Denture Relines
New dentures will typically fit your mouth very securely because it has been designed specifically for your gums. However as time goes on, the shape of the gum bone and your gum tissues will change and the fit of the denture could become more loose and more prone to movement inside your mouth. Having the denture professionally relined every one to two years will keep the denture secure and functional.
Soft Denture Reline
Some patients are unable to wear ordinary dentures because of tender gums or sore spots. The dentists at Loeffler and Pitt Dental Associates, PC may recommend a soft reline of your denture. The material is soft and more pliable and is less likely to give a patient sore spots. The goal of a soft reline is to improve the fit and comfort of your denture. Patients who experience problems more frequently with the fit of their denture may also consider a more permanent solution of implant retained dentures.
Hard Denture Reline
All full dentures should have a hard reline every two years. Loeffler and Pitt Dental Associates, PC removes a thin layer of plastic from the inside surface of the denture and then fills the denture with a putty-like material which conforms to the contours of your mouth creating an accurate impression. The denture is sent to the lab where it is adjusted to the new shape of your gum tissue. This process results in a more stable prosthesis with maximum contact between the denture and your mouth.
Temporary Denture Relines
If dentures have not been serviced in quite some time, a patient’s gums may be red, swollen, or misshapen. This creates problems in taking impressions for a new hard or soft reline and may lead to a denture that would perpetuate the problem.
A temporary reline material may be recommended to allow the inflammation to subside. This reline makes the denture fit much more tightly, and is usually soft and pliable. After a few weeks, the gums return to a more normal state. The patient is then ready for a new denture or a type of denture reline.