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Last Updated on February 17, 2023

How long does it take to reline dentures?

denture reline

It may be time to explore denture relining if your dentures aren’t fitting as well as they once did. Relining your existing dentures is a method that your dentist can use to give them a better fit without having to change them entirely.

Like any other item, your dentures are prone to wear and tear. They may begin to exhibit symptoms of wear after a few years of use and require relining or rebasing.

The dentist fabricates a new plate for the denture during a rebase procedure. A soft or hard resin is used to line the surface of a denture plate when it’s relined.

Because of tooth loss, your jawbone and gums shrink. They do it as part of the natural aging process. In the absence of dental implants or dentures, bone resorption may occur. Simply put, the volume and density of your jawbone deteriorate.

What is The Procedure for Relining Dentures?

Relining Procedure

Relining dentures is often a quick treatment that takes less than an hour to complete. In order to determine how much irritation you have in your mouth, the dentist will first examine it. When ill-fitting dentures have caused significant swelling or sores in your mouth, the dentist may suggest that you receive temporary relining while your mouth heals, allowing you to return for a permanent reline.

Your dentist will clean your dentures first and sand away a tiny quantity of material from the denture plate before performing a permanent reline. Following the removal of any material that is causing discomfort in your mouth, your dentist will apply a soft and firm resin relining to the dentures.

Replace the dentures in your mouth and gently bite down to form an impression in the resin. The relining is finished once the resin solidifies.

Soft Relining

One of two materials available for denture relining is soft relining resin. This silicone-based resin gives the denture a softer, more pleasant basis. Soft relining is the ideal option for persons who have thin or sensitive gums. It reduces the risk of future irritation.

Soft relining has the disadvantage of being less durable than the original denture or hard relining resin because of the softer nature of the material. This implies you’ll have to come back to reline more frequently than if you used hard resin. Soft relines are a preferable option for older individuals who have thinner gums and gum recession.

Hard Relining

Hard relining is durable and comfortable for all but the most sensitive gums. Hard relining is the industry standard for denture relining. Hard relining resin is created from acrylic that is identical to the acrylic used in your dentures’ original construction. If you have hard dentures, you shouldn’t expect to need a reline more often than once every one to two years.

The only disadvantage of hard denture relines is that they aren’t always finished on the same day as your appointment. While your dentist may be able to reline your teeth, take an impression of your mouth, and firm the relining putty all in one visit, he or she may prefer to send the impression to a dental laboratory for development.

This will take a few days off your dentures, but it is occasionally important to verify that the hard resin fits precisely.

Relining Benefits

Denture relining can ease several problems that would otherwise warrant denture replacement. Many patients contemplate relining because of sores, irritation, and general discomfort. You may discover that chewing with your relined dentures is simpler, and relining can also help with slurs, lisps, and other speech issues caused by poor denture fit. Denture relining is also less expensive than purchasing a new set of dentures.

To sum up, redlining dentures:

  • Can relieve pain and discomfort
  • Can help with impaired speech
  • Is cheaper than getting new dentures

Even if you follow a great dental hygiene program, your mouth will alter form with time. In order to maintain the fit of your dentures for as long as possible, denture relining is the most effective method of bringing an outdated set of dentures up to date.

How Often Do Dentures Need to be Relined?

Responses to this question will vary from person to person. However, you might expect a denture reline every year or two on average. As you become used to your new prosthesis, you may need several relines during the first few weeks after getting your dentures fitted. Simply put, if your denture seems loose, see your dentist for a reline.

Signs You might need a Denture Reline

A misaligned denture can lead to a variety of oral health problems. A few warning signals indicating its time for a reline include:

  • On your gums, you’ve gained irritations
  • You’re having trouble chewing your meals because your dentures are slipping or shifting
  • Your last reline was at least two years ago
  • You’ve been in a lot of pain for a long time
  • Your mouth cavity has become infected with a fungus

Soft Reline

Soft denture relines are the most popular choice and can be done at the dentist’s office or in a dental laboratory. To enhance comfort and depth, they coat the denture with a soft liquid polymer. This procedure can be conducted, although it’s often required more frequently than a hard reline. It lasts between one and two years.

Hard Reline

Hard relines can be done in the office or in a lab. Because the process is more difficult, most dentists prefer to send hard relines to a lab. Instead of liquid polymer, a firmer material like acrylic is applied, which is more similar to the denture foundation itself. In most cases, a firm reline lasts for at least two years.

If your denture is sent to a dental lab for relining, you’ll be without it for as long as the process takes. A denture reline can give your appliance fresh life and help you avoid having to replace it.

How Long Does a Dental Reline Take?

The relining of dentures usually takes only a few minutes. It takes a matter of minutes for your dentist to perform a gentle reline. A dental lab will need to receive your dentures and impressions for a hard reline. This can take anywhere from one to two days.

It’s time to consider denture relining if your dentures aren’t fitting as well as they once did. Your dentist can use relining to improve the fit of your existing dentures instead of replacing them.

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