Dentures are a great option for when teeth are unable to no longer be fixed by other dental procedures. However, they involve some extra care that normal teeth don’t normally need. One of the steps that need to be taken when keeping your dentures at their best is to reline them. This is a step many people don’t know about and may not think about when their dentures begin to fit uncomfortably.
What is Relining?
There are two types of relining, soft and hard. In either case, relining of the dentures is simply adding a layer of material inside the dentures so they fit better and more comfortably. After a little while of wearing dentures, the denture itself gets worn away or portions of it get word down. This can cause your dentures to start fitting differently and not as comfortably. When this happens, a reline usually does the trick.
Depending on how much wear and tear there is on the dentures, you can either get a hard or soft reline. A soft relining can usually be done in the chair to where you can have your dentures back at the end of one appointment. However, sometimes, all relines are completed in a lab to where you will have to be without your dentures until they are fixed and sent back. If you do a hard reline, these are always completed in a lab.
Difference Between a Hard and Soft Reline?
A soft reline is completed with a soft, porous material which is usually a lot more comfortable and can often be done during an appointment to your dental professional. A soft reline is great for those with more sensitive gums or that are new to dentures. Hard relines use the same pinkish, acrylic material that the dentures are already made of. A hard reline is always done in a lab and takes a little while longer.
How Often Should You Reline Dentures?
A soft reline lasts around 1-2 years and a hard reline lasts for about 2 years or longer. A hard reline lasts longer than a soft reline simply because of the difference in materials. A temporary reline can be done until the full reline can be accomplished. A temporary reline usually lasts around a couple of weeks, give or take. Dentures themselves only last about 5 years due to the changing of the mouth shape during aging. As small changes occur over time, a reline of the dentures can assist in making them last longer. Once larger changes have occurred over a few years, it will be time for a new pair of dentures altogether.
A denture reline should occur, at most, every two years. However, if you’re feeling any discomfort or your dentures just don’t fit right and are loose, getting a reline will most likely fix the problem and get you back to feeling comfortable with your new teeth.
