Denture relines and denture relining

Why Reline dentures?

Over time all dentures will become loose and may need relining, the relining of dentures can be carried out in various ways, the rate at which your dentures will become loose varies from person to person.

Denture relining restores the comfort and fit of your dentures.

Poorly fitting dentures can lead to a variety of denture related problems, including dentures that repeatedly break.

Regular recalls and denture assessments will help us to assess the fit of your dentures and your suitability for denture relining.

Optimal fitting dentures help prevent food particles from becoming lodged beneath your dentures, from dislodging when you chew food, and from dropping when you speak and prevent damage to your mouth and gums.

Accurately fitting dentures also help to slow the rate at which your jaws shrink.
If you are experiencing problems with the comfort and stability of your dentures it could well be worth considering having your dentures checked.

An alternative way to tighten your loose dentures is by using dental implants.

Denture relining is one solution for loose, uncomfortable or sore dentures, there are various types of denture relines available.

Types of Denture Relines

Lab Hard acrylic denture relines

The relining of dentures involves renewing the fitting surface (the surface that touches your mouth) of your dentures with new hard denture acrylic material.

This is performed by taking an impression of the surface of your mouth under/inside your denture.

The fitting surface of your denture is then trimmed back and replaced with a new acrylic resin.

Denture relines become necessary because our mouths change shape slightly over time, if you loose or gain weight this will also have an effect on the fit of your dentures, denture relines can be carried out on both full and partial dentures.

An indirect consequence of wearing dentures also causes the structures of your mouth, supporting your dentures, to shrink (resorb) which in turn will make your dentures looser.

A hard reline of your denture corrects the 'mismatch' between the shape of your denture and the shape of your mouth, the closer and tighter your denture fits, the slower the rate of damage to your mouth and the more comfortable your denture will remain.

Periodic assessment and denture relines are therefore a worthwhile investment and form part of our regular denture recall assessment program.

Poor fitting dentures are also more likely to harbor trapped food and bacteria, promoting unwanted oral health problems.

Denture relining will also help to prevent poorly fitting dentures from breaking.

We usually need your dentures for 1 or 2 days to do a hard lab reline.

In-Office Hard Denture Relining

We occasionally carry out temporary denture relining whilst you are in our office.

This type of reline is usually necessary where dentures have become extremely loose and uncomfortable and you cannot leave your dentures at our office.

This procedure is an alternative way to provide hard acrylic denture relining.

Soft denture relines

Sometimes denture relining is carried out using a semi-permanent soft relining material made of silicone, this material provides a thin cushion layer and is attached by a chemical bond to the hard acrylic base of your denture.

Soft denture relines are often used on uncomfortable lower dentures to provide extra comfort, or where lower dentures are difficult to wear.

They are sometimes used on new complete dentures or old loose dentures.

They are occasionally used in other areas, for example where the anatomy of your mouth can be utilized to provide extra grip.

Occasionally soft temporary relining material is used inside a denture to allowing a comfortable healing zone for dental implants below your denture, prior to their loading.

The disadvantage of soft relines are their porous nature, making them more difficult to clean and more likely to harbor bacteria.

Soft relining materials should be replaced every 1 to 2 years.

Therapeutic denture relines or tissue conditioning relining

Your dentist will need to assess your need for a therapeutic reline.

These relines are used where your existing dentures have become loose and have begun to damage the delicate structures of your mouth.

They are often used prior to the provision of new dentures.

We can carry out therapeutic relines whilst you are at our office, meaning you won't have to be without your dentures.

The temporary relining material used will need to be replaced after a few weeks with a permanent reline.

Do it yourself denture reline kits

Attempting to reline dentures yourself is not advised, it is possible to alter the position and fit of your dentures if the relining strip is not positioned correctly, these denture cushions often detach and need regular replacement.

Soft relining materials used by a dentist are incorporated into your denture during manufacture, ensuring it is correctly bonded and positioned to allow your dentures to function as they are designed to.

Who Can Benefit from Denture Relines?

• Patients who have recently had Immediate dentures
• Patients with loose dentures that require tightening
• Patients who do not wish to replace their dentures with new dentures
• Patients need a therapeutic reline prior to the provision of new dentures

We have a range of denture options should we be unable to reline your dentures.

For more information on Dentures click on the following links

Dentures
Trouble With Your Dentures?
What Are Immediate Dentures
Loose Denture, Diagnosis and Treatment
Denture Repair
Denture Relining
Cleaning Your Dentures