TMJ (temporomandibular joint) disorders are a family of problems related to your complex jaw joint and the associated muscles and connective tissues. Since some types of TMJ problems can lead to more serious conditions, early detection and treatment are important.
No single treatment can resolve TMJ and myofascial disorders completely and treatment takes time to be effective. Dr. Kienle, Dr. Steinkeler and Dr. Gunawardena can help you have a healthier and more comfortable jaw.
Trouble with Your Jaw
TMJ disorders develop for many reasons. They are often caused by misaligned teeth and missing teeth causing poor jaw support when biting. They can be caused after a traumatic event to the face or jaws. Medical conditions can cause or worsen TMJ and myofascial pain conditions. Sometimes there is no identifiable cause. Whatever the cause, the symptoms may include a misaligned bite, pain, clicking or grating noises when you open your mouth, or trouble opening your mouth wide.
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Contact us with any questions or to schedule an appointment today!
Are you aware of grinding or clenching your teeth?
Do you wake up with sore, stiff muscles around your jaws?
Do you have frequent headaches or neck aches?
Does the pain get worse when you clench your teeth?
Does stress make your clenching and pain worse?
Does your jaw click, pop, grate, catch, or lock when you open your mouth?
Is it difficult or painful to open your mouth, eat or yawn?
Have you ever injured your neck, head or jaws?
Have you had problems (such as arthritis) with other joints?
Do you have teeth that no longer touch when you bite?
Do your teeth meet differently from time to time?
Is it hard to use your front teeth to bite or tear food?
Are your teeth sensitive, loose, broken or worn?
The more times you answered “yes,” the more likely it is that you have a TMJ disorder. Understanding TMJ disorders will also help you understand how they are treated.
Treatment
There are various treatment options that Drs. Kienle, Steinkeler and Gunawardena utilize to improve the harmony and function of your jaw. Once an evaluation confirms a diagnosis of TMJ disorder, Drs. Kienle, Steinkeler and Gunawardena will determine the proper course of treatment.
Please remember all of the procedures described here are surgical procedures. These surgical procedures are best performed by oral and maxillofacial surgeons. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons are the only dental specialists who are fully trained in all of these surgical procedures. Drs. Kienle, Steinkeler and Gunawardena are all fully trained and experienced in these surgical procedures. All doctors in our practice are Board Certified in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and in Anesthesia and have also earned both a Medical and a Dental degree.
Drs. Kienle, Steinkeler and Gunawardena have the only practice in the Delaware Valley/Tri-State area where all of the surgeons have both their Medical and Dental degrees and are Board Certified in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Anesthesia, and in which all of our surgical facilities are Fully Accredited by the Joint Commission. You can be assured that Drs. Kienle, Steinkeler and Gunawardena have the best training and experience, along with the proper staff and facilities, to provide you with exceptional safety, and comfortable surgical care.
Flagship Oral, Facial, and Dental Implant Surgery
5 out of 5 stars based on 294 TMJ Disorder reviews
Patient Review by Julie R
I was very pleased with every aspect of the visit. they had me in and out in less than an hour.
- Julie R
5 out of 5 stars
byJulie Ron
Patient Review by Chad B
Dr. Steinkeler did an Implant for my upper molar on 3-9-21. He was VERY professional and did a wonderful job at putting me at ease during the procedure. I HIGHLY recommend him and if i need another procedure (which I hope not LOL) I would want him as my doctor.
Thx you Dr Steinkeler and his assistant Sheila for making me feel as comfortable as possible. 5 STARS AT LEAST Is my opinion.
- Chad B
5 out of 5 stars
byChad Bon
Patient Review by Monica F
Overall positive experience. I would recommend to others without hesitation.
- Monica F
5 out of 5 stars
byMonica Fon
Patient Review by Nathaniel S
I would highly recommend the OMS center in Fort Washington, especially for wisdom teeth extraction. They did a perfect job on mine.
- Nathaniel S
5 out of 5 stars
byNathaniel Son
Patient Review by Sadie D
I would like to thank Dr. Gunawardena and all the staff for making my procedure go smoothly, from booking my appointment to my extraction. Everyone is extremely nice, informative , and I felt like I was in the best hands. Thank you so much!!
- Sadie D
5 out of 5 stars
bySadie Don
Patient Review by Seth B
I was worried about my procedure before I went here but they did a great job with no complications. My brother had the same good experience here as well. Highly recommend. Also, as this procedure was done during COVID, I was glad they used all precautions for patient safety.
- Seth B
5 out of 5 stars
bySeth Bon
Patient Review by Marla J
Thank you so much!! From the office staff to the doctor, everyone was friendly and made me feel comfortable.
- Marla J
5 out of 5 stars
byMarla Jon
Patient Review by Maryann M
My son had his wisdom teeth removed by Dr. Steinkeler. He was very informative and suggested a non narcotic pain medicine instead of narcotics that their office is offering and I would recommend it to everyone. Not covered by insurance ($300 or so) but very worth it instead of getting a scrip for opioid. It lasts for 72 hours and my son takes motrin here and there now that it has been 4 days since the removal.
- Maryann M
5 out of 5 stars
byMaryann Mon
Patient Review by Tony O
i had an excellent experience at this office with dr stienkeller. he and his assistant explained everything before during and after the procedure. i felt comfortable the entire visit and felt my questions and concerns were handled in perfect fashion. nobody likes going through any type of dental work obviously , but if you have to i would absolutely use this office. i honestly can’t say enough about how good of an experience i had here.
- Tony O
5 out of 5 stars
byTony Oon
Patient Review by Francis F
I was very nervous about getting a wisdom tooth extracted at 40. Dr. G was very friendly and personable. He eased my anxiety during my consultation. Overall excellent experience.
- Francis F
5 out of 5 stars
byFrancis Fon
Patient Review by Stephen P
My surgery was quick and painless..Dr G is amazing at what he does, no pain after, surgery was a breeze..the nurses Donna and Michelle were awesome, they took great care of me and were so sweet..best experience ever with anything dental.
- Stephen P
5 out of 5 stars
byStephen Pon
Patient Review by Philip K
Thank you Dr. Steinkeler and Staff. You really saved the day. You are correct (sorry didn’t catch your name), I wasn’t expecting to be in that chair today, but thank you and everyone for making the experience pleasant, informative and of course successful. Hope to not see you soon, at 158 York, but if you recognize me out and about please say hello. Thanks for making this a good memory. One more thing... Thanks for fitting me into today’s busy schedule!!
- Philip K
5 out of 5 stars
byPhilip Kon
Patient Review by Mike J
We had an overall great experience with Dr. Kienle and his staff in the Newtown office. We will be back when its time for my son to have his wisdom teeth removed.
- Mike J
5 out of 5 stars
byMike Jon
Patient Review by William B
Arrived at time requested,very short amount of paperwork,then appointment started on time.X rays taken with an amazing rotating X-ray machine! Doctor G came in and I got the needles for anesthesia that were literally painless.Procedure began 20 minutes later.
Literally could not tell that the tooth was out or that I was sutured! Amazing! Post op recovery was a piece of cake-2 aleves last night and thats it.Had dinner,and breakfast totally pain free.Zero chance I would go anywhere else! If you are squeamish about getting anything done,oral surgery related,this group is the only logical choice.
- William B
5 out of 5 stars
byWilliam Bon
Patient Review by Dawn O
I had a fantastic experience with Dr. Gunawardena and his staff. They were amazing. I would highly recommend him to anyone.
- Dawn O
5 out of 5 stars
byDawn Oon
Patient Review by Marilyn K
I’m a senior citizen, and have had tooth issues all my life, and have been to scores of dentists for treatments and routine care. I was very apprehensive of having my tooth extracted, particularly as there were complications and difficulties in doing so. The process, and outcome, were FAR better than anticipated, or than experienced previously in with other dentists and oral surgeons. I highly recommend Dr Kienle and the OMS staff.
- Marilyn K
5 out of 5 stars
byMarilyn Kon
Patient Review by Ruth M
I had 2 severely impacted teeth extracted by Dr. Steinkeler. There were some special circumstances that Dr. S. managed beautifully. Recovery was incredibly easy, I only needed minimal pain medication.
I receive injections for osteoporosis which can have a frightening consequence called osteonecrosis (which attacks the density of the jawbone). Dr. S. has been monitoring my recovery carefully to protect the integrity of my mandible. He is extremely thorough, and an extraordinarily kind person. It is a 40 minute drive to the closest office of O&MS, but I will never go to any other oral surgeon.
- Ruth M
5 out of 5 stars
byRuth Mon
Patient Review by Tom O
I can't say enough great things about this practice! I had scheduled a consultation to have my wisdom teeth taken out for the last week of July. Over the weekend, my pain went from manageable to unbearable. I called th office and spoke to Nancy (nurse) as soon as they opened Monday and explained my situation. Nancy was able to schedule an appointment for me to meet with Dr. Kienle right away. My intiial consultation was great and surgery was scheduled first thing this morning after Dr.Kienle saw how inflamed my wisdom teeth were and how much pain I was in. The procedure was amazing! I explained to Dr Kienle and the nurses how nervous I was and he made sure I was in no pain and had no anixety. I was knocked out so quick I woke up and they told me we were finished. My only regret is that I did not get them taken out sooner like my dentist recommended. Thank you so much to everyone involved! I would highly reccommend their services to everyone!
- Tom O
5 out of 5 stars
byTom Oon
Patient Review by Sindy W
I just wanted to write this review to give accolades when they are due. For Dr. Kienle, and his staff, they are definitely due. I was first scheduled to have all 4 wisdom teeth extracted in February 2020. Dr. Kienle noticed there was something not right with my EKG on the day of surgery, and would not perform surgery until a cardiac clearance was completed. It was found that I did have a mild underlying cardiac condition, which I never knew I had. Dr. Kienle noticed it right away. Dr. Kienle is an excellent Oral Surgeon AND Physician. I was then rescheduled for Oral Surgery in March. Covid arrived and my oral surgery was cancelled in March, April, then May. Everytime Dr. Kienle's office had to cancel because of Covid, they made sure I was not in any pain or had infections, as they would be there for emergencies only. They really do care about your well being. Finally, in June, when elective surgeries were allowed to be performed again, I was scheduled. I was very apprehensive about the surgery ( I don't like dentists in general), but Dr. Kienle and his staff were so kind, and reassuring. Before I knew it, I woke up with gauze in my mouth and surgery was over. A nurse walked me out to the car where my husband was waiting (because of Covid he had to stay in parking lot). Everyone in the Warminster office is so kind, funny, and professional. They really put you at ease. Bleeding, and bleeding time was minimal. Swelling was non existent. Pain for having all 4 Wisdom Teeth out at the age of 50 was very minimal, and I was able to get away with just taking Advil and Tylenol the day of, and the day after surgery. By day 2, I was still a little sore, but did not need any pain medicine at all. Recovery went smoothly, and better than expected. Dr. Kienle is an excellent Oral Surgeon, and I would highly recommend him. In fact, I already have to 4 of my coworkers. Thanks again to Dr. Kienle and his staff!
- Sindy W
5 out of 5 stars
bySindy Won
Patient Review by Kelli L
The office is very clean, and the staff is very knowledgeable and helpful. The dentist is never my first choice, but he explained everything as he worked.
- Kelli L
5 out of 5 stars
byKelli Lon
TMJ Disorder FAQs
Can TMJ make your face swell?
Facial swelling is not a typical complaint or finding with TMJ disease. There are many causes of facial swelling, however, so this should be evaluated if you are experiencing this.
Does a TMJ disorder go away?
TMJ disorders will often wax and wane over time. Depending on the cause and the patient’s exam there are often ways to help reduce the symptoms and provide relief.
What is the main cause of TMJ?
There are many causes and the most common cause is often unknown or has no particular reason. The next most common is a bad bite from either poor tooth position or from missing teeth that were not replaced. It can also be from trauma, medical conditions, or habits such as gum chewing.
Is TMJ serious?
Most patients with TMJ disorders are able to manage it without major complications. It is very important, however, to have regular evaluations by a doctor to monitor and provide treatment as needed.
What can be mistaken for TMJ?
The most common problems thought to be TMJ disorders are myofascial (muscle) pain disorders. Less commonly are ear or neurologic disorders. There is significant overlap which is why it’s important to be seen by a doctor.
Are You Ready to Find the Relief You Deserve?
Contact us with any questions or to schedule an appointment today!