A surprising number of dental patients report they have experienced discomfort, limited opening of the mouth, popping, clicking or grinding noises related to their jaw joints. In medical terms the jaw joint is referred to as the temporomandibular joint, more commonly known as the TMJ. Causes of this discomfort vary widely, but can be due to stress, clinching, or night grinding. A more complicated cause is related to the bite and how the teeth come together on closing in relation to the joint's hinge axis.

Treatment for this malady can vary widely.