Sadly, a lot of people who wear dentures forego getting them relined regularly and opt for other fixes such as removing them from their mouth more frequently or using more adhesive. But as we'll outline below, either of those two choices can leave a lot to be desired compared to an actual denture reline from your highly experienced denturist. Let's take a look at why that is.
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What Exactly is a Denture Reline?
A denture reline is a resurfacing of the area which comes in contact with your gums, allowing for a better and more comfortable fit. Due to there no longer being any teeth to stimulate the ridge of your mouth, the shape of it will end up changing. A denture reline serves to correct this change.
Relining your dentures will also reduce the amount of pressure being exerted on the soft tissues within your mouth. Neglecting to get your dentures relined regularly will increase your chances of suffering pain or discomfort from them in the form of lesions, lumps, and irritation. It could also result in your dentures or the artificial teeth in them becoming damaged.
Compared to other denture maintenance procedures, a reline is relatively affordable and cost-effective. By regularly getting your dentures relined, you can actually lower your long-term costs by avoiding extensive repair work or a full denture replacement.
5 SUREFIRE SIGNS YOUR DENTURES NEED TO BE REPAIRED
How to Know if Your Dentures Need a Reline
Those with complete or partial dentures should be getting them relined regularly depending on what type of relining they've had done in the past. While your denturist or dentist is certainly the best person to determine if a reline is necessary, if you experience any of the following you should make an appointment with them right away to see if a reline can fix the problem or is required:
- Your dentures are causing persistent rubbing or pinching to occur which won't go away
- You've had your remaining natural teeth extracted or they fall out
- Your complete or partial dentures have become loose
- Your dentures have recently been repaired
The Different Types of Denture Relines
There are three different types of denture relines available. Depending on your specific needs or preferences, your denturist may recommend one of the three following denture relines for you:
Soft reline: A soft reline will typically last for a year or two. It provides greater comfort than a hard reline due to the pliable material that is used. The material will remain pliable for about 12 months and the reline can usually be conducted in the denture clinic as opposed to a lab.
Those who are new to dentures usually benefit from a soft reline as it's an easier transition, though more adjustments may be required.
Hard reline: A hard reline will generally last about five years before needing to be redone. This procedure requires a thin layer of the denture to be shaved and putty to be placed on the interior much like an impression would be made. Because of this, the new lining should fit the ridge of your mouth perfectly. Your dentures may need to be sent to a lab for further processing for a hard reline, depending on the capabilities of the denture clinic you go to.
When done by an expert denturist, hard relines can be extremely comfortable but they do cost a bit more than a soft reline. Given their greater longevity, however, we find most patients see the benefit of opting for a hard reline and find it cost-effective.
Temporary reline: If you need new dentures or your current ones are causing your gums pain, a temporary reline may be used so you don't have to go without teeth for any period of time. Temporary relines only last a few weeks and are meant to bridge the gap between getting new dentures or a hard reline done. Most material used in a temporary reline is medicated, providing further pain relief and antibiotics to ward off infection.
HOW TO KEEP YOUR DENTURES LOOKING AND WORKING THEIR BEST
Avoid Over-the-Counter or DIY Reline Kits
There are over-the-counter or DIY denture reline kits available out there. We strongly recommend against using them. One of the biggest problems that could occur when attempting to reline your dentures yourself is the potential for you to completely destroy your prosthesis. Or you could end up causing your bite to be off if the relining is done incorrectly. Denture relining is one of those things that is best left to the pros. Contact us today to find out more about how we can help keep your dentures fitting and functioning their best for years to come.
Get Your Free Consultation
If you need affordable dentures in Calgary or same-day denture repairs, including a denture reline, Future Smiles Denture Clinic has you covered. Just get in touch with our helpful denture team by calling 403-475-0016 or by booking a FREE consultation or by visiting our Coral Springs NE or Macleod SW Calgary clinics. We'd love to help get you smiling again!
