Is a cracking of the jaw a sign of a dislocated jaw?
No. You can’t generalize that easily. If the jaw were dislocated, you would no longer be able to chew or speak as described above in the topic of pain.
The cracking noise is caused by the fact that either the intermediate joint disc no longer slides well and jumps into the socket when the joint head moves. In principle, the clicking noise is pathological, i.e. abnormal, and indicates a malfunction. It is important for the treatment of these cracking noises to observe exactly when the jaw cracks.
Does it crack when opening or closing, eating or speaking? One should also examine the neighbouring structures such as the cervical spine, ear and head. A common disease, in which cracking noises certainly occur, is the arthrosis in the temporomandibular joint. The inter-joint disc has worn away with age, so it rubs directly bone on bone.
Prevention
Several things are necessary to prevent a dislocated jaw. It is important that you take care of your teeth and jaw joint yourself. For example, you should not demand too much work from the temporomandibular joint.
It is not designed to crack nuts or bite into something that is not edible. If you experience pain, you should see your dentist. In the simplest case you will receive an individually made bite or relaxation splint.
The health insurance usually covers the costs. Patients whose jaws are dislocated more often receive their instructions from the dentist and know what to look out for.
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