The Reline

Relines are important to denture care. They are usually done because you have noticed your dentures are loose. Denture relines refit your dentures to your gums, making them not only tighter, but more comfortable as well.

Dentures can loose their snug fit due to:

loss or shrinkage of your bone and tissues (gums)
weight loss, usually of ten or more pounds
certain medications (check with your doctor)

Dentures are relined for the following reasons:

to achieve a better fit and keep your dentures in
to maintain healthier ridges and to minimize cankers
to help you chew better, thereby promoting better nutrition and general health
to prevent your ridges from dissolving more rapidly

Types of Relines

Do it yourself:

Relining kits are available from drug stores. To properly reline your denture, you must make certain that you align the denture to be relined with the opposing natural teeth or opposing denture. It is also important that you do not add too much reline material, so as not to severely open your bite. Depending on the reline kit that you purchase, you may have only one chance to “get it right.” Therefore, you must follow the manufacturer’s directions carefully. Relining your denture yourself is the most cost effective option.

Done by the denturist:

Your denturist may do either a direct reline or a processed reline.

The direct reline (also known as a self-polymerizing reline or chair side reline) occurs as a result of a chemical reaction that takes place in your mouth. Often you can actually feel the heat that is given off. This reline is done as follows:

Your denture is checked for fit. This is to ensure that you actually require a reline. Sometimes a patient may feel a reline is required when it is not needed.
The denturist checks your bite and your vertical dimension. Your bite will most often remain the same, but if necessary, corrective measurements can sometimes be incorporated to enhance an over-closed denture position. Once an assessment of your denture(s) has been made, the denturist can now proceed to reline your denture.
The denturist will usually grind away some of the existing denture prior to taking an impression. An impression is then taken of your gums with the actual denture reline material which had been placed inside your denture. Depending on the material used, the denture will usually remain in your mouth for one or two minutes. The denture is then removed and placed under pressure in warm water. This helps to cure the denture. A light-cured reline is also available.
Once the denture is cured, the denturist trims, polishes, and returns it to you—all done while you are waiting in the dental chair.

The procedure for a processed reline is similar to that of the direct reline. The difference is that your impression is taken with an impression material instead of the actual reline material. This impression material is later replaced, in the lab, with the same acrylic your denture is made of. Your denture will be locked into a special flask, and will undergo a curing process that will make the acrylic denser and less porous.

In effect, the processed reline is actually incorporated into the denture rather than having a filler (as in the direct reline) placed in your denture. The processed reline is easier to clean and healthier for you.

With a processed reline, be prepared to leave your denture for a day. If you have a spare denture, bring it to your appointment, even if the denture no longer fits. Your denturist can usually adjust it so that you do not have to be without a denture for that day.

NOTES:

Any reline only tightens your denture. It does not change the denture or your appearance, although such modifications can be made when needed or requested. It is only the inside (tissue side) of your denture that is resurfaced, all else remains the same.

Before relining your dentures, make sure your mouth is healthy and without cankers. Any condition you have in your mouth will transfer to your relined denture because a well-done impression will be an exact replica! You can heal your tissues by simply leaving your dentures out and rinsing with a solution such as salt water. The time required to heal gums varies. More severe oral conditions may require a referral to an oral pathologist.

Relines come in hard and soft materials.