Why Jaws Pop and Crackle

Have you noticed a popping or crackling sound when you open or close your mouth? Perhaps you hear it when you’re chewing. Aside from being distracting, a popping jaw can be a sign of a temporomandibular joint, or TMJ, disorder. The temporomandibular joint is the joint that controls the opening and closing of your mouth. This joint is delicately balanced, and excessive strain can wreak havoc on the joint and your body. Symptoms of a TMJ disorder include frequent headaches, earaches, jaw pain, facial pain, a popping jaw, and difficulty chewing.

Causes of TMJ Disorders

TMJ disorders have several causes. One of the leading causes of TMJ disorders is bruxism, or teeth grinding. The forces of bruxism disturb the balance of the TMJ, resulting in a disorder. Malocclussion, or “bad bite,” is another cause of TMJ disorders. Malocclusion occurs when the teeth of the upper and lower jaws don’t fit together properly. The improper fit strains the TMJ every time the teeth come together. A misaligned jaw is yet another cause of TMJ disorders. If the jaw suffers a blow, its alignment can be disrupted, throwing the TMJ out of harmony.

Treating TMJ Disorders

Treatment for a TMJ disorder varies based on the cause of the disorder. In cases resulting from bruxism, a sleep guard is often an effective treatment. The sleep guard repositions the jaw during sleep and prevents the sleeper from grinding his or her teeth, thus relieving the TMJ. If malocclusion is the cause of a TMJ disorder, orthodontic work may be necessary. By repositioning the teeth to fit together properly, the TMJ will no longer experience strain from every opening and closing of the mouth.

TMJ Disorder Treatment from Your Dentist

If you notice persistent cracking or popping from your jaw as well as frequent jaw pain, you may have developed a TMJ disorder. Such a disorder could significantly lower the quality of your life as you develop migraines, earaches, and other pains in the area of the face and neck. Don’t take the risk of waiting to seek help. Call our Williamsburg dentist office at 757-645-4055 today to schedule an appointment.

Dr. Steve Stensland, DDS (Owner/DDS) graduated from MCVs School of Dentistry in 2006 after completing his undergraduate studies at Virginia Tech where he obtained a dual degree in Biochemistry and Chemistry. After graduating from MCV, Dr. Stensland moved to Williamsburg and practiced with a large group dental practice for four years before founding Stensland Dental Studio in April of 2010. He has focused his continuing education efforts on nationally recognized core curriculum covering such topics as TMJ/bruxism, surgical implantology, cosmetic dentistry, and endodontics. Dr. Stensland has built a practice founded on strong principles of integrity, compassion, and conservative comprehensive dentistry for patients of all ages. Steve has been married for 7 years and has 2 sons. Spending his free time with his family is his number one priority, but he also finds time to compete in local soccer leagues and enjoys playing tennis.

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