"Clicking" of the "jaws" is a very common condition, approximately half of the population has a "jaw joint" that clicks or pops. The symptoms become more concerning if associated with "locking" of the jaw, either in the open or closed position, or is associated with pain. Temporomandibular (TM) joint symptoms can be exacerbated with night time clenching or grind. Morning Jaw stiffness is one symptom of night time clenching or grinding. A night time "bite guard" is a common first step to help treat the symptoms and assist in the diagnosis of the condition.

Please review your symptoms and history with your dentist. A complete examination including radiographs is the first step in treatment.

Very common question, the lower jaw or mandible is a tripod, two of the legs of the tripod are the temporomandibular joints and the third is the whole set of teeth. Many variables can be involved in this arrangement, clicks, pops, and other seemingly abnormal findings are in fact not that uncommon. In reality many of these are considered by many clinicians as variations of normal. When we talk about clicking we find just about as many people with clicks and no other symptoms as we see people who are also clicking but have serious problems like pain on a daily bases. From the limited information you submit sounds like something which can be monitored and observed (keep track of it during hygiene appointments) or something very simple like and orthotic to facilitate centric relation (rest position of the joints). Just like you can hurt your knee you can hurt the tmj's. Time heals many things and this and it applies here too. Avoiding further injury is more important than what philosophy of treatment is to be followed (and there are many).

As to the feeling of stiffness we find that damage to the disk, the capsule or the condilar surfaces happens much later than all the muscle symptoms patients live with for years. So temporomandibular disfunction is a muscle problem for far longer than a joint problem. Avoiding repeated injury becomes the main goal of treatment. Try handling your stiff jaw like a cramp in your hamstring, moist heat (hot towel) and rub it out. Like a cramp it sort of feels as if it is trying to come back, keep rubbing. You are physically flattening relaxing the knot. Take it easy don't hurt yourself.

Good question that has come up often. Tempro-mandibular joint symptoms can be a manifestation of different causes. Only a thorough exam and history taking by your health care provider can determine proper diagnosis and treatment.

There is a small disc between the upper and lower jaw. If the disc gets slightly out of place (forward) it will sometimes click or pop as it goes back into position. A large number of people have discs that are slightly out of place. Not everyone's clicks.

Sounds like a TMJ issue. I would go have a free consultation with an orthodontist

That's a great question and one many people face. There are several causes and only your dentist can pin down what the factors are in your case. It could be arthritis, injury or possibly you are clenching you teeth causing the muscle tightness. A complete exam by your dentist can get you on the right path. Good luck

Well, as the other professionals have stated you have a TMJ related problem. Since you are experiencing jaw stiffness you really should arrange to have a dentist examine you to determine the extent of the problem and recommended treatment.

The jaw has a ball and socket hinge arrangement in between the ball (on the lower jaw) and Socket ( on the upper ) is a thin layer of cartilage that acts as a bushing(cushion) between the moving bones. The popping or clicking is usually present when that bushing has been moved either forward or back so that the ball slides past the bushing and pops off the cushion. This is sometimes painful but not always. Treatment is somewhat limited and is should be discussed with your Dentist.

Your lower jaw fits into a depression in the base of your skull. There is a cartilaginous disk between these two bony stuctures. This apparatus in your mouth is malfunctioning on the right side and the head of your lower jaw, called the condyle, is slipping forward over the disk and is making a click when it does this. Your bite can be the cause

TMJ is not a diagnosis it is a body part. You have 2 one on the left and the right. TMD or Temporomandibular disorders involve several diagnoses within that category. The 3 main categories would be a muscle problem, a skeletal problem (the various types of arthritities), or a mechanical problem with the joint its self. Stiffness can be muscular or skeletal. A click is indicative of the disc position in the joint being out of position. Clicks alone do not require treatment unless accompanied by pain or bite changes or not being unable to open all the way or close, "locked" closed usually. A proper diagnosis preferably by a member of the American Academy of Oral Facial Pain is required for a proper diagnosis. The great majority of the time conservative physical medicine can manage these types of problems. Yes, an occlusal splint may be needed but rarely if ever is it necessary for extensive dental reconstruction.