When you are missing teeth, your upper
and lower jaws undergo residual ridge resorption (RRR). Without tooth
roots to stimulate growth and repair in the jawbone, the body breaks
down bony structures and uses those cellular components elsewhere.
As you can imagine, as the jaw ridges
in your mouth shrink over time due to RRR, your dentures will become
looser. Instead of getting a completely new dental appliance every
time this happens, dental offices offer relines on your existing
dentures. Here's what you need to know about the process.
When Should a Denture Be Relined?
Every year or every two years is
recommended for a reline, but every patient is different. You likely
need a reline if:
- Your denture rocks side to side
when chewing
- Your denture feels like it's going
to fall out
- Your gums are getting sore
- You often find food debris under
the appliance
How Are Dentures Relined?
If your dentist believes you need a reline
, make
an appointment. Instead of using a plastic or metal tray to take an
impression of your mouth, your dentist will actually use your current
denture as the tray. He or she will then place an elastic paste in
the denture and place it in your mouth.
This impression material will flow
throughout the denture so that the new impression captures the
changes to your jaw ridges. Once the impression has set, the dental
assistant or doctor will disinfect the denture impression and send it
to a dental laboratory.
Keep in mind that you will be without
your denture for a while as dental lab technicians create the
reline from the impression. You and your dentist should schedule an
appointment at a time where you can comfortably go without the
appliance.
At the dental laboratory, technicians
will pour a mix of water and gypsum stone into the denture impression
to create a 3D mold. Once this mold has hardened, the denture can be
cleaned of impression material and adjusted to fit the new mold. The
technicians will add resins to the existing denture to correct the
fit and border extensions.
Do You Need a Soft or Hard Reline?
If you aren't sure whether you need a
soft reline or a hard one, consult with your dentist. Both kinds have
pros and cons. Hard relines are made of a tough acrylic and last
longer, which means that you won't have to undergo this procedure as
often if you take good care of your dentures.
However, some patients find that hard
relines aren't as comfortable, so they opt for a flexible resin. Soft
relines are also better at distributing pressure when you chew since
the material has more give.
If you are used to your dentures, a
hard reline will likely be a good fit. However, patients who've just
lost teeth may prefer a soft reline since the gum tissue on their
ridges may still be sensitive. Also, if you don't want to wait for a
denture reline from a dental lab, your dentist may offer a chair-side
reline. But chair-side relines may not be as durable as ones made in
a lab.
What About Reline Aftercare?
After a reline appointment, make sure
you follow any aftercare instructions. For instance, you shouldn't
wear your dentures to bed, as this can dry out and crack the resin.
Also, it's bad for the bony ridges to be compressed by dentures all
night. Denture compression can increase the rate of resorption.
Do not use any cleaner except
denture-specific cleaner and denture brushes to clean the appliance.
Lastly, do not wash or keep your relines in hot water, as this can
warp the denture material.
Contact Advanced
Dental Care
if you have any questions or concerns about relines
or if you need to make an appointment.
