Does Denture Repair Include Relining?

Denture repair can restore a broken or damaged denture to an almost new state. With proper care, modern dentures can withstand several years of use because they are made from sturdy and resilient materials. Years of use and other circumstances, however, can affect how the denture fits or works as they used to, thus necessitating repair. The process may include relining.

The need for denture repair

Denture repair or adjustment may be necessary for reasons like bone loss, daily wear and tear, accidental breakage or changes in the shape of the mouth. Regardless of the cause, patients must visit the dentist with the ill-fitting or broken dentures immediately. Attempting denture repair as a DIY project can cause lasting damage, mouth sores and irritation.

Depending on the nature of the damage, patients can get any of the following repairs done when they visit the dentist.

Relining: A reline is done to improve the fit of the denture.

Rebasing: This involves remaking the acrylic base of the denture; the replacement teeth are bonded to the new base.

Adjustments: If the patient has sore spots, the dentist can adjust denture fitting to alleviate discomfort.

Tooth replacement: If one of the prosthetic teeth breaks or comes off, it can be replaced in the office.

Overview of denture relining

New dentures usually fit inside the mouth securely because it is designed specifically for the patient’s gums. Over time, gum tissues change, and the denture becomes loose-fitting, causing it to move awkwardly in the mouth. When the patient visits the dentist for repairs, the denture will be relined to keep it secure and functional. Types of relining include the following.

Hard denture reline: Every full denture should undergo hard relining every two years. For the process, the dentist will remove the plastic layer from the interior surface of the denture and fill the denture with a putty-like substance that fits the contours of the patient’s mouth to make an impression. The dental lab will use the impression to alter it to the new shape of the gum tissue to improve denture fitting.

Soft denture reline: Sometimes, a patient may not be able to wear their denture due to inflamed gums or sore spots. The dentist will recommend relining the denture with a layer of a soft, pliable material that goes between the oral tissue and the denture’s surface. It reduces pressure between the gums and the hard base of the dentures. Soft relining can be done on new dentures or existing dentures.

Temporary reline: If the patient has not had their dentures serviced in a while, they may experience red or swollen gums. It may be hard to take impressions for hard or soft reline. In this case, a temporary reline may be done until the inflammation subsides. The reline improves the fitting of the denture. After the gums heal, the patient can then get a hard or soft reline.

In conclusion

If you have a loose-fitting or damaged denture, you can visit the denture office for denture repair. The process will include relining to improve the fitting of the denture.

Request an appointment here: https://www.simplysmilesdentist.com or call Simply Smiles Dentistry at (520) 368-3351 for an appointment in our Tucson office.

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