]. People with sleep apnea are more likely to develop TMD because when your airway collapses in your sleep, you push your lower jaw forward to reopen it which places repetitive stress on the jaw joint [9].
How is TMD diagnosed?
Your dentist or specialist surgeon will first take an in-depth medical and dental history, including specifics of how and when your symptoms affect you. They’ll also do a physical examination, which will involve feeling and observing the movement of your jaw.
They may recommend diagnostic imaging such as an X-ray to rule out any serious problems with your joint. If they need a highly detailed image, they might request a CAT scan (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
If they suspect TMD may be causing your symptoms, their assessment will aim to exclude other potential causes. These include toothaches, ear infections, sinus infections, arthritis and neurological conditions.
When should I seek medical advice?
Speak to a medical professional as soon as possible if you’re experiencing pain around your jaw, ear or temple alongside severe, frequent headaches, a sore scalp, or vision problems (like double vision or vision loss in one or both eyes).
Seek advice immediately if you’re unable to eat or drink, or you have jaw pain while eating. If the pain keeps coming back repeatedly or is affecting your sleep or ability to manage your daily life, you could benefit from a medical assessment.
If your jaw moves out of place (dislocates), seek medical treatment straight away. You should never try to put your jaw back into place without help.
Treatment for a clicking jaw
Dentistry, regenerative treatment, surgery, home treatment, medications and physiotherapy are the main approaches to treating a clicking jaw caused by TMD. Let’s have a look at each type of treatment in more detail:
Dentistry and orthodontics
If your TMJ pain is caused by misaligned teeth, you may need dentistry or orthodontic treatment to resolve it. This may include braces, bridges, crowns and dental implants.
Harley Street Specialist Hospital works with oral and maxillofacial surgeons who are leading experts in private TMJ disorder treatments. As well as diagnosis, holistic treatment plans and specialist surgery for TMD, our surgeons can also perform dental work such as dental implants. Find out how long dental implants last.
Regenerative treatment
Regenerative treatment harnesses your body’s natural ability to heal by injecting your jaw with growth-promoting cells taken from elsewhere in your body. Harley Street Specialist Hospital offers three types of regenerative treatment for TMD:
- Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) – Platelets are extracted from your blood and re-injected into your jaw joint. This encourages cells in the area to repair and regenerate, stimulating healing.
- Activated Mesenchymal Pericyte Plasma (AMPP®) injections – A mixture of your own blood and fat cells are injected into your jaw joint. The Lipogems® procedure is used to take fat tissue from your stomach or thigh and separate the regenerative cells from your fat tissue. This is combined with PRP before being injected.
- Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate (BMAC) – This involves taking bone marrow (spongy tissue in the centre of bones) from your pelvis bone. A small incision is made in your skin, then a hollow needle is inserted through the bone and into the bone marrow. The goal is to harvest stem cells from your bone marrow to encourage healing and cell growth in the jaw joint.
Surgery
Surgery is the last resort in severe cases of TMD. If your symptoms haven’t responded to other treatments, you may need surgery to cure your TMJ disorder permanently. Types of surgery for TMD include:
Jaw joint arthroscopy
This is the least invasive type of surgery for TMD. Your surgeon will make a small incision (cut) near your jaw joint and insert an arthroscope, which is a thin tube with a light and camera on the end.
An arthroscopy can be used for further diagnosis as well as treatment. Once the arthroscope is in place, your surgeon can remove or adjust tissue around the jaw joint as needed.
Arthrocentesis
This aims to remove excess fluid in your jaw joint and is also known as joint aspiration. You may receive a steroid injection at the same time to treat swelling.
Arthrocentesis is often performed at the same time as a jaw joint arthroscopy. It works by breaking down adhesions (scar tissue that sticks tissue and organs together) and flushing out inflammatory particles that are damaging your joint.
TMJ open surgery
Open surgery requires a bigger incision near your jaw than an arthroscopy. It allows your surgeon to remove excess tissue or bony growths in your joint, and to repair or reposition the disc in your joint if needed. Open surgery procedures will require a general anaesthetic.
Jaw joint replacement
This is where the TMJ is replaced with an artificial joint. You may need a jaw joint replacement if your jaw has been severely damaged by an accident, cancer, infection, or joint disease. This is a complex procedure that takes around three months to prepare for.
Home treatment
Ice and heat can sometimes help relieve symptoms of TMD. Ice numbs the area and helps to reduce inflammation, while heat soothes tight and aching muscles.
Your clinician may recommend you wear a mouthguard at night to stop you from grinding your teeth – these can be custom-made by a dentist or bought from your pharmacy. Eating softer foods can also ease symptoms like clicking jaw when eating.
Certain activities can make TMD worse and your symptoms may improve if you avoid them. These activities include:
- Chewing gum excessively
- Eating too many hard or chewy foods
- Crunching ice between your teeth
- Biting your fingernails
Medication
Your dentist or doctor may recommend pain relief like nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). These can usually be bought over the counter from a pharmacy.
Your doctor may also give you prescription medication. This can include muscle relaxants to relax the muscles in your jaw, and antidepressants to reduce stress and anxiety that may be contributing to your TMD symptoms.
Physiotherapy
Research shows physiotherapy can improve pain caused by TMD [10]. Your physiotherapist will take a detailed history of your symptoms and complete a physical assessment.
They will prescribe specific exercises and advise how and when to complete them. They may also use trigger point massage to relax muscle knots in your jaw, which can often provide immediate relief for pain from TMD.
Electrotherapy is another tool used by many physiotherapists to treat TMD. An example of electrotherapy is transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), which has been shown to improve pain control in people with TMD [10].
A TENS unit is a small machine with electrodes (sticky pads) that you place directly over the sore muscles. When turned on, it sends small electrical impulses to your jaw that temporarily ease the pain.
You can buy a TENS machine without a prescription, but it’s a good idea to speak to your physiotherapist first. They can make sure you’re using it correctly and provide complementary treatments like exercise and massage.
Harley Street Specialist Hospital’s private physiotherapy team is skilled in the assessment and management of TMD. They work closely with our diagnostic imaging team and expert consultants to ensure you receive the highest level of care.
Private treatment for TMD
Harley Street Specialist Hospital offers expert care for a clicking jaw caused by TMD. Our team of oral and maxillofacial consultants, physiotherapists and radiographers can ensure you receive seamless, high-quality assessment and treatment.
Our treatment options include tailored advice, medication, physiotherapy, regenerative medicine, steroid injections, dental work, and surgery if needed. Book an appointment to arrange an assessment with one of our specialists.
