What percentage of healthy individuals may have crepitus?

• A. 10%
• B. ~50%
• C. 0%
• D. 5%

Answer: (B)

Crepitus in the temporomandibular joint can be a normal finding in healthy people. Many individuals report noises as the jaw moves, even when there’s no pain or functional limitation. This happens because the joint undergoes rapid, complex movement, which can involve small changes in the cartilage surfaces and synovial fluid, sometimes even air bubbles, that produce sounds without signaling pathology.

Because crepitus alone isn’t tied to symptoms, it shouldn’t lead you to diagnose a disorder by itself. In fact, about half of asymptomatic individuals may have these noises during jaw movement, so the presence of crepitus is not unusual. The important step is to look for accompanying signs—pain, limited opening, jaw deviation, or functional impairment—that would suggest a TMD. If crepitus occurs with symptoms, that would prompt further assessment; if it’s present without symptoms, it’s generally considered a normal variation. That’s why the best choice is the option reflecting roughly 50%.