Do your dentures feel uncomfortable? When your dentures don’t fit like they used to, then you might need to reline them. Complete or partial tooth loss can give you a lifetime of problems. Good thing then that a good set of dentures can replace your teeth and resolve those issues. But when your dentures do not fit properly anymore, then you’ll be reliving some of your tooth loss problems.
What is Denture Relining?
Denture relining is a procedure where your dental prosthetist adjusts and reshapes the surface of your dentures to provide a more comfortable fit.
Types of Denture Relining
Soft Relining
A soft reline uses silicone to give a softer and more comfortable base for your denture. It’s an ideal choice for patients with thin or sensitive gums as a silicone base is less likely to cause irritation.
Because soft relining uses a softer material, it wears out faster than hard relining, requiring you to undergo the process more often. However, it is the recommended option for older patients due to their thinner and more receded gums, and other mouth issues.
Hard Relining
A hard denture reline is an excellent option for patients who prefer a longer-lasting fit for their dentures. The hard relining base is made from an acrylic with similar properties to the original acrylic on your dentures.
The only downside is that this procedure may require more than a day’s visit to your dental prosthetist. You may need to get temporary dentures for that time.
Denture Relining Procedure
A typical relining procedure can be completed within a day. Your dental prosthetist would first examine your mouth for any irritation. If there’s a significant sore or swelling from poor-fitting dentures, then your dental prosthetist may recommend a temporary reline while it heals.
Once your dental prosthetist sees no issue for a permanent reline, your dental prosthetist will then proceed to clean your dentures, which includes sanding away some material from your denture plate. Once the dentures are cleaned, the dental prosthetist will then apply a soft or hard relining to them. You will be asked to put the dentures back into your mouth and gently bite down. This makes an impression in the resin. Once the resin hardens, the reline is completed. This process is the same whether it’s your first denture reline or your tenth.
However, your dental prosthetist may opt to send the impression to a dental laboratory for some hard relining cases. This can take a full day or longer before the dental prosthetics are returned to you.
Benefits of Relining
Well-Fitted Dentures
Dentures that slide and move make everyday tasks difficult, such as chewing and talking. Relining makes eating food easier and helps you avoid slurs, lisps, and other speech difficulties.
Longer-Lasting Dentures
Instead of distributing pressure over your denture’s entire surface, an ill-fitting denture puts stress only on a specific area, which causes your dentures to break. A reline every few years is a part of maintaining your dentures, helping them to last longer.
A Cleaner, Healthier Mouth
An improper denture fit creates gaps between your denture’s base and your mouth tissue. These gaps will trap bits and pieces of food which may cause decay. This can lead to bad breath and infections. Relining your dentures closes these gaps, preventing problems like these.
How Often Do You Need to Get Your Dentures Relined?
The silicone on a soft reline typically lasts only 1–2 years. A hard reline can last for years with proper care. Nevertheless, your hard reline needs to be examined every two years to ensure it still fits correctly.
Book an Appointment With Us!
Even with a perfect dental hygiene routine, your mouth shape changes over time, causing dentures to no longer fit properly. Denture relining will help keep your dentures fitting and make for a healthier mouth.
Do you suffer from ill-fitting dentures? Whether you just need to reline the upper half of the denture or you need a complete denture relining, we’re happy to do it for you. Call us now!
