TMJ Support Group

i wish i could give you a good answer. i have experienced the loud clicking from time to time. but not often. try no to worry though.

I would definitely say you need to talk with your dentist about this and hopefully the custom made guard will help. Here is a great self help article that you might find useful as well.
http://www.tmjhope.org/self-care/

I do want to let you know that even if the dentist takes xrays of your jaw joints it will NOT show the placement of your discs, only an MRI can do that. Also, unless you have very serious joint degeneration xrays don't commonly show a problem, a CT scan will give far more detail of the bone structure. You may not need these things, as the nightguard and self help tips might go great for you. I mentioned this only because I was given xrays and a CT scan(it was the WRONG kind) and everyone kept telling me I was fine........turns out I wasn't. I finally got the proper CT scan(a cone beam) and an MRI and it showed the joint problems I had. It was crazy and frustrating to me to be told I just had anxiety. TMJ is very real and MOST people get better with self care and nightguards but just in case please do research and be informed .

Thank you for the article, it is very helpful. My jaw hasnt been cracking as much today, but the other day just freaked me out a little bit. I don't have the money to pay for any sort of scans to be done right now so I'm just hoping that it isnt a sign that the tmj is getting worse.

Sometimes this condition or at least the scans can be covered under medical. TMJ is a JOINT condition, which is medical. Of course not all insurance agrees with this and excludes TMJ but it's worth looking into.
If you do not have health insurance, thankfully now that the health insurance reform act has been upheld you might be eligible for this insurance and I know that it DOES cover TMJ(I know a lady that had to have surgery and this insurance covered it.....surgery is RARE, not trying to freak you out)
https://www.pcip.gov/