Denture Relines
A new denture will typically fit your mouth very well as it has been designed specifically for your gums. As time goes on, your gum tissues will change, and the denture will become loose and thus more prone to movement inside your mouth. Having the denture professionally relined every one to two years will keep the denture more secure and functional.
Hard Reline
A hard reline involves the removal of a layer of plastic from the denture’s interior surface. The dentist then fills the denture with a putty-like material which conforms to the contours of your mouth creating an accurate impression. The denture is then sent to the lab, where it is adjusted to the new shape of your gum tissue. This results in maximum contact between the denture and your mouth.
Soft Reline
Some patients are unable to wear a conventional denture because of tender gums or sore spots. Dr. Yatco may recommend relining the denture with a material that stays pliable for one to two years before needing replacement. This material is much less likely to give the patient sore spots than the standard hard reline acrylic. Patients experiencing these problems may also consider a more permanent solution of implant-retained dentures.
Temporary Relines
If a denture has not been serviced for an extended period of time, a patient’s gums may be red, swollen, or misshapen. This creates a problem in taking impressions for a new hard or soft reline because the result would be a denture that perpetuates 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 reline.