(08) 7008 7566
(08) 7118 5399
physio@upplus.com.au
177 Trimmer Parade, Seaton SA 5023Jaw Clicking and Locking
Clicking in the jaw usually means the small disc inside the joint is moving out of position and snapping back as you open. A click on its own, with no pain and no restriction, is common and often needs nothing. It matters when the jaw starts catching or locking — either stuck closed and unable to open, or stuck open, which is genuinely alarming and needs prompt attention.
What causes it
- The joint disc slipping forward and reducing as the jaw opens
- Clenching and grinding loading the joint over time
- Previous jaw trauma or whiplash
- Ligament laxity, in some people
- Habitually chewing on one side
What you might notice
- A click or pop on opening, closing, or both
- The jaw deviating to one side as it opens
- Catching that interrupts opening midway
- Locking closed, with opening limited to a couple of centimetres
- Locking open, which needs same-day attention
How we treat it
- Establishing whether the click needs treating at all — many do not
- Manual therapy and joint mobilisation to improve disc mechanics
- Controlled opening exercises to retrain the movement path
- Treating the neck and the chewing muscles alongside
- Habit and load advice, including chewing side and food consistency
- Referral to a dentist or specialist for persistent locking
This page is general information, not a diagnosis. Symptoms overlap between conditions, so the right treatment depends on an assessment. If your pain followed a significant injury, is getting worse, or comes with numbness, weakness or unexplained weight loss, please see your GP.
A painless click may need nothing at all
Clicking alone is common and often harmless. Catching or locking is different. An assessment tells you which side of that line you are on.
Or call us on (08) 7008 7566 — we see patients across Seaton, Modbury and Stepney.