Suffering partial or total tooth loss can be a serious inconvenience. Tooth loss affects not only how you eat, but also how you speak and it can lead to a significant loss of confidence for sufferers. However, with the help of a competent dentist, dentures can be produced to provide the appearance of a full set of teeth and make life easier in many ways. The difficulty for lots of individuals is that over time, dentures no longer fit as comfortably as they once did and the denture may no longer grip the mouth effectively. If your dentures are no longer fitting correctly, it's time to find a dentist who offers denture relines.
What is a denture reline?
While denture relines might sound complicated, the procedure is quick and straightforward. All that is involved is reshaping the underside of the dentures so that the denture aligns more closely to your mouth and gums. There are two types of denture reline. You could opt for either a soft or a hard denture reline and your dentist will be able to fully explain the advantages and disadvantages of each option and discuss which procedure is the right fit for your circumstances. In many cases, a soft denture reline is best. The procedure is most comfortable and will be completed the quickest as it takes place at the dentist's office. With a soft denture reline, a liquid polymer is used to increase the depth of the denture where it is needed and the patient works with the dentist to identify the best fit. If you are looking for a longer-lasting solution a hard denture reline could be the right option. A hard denture reline uses a more durable material and will last much longer. However, a hard denture reline will involve the denture being sent away to a laboratory, so it will take longer to complete.
Why are denture relines needed?
It is easy to think of the shape of your mouth and gums as fixed but it isn't. The shape of your gums will evolve, especially if you have suffered from tooth loss. Every tooth root is surrounded by bone and once the tooth has been removed, the bone that surrounded it will deteriorate as the body realises that the bone is no longer needed in the same way. Over time, the bone loss will reshape your jaw and cause your dentures to start slipping. Arranging for periodic denture relines is the easiest way to ensure that your dentures are always comfortable and that they fit firmly.
