A loud clicking sound from the right jaw joint when opening the mouth

A clicking sound in the right jaw joint when opening the mouth widely may be caused by conditions such as reducible disc displacement, irreducible disc displacement, or temporomandibular joint dislocation. The specific analysis is as follows:

1. Reducible Disc Displacement

This condition is usually caused by mechanical injury, degenerative changes, etc. A typical symptom is joint clicking, generally without significant pain. Conservative treatment is usually recommended, and occlusal splint therapy can be used under medical guidance.

2. Irreducible Disc Displacement

If reducible disc displacement is not treated promptly, it may lead to elongation of the ligaments around the joint disc, loss of elasticity, and deformation of the disc, preventing automatic recovery. This can result in limited mouth opening, pain during opening, and joint noises in some patients. Treatment options include intra-articular injection or manual reduction of the temporomandibular joint.

3. Temporomandibular Joint Dislocation

This commonly occurs when a patient keeps the mouth open too long during sleep or opens the mouth excessively while yawning. Due to joint misalignment that cannot easily self-correct, joint pain and abnormal sounds often occur. In such cases, it is generally recommended to go to the hospital for manual reduction of the temporomandibular joint.

In addition, similar symptoms may also be caused by rheumatoid temporomandibular arthritis, malocclusion, etc. Patients experiencing the above symptoms should seek timely medical evaluation at a hospital and receive appropriate treatment accordingly.