Denture relines restore your denture’s comfort and fit in Salt Lake City, UT
When you receive a new denture, it fits snugly and securely against your gums because it has been custom designed based on impressions of your mouth taken at the time the denture was made. However, over time, your gum tissues and bone structure change after tooth loss, which can lead to changes in how your denture fits. When this happens, denture relines at Cannon Dental in Salt Lake City, UT can help restore your denture’s optimal fit, making it more comfortable and functional.
What is denture relining?
If you have noticed that your denture is starting to rub your gums, irritate your mouth, or slip more than it used to, it may be time to consider a reline. Denture relining is a simple and economical way to lengthen the lifespan of your denture, while making it feel and function better in your mouth again. During the relining process, the underside of the denture is reshaped to fit the current contours of your mouth, making the denture more secure and snug. The frequency at which you will need to reline your dentures depends on your mouth and type of denture, but most patients can expect to reline their dentures at least once every two years.
Types of relines
There are two main types of denture relines—hard and soft.
- Hard denture relines: To perform a hard reline, Dr. Cannon first removes the layer of plastic from the interior surface of the denture, and then re-fills it with a putty-like material to take a dental impression of your current mouth contours. After taking the impression, we send your denture to a high-quality dental laboratory, where they adjust the shape of your denture (using an acrylic material) to match your gum tissues so that there will be as much contact as possible between your mouth and the denture for a secure fit.
- Soft denture relines: Soft relines are like hard relines but can be a better option for patients who are unable to wear traditional dentures due to sore spots or gum sensitivity. With a soft reline, instead of using a hard material to reline the denture, a soft and pliable material is used instead. This material places less force on your soft tissues and is less likely to cause sore spots on your gums, but generally needs to be replaced more frequently than dentures that have had a hard reline. Patients who have very tender gums may be good candidates for implant-supported dentures, which Dr. Cannon can discuss with you.
Sometimes, patients who have ill-fitting dentures may have an acute bout of irritation, inflammation, and swelling or misshapen gums in response to the denture’s fit. If this is the case, taking impressions for a hard reline is not advisable until the inflammation subsides, and Dr. Cannon might recommend a temporary soft reline to help reduce the inflammation. Once your gums have healed, a hard reline can then occur.
The team at Cannon Dental is committed to helping patients in the Salt Lake City, Bountiful, West Valley, Holladay, and surrounding UT communities have the most successful denture experience possible. If you feel like your denture does not quite fit the way it used to, call us today at (801) 406-9985 to schedule a visit!
