Finding the right tests…
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Finding the right tests…
X-Ray
TMJ BOTH (OPEN & CLOOSE) images both jaw joints, left and right, each with your mouth closed and again with it open, so four pictures make up the full set. Taking both joints together lets your doctor compare one side against the other, since a joint that looks fine alone can still look abnormal next to a healthy one. The open and closed pairing shows how much the condyle, your jawbone's rounded end, rotates and slides forward as your mouth opens, which a resting position cannot show. This X-ray screens for jaw joint problems such as clicking, limited opening, or suspected dislocation. It shows bone position and movement, not the soft disc that needs an MRI to see.
Four images make up the set: each jaw joint captured once with your mouth closed and once open, so your doctor can compare both sides and see how far the condyle moves during opening. It shows bone position and movement only, not the soft disc inside the joint.
Your jaw joint, the TMJ, sits just in front of each ear, and it moves in two stages as you open your mouth: first a rotation, then a forward slide. TMJ BOTH (OPEN & CLOOSE) captures this movement on both sides by taking a closed-mouth and an open-mouth picture of each joint.
Comparing left against right helps your doctor judge whether a change on one side is truly abnormal or just part of your normal anatomy, since some asymmetry between joints is common. Comparing closed against open shows whether the condyle moves through its full range or gets stuck, which a single resting position cannot show.
- Whether the condyle sits normally in the joint socket when your mouth is closed - Whether it rotates and slides forward as expected when your mouth opens - Gross differences in movement or position between the left and right sides
This X-ray shows bone, not the soft cartilage disc that sits inside the joint and often plays a role in clicking or locking. If disc position needs checking, your doctor will usually order an MRI instead, since plain X-rays cannot see it clearly.
Comparing both sides helps your doctor judge whether what they see on the painful side is truly unusual, since some difference between joints is normal. It also catches problems on the side without symptoms.
The closed position shows where the joint sits at rest, while the open position shows how far it moves. Together they show whether the joint moves through its normal range.
It can show if the bone position or movement looks abnormal, but jaw clicking is often related to the soft disc inside the joint, which this X-ray cannot see. An MRI may be needed if clicking continues.
Four: each of your two jaw joints is imaged once with your mouth closed and once with it open. This gives your doctor a complete comparison across both sides.
This page is general information about the test, not medical advice. Your own report's reference ranges apply — please discuss your results with your doctor.
No, you hold it open just long enough for each image, generally a few seconds at a time, guided by the technologist. You can close and rest between exposures.
Not on its own. It is read alongside your symptoms and exam findings, and further imaging like MRI or CT may follow if more detail is needed.
Opening your mouth for the images may cause some discomfort if your jaw is already sore, so tell the technologist if it becomes too painful and they can adjust how the images are taken.