Autocorrelation of acoustic signals from the temporomandibular joint

Although there have been many investigations of TMJ sounds in the time and frequency domains, no previous reports have been found of investigations of the autocorrelation spectra of these sounds. In the present study, TMJ sounds were digitized at 1.7 kHz and 300 ms samples containing either clicks (single short duration sounds), crepitus (long duration continuous sounds) or creaks (a series of two or more clicks) were selected. These samples were compared with sounds of known origin: tooth impact sounds, frictional sounds elicited by scratching the head, and bruxing sounds resulting from stick-slip friction as teeth were slid against one another under high pressure. There were clear qualitative and quantitative differences between the autocorrelation spectra of the three types of TMJ sounds. Clicks were similar to tooth impact contact sounds, creaks were similar to the bruxing sounds, and crepitus was similar to the scratching sounds. The repetition rate of creaks was 16 Hz (s.d. 9 Hz), this being similar to the resonance of the mandible about the condylar axis. It is suggested that the creaks are due to stick-slip friction in the lower joint compartment of the TMJ.