Manoa Dental

The Temporomandibular joint(TMJ) is the only joint in the human body that is designed to dislocate which in use. Any noises in the TMJ or deviation of the jaw on opening is an indication that the joint is not functioning correctly. A portion of cartilage known as the "disc" provides a cushion between the jaw bone and skull when opening. If the disc is not positioned correctly, shifting or a "click"/"pop" noise will occur. This can lead to future problems such as having a jaw stuck open or closed, or even arthritis in the TMJ. Eventually a cascade effect will occur when teeth may start to crack, or facial/neck muscles will start to produce pain. A proper diagnosis of the condition includes impressions and models, imaging, photos, and possibly and MRI to determine the extent of damage to the TMJ.