Night-Time Clenching: Wear You Do Not Notice
You can look for the signs yourself; all of them are visible.
Signs you can look for
- Jaw fatigue and tightness on waking
- Headache beginning at the temples, worse in the morning
- Flattening of the biting edges of the front teeth
- Polished wear facets on the back teeth
- Tooth indentations along the edge of the tongue
- A white line inside the cheek
- The same filling fracturing again and again
Why the force is so great
The chewing muscles are among the body's strongest, and when awake the brain limits the force through pain feedback. In sleep that protection is absent, so the force can far exceed conscious biting and last for hours.
What can be done
The bite is assessed first, since a high filling or crown can create uneven load. A custom night guard distributes the force and prevents tooth-on-tooth wear, though it does not end the habit. Stress, caffeine and poor sleep increase frequency.
Getting Here, Booking and Emergencies from Safak
Route, booking and emergency arrangements for patients from Safak.
Getting here from Safak
Şafak lies in the Kepez district of Antalya; Kepez is one of the central districts, about 6 kilometres from the clinic. We also see patients from neighbouring areas that share the route from Safak, such as Çankaya, Esentepe, Göksu, Karşıyaka. You can ask for the location on WhatsApp when travelling from Safak.
Appointments for Safak
At this distance, splitting treatment into visits is no problem for patients from Şafak, and attending reviews is easy too. As with patients from Kepez generally, appointments for families from Safak can be scheduled consecutively.
Emergencies from Safak
Setting out from Şafak at night is quick; come without delay in an emergency, and calling as you leave means preparation is done in advance. For patients coming from Dental Clinic in Safak, the clinic is open 24/7 and in an emergency the order is set by severity rather than arrival time. For spreading facial swelling, difficulty swallowing or breathing, or toothache with fever, go to the nearest emergency department.
Space Maintainers: Holding the Place of an Early-Lost Baby Tooth
When a baby tooth is lost early the neighbouring teeth begin drifting into the space. The permanent tooth waiting beneath then finds no room when its time comes.
How quickly the space closes
The drift is faster than assumed; marked narrowing can occur within the first six months, particularly in the molar region. The decision on a space maintainer is therefore made in the weeks after extraction, not months later. Reopening a closed space requires orthodontic treatment, whereas a space maintainer is a simple, inexpensive appliance. Timing is the single factor that determines the cost.
Types
The choice depends on which and how many teeth are lost:
- Fixed unilateral: for a single lost tooth, bonded to the adjacent molar
- Fixed bilateral: preserving both sides in the lower jaw
- Palatal arch: holding both sides together in the upper jaw
- Removable: for several lost teeth, also providing appearance
Why follow-up is needed
A space maintainer is not an appliance to be fitted and forgotten. It must be removed in time when the permanent tooth beneath begins to erupt; left too long it blocks its path. Plaque also accumulates where it is bonded and decay can develop. Six-monthly reviews are essential for both reasons, with radiographs following the permanent tooth's progress.
