Uncomfortable Dentures?

Dear Friends,

We were blessed by a visit from one of our extraordinary patients who came to us for a repair of her Denture. Ms. Lillie Mae Prelow, who is 93 years young, drives every day and made the visit to the office on her own. Because her denture was cracked, she could not eat normally. Mrs. Prelow is a retired special education teacher who worked with both parents and children. She was born in League city, but lived in Houston most of her life, was raised by her Father, and went to Booker T. Washington High School.

Ms. Prelow is a longstanding patient who has been coming to Poindexter Dental for over 20 years now! We were so glad to be of service to her by performing an in office repair of her denture.  She was very happy with the results and noticed a great increase in comfort of her denture after the reline was done.

If you're a denture wearer, and your dentures have begun to fit less comfortably than in the past, you may wish to consider having them relined. Denture relining is a simple and affordable procedure that reshapes the underside of a denture to make it more comfortable as it rests against your gums. Relines are referred to as “soft” or “hard,” and can be completed either at the office, or in a lab. Both have advantages and disadvantages, so let's take a look at the specifics to find a solution that might be good for you.

When a tooth is extracted from its place within the  bone tissue that houses it, the tissue undergoes what is known as resorption, or a “breakdown” at the cellular level that takes its component materials and disperses them elsewhere throughout the body. In layman's terms, this bony material is essentially “taken” back “into” the body for other use.

Denture wearers experience most of this resorption within the first three to four months after extractions, and then gradually over time throughout the rest of one's life.  As a result of this resorption, the gum tissue experiences a change in density and shape that begins to cause a previously fitted denture to become more uncomfortable over time.  This is where a denture reline can help.

Soft Reline

Soft relines are often the preferred option for older denture wearers simply because they tend to be more comfortable. This is particularly true if you're a recent denture wearer with bone resorption still taking place at its most rapid rate, or if your gum tissue is just sensitive to the weight and feel of the denture. A soft reline can be done in the office (chairside) with a liquid polymer that is layered into the denture to add depth and cushion. It's a relatively quick procedure, and a secure, comfortable fit is achieved with input from you during your appointment. 

The main advantage to a soft reline done chairside is how fast you can have your denture completed.  A possible disadvantage to the soft reline – regardless of where it’s completed - is the fact that it may require more frequent fine-tuning due to its soft, porous nature. If this disadvantage matters to you, and you would rather sacrifice some comfort in favor of longevity, then a hard reline may be a better option for you.

Hard Reline

A hard reline reshapes a denture in the same manner as does a soft reline, but it is done with a material more like the hardened denture base itself. The result is a more permanent reline fix that lasts more years than does a soft reline. It too can be done chairside, or at a lab, but many dentists recommend it be sent out due to complications that can arise with fit and heat transfer of the materials used. If it is sent to a lab, you would be without your dentures for whatever time period it takes to complete the fix. (14 days)

So, as you can see, denture relining is an effective method to reshape a denture when it starts to give you difficulty. As we did for Ms. Prelow, It can also be used to repair a cracked denture. If you're experiencing any discomfort with your dentures, ask us about a possible reline – you'll be glad you did!