Denture relines: Everything you need to know.

If your dentures aren’t fitting properly how they used to before then it may be time to consider getting denture relining. Denture relining is a procedure in which your dentist provides you with a new and more comfortable fit for your existing dentures without replacing them. Denture relining adds material to the inner plate that holds your gums as well to conform to any changes in the underlying hard and soft tissue in your mouth. Dentures can be relined in the office by the dentist if only a small adjustment is necessary. Impressions of your mouth will also be taken by your dentist. How if big changes are required to the fit of the denture, then it may require mailing them to a laboratory to perform the relining. This means living without dentures for some days. Even though dentures relining costs less than replacing them, denture reline cost also depends on the type of reline you get. Here is what to expect from the relining procedure: 

Relining Procedure

Relining of dentures is typically a simple procedure which can be finished in less than an hour. When you visit a dental clinic for the first denture reline your dentist will examine your mouth to evaluate the level of irritation that is present. If serious sores and swelling is present due to poorly fitting dentures, then the dentist may recommend a temporary reline while your mouth heals and will allow you to return later for the permanent reline. For a permanent reline, your dentist firstly cleans your dentures and sands away a tiny amount of material on the denture plate. After removing material on the areas that are causing uncomfortable contact in your mouth, the dentist will apply the soft or hard relining resin to the dentures. The dentures will then place back in your mouth and bite down gently to create an impression in the resin. Once the resin hardens, the relining procedure is complete. 

Different types of dentures reline.

There are three main  types of denture reline  that you can get depending on the severity of tissue change and denture type. 

• Hard Reline: If you have a full set of dentures, you should be getting a new hard reline periodically. When getting a hard denture reline, your dentist will remove some of the acrylic inside your dentures and place putty inside your dentures to make an impression of your mouth. Once the denture is taken out, they’ll let the putty harden with your mouth’s impression in it till the putty turns to a rubbery consistency. Then, a dental laboratory will replace the putty by adding acrylic to the tissue side of the current denture. Then the denture will fit your mouth perfectly and can last up to a few years.
• Soft Reline: If your gums are too tender, and you get sore spots from dentures, you may require a soft denture reline. If you need a soft reline, your dentist can reline your dentures with a more comfortable, pliable material like wax or rubber alternative to acrylic that will last for a year or two. However, soft relines do not last as long as a hard reline.
• Temporary Reline: If you have gone for a very long time without servicing your dentures it could result in sore gums which is why you may need a temporary reline. Your dentist will have to reline your dentures with a medicated material that helps reduce the inflammation of your gums. This is a temporary reline that is only meant to last a few weeks while you heal from the sore gums. Once it’s healed, you’ll need a permanent option, and you’ll need to return to your dentist’s office for a new set of dentures or a hard reline.