TMJ Clicking, Locking, and Popping could be due to anatomic features, growth and development, trauma, or arthritis of the TMJ.

Clicking is common during growth spurts (in teenagers) and often stops once the growth is complete. There is cartilage (disc) within the TMJ (joint) that cushions the bones, but it often slips out of place, which results in TMJ clicking. Most people who have TMJ clicking do not have jaw pain or locking as the ligaments that attach the cartilage cushion the bones. Some patients who experience TMJ clicking do suffer from jaw pain, ear pain, or stuffiness in the jaw or ear, which requires treatment.

Locking, on the other hand, almost always requires treatment. This can occur due to different causes. Commonly, the joint cartilage may be slipping and preventing the joint from moving. Other causes include joint arthritis, joint abnormality (cyst or tumor), bony issues, and infection. Diagnosis involves taking a precise history, X-rays, and other tests.