Relining Dentures
When dentures that used to fit are now loose and beginning to cause sore spots on the gums it's time to have them religned. Religning is a process applied to the acrylic base of the denture that helps restore a proper fit and adds comfort for the denture wearer. There are three main types of religns, and the type used will depend on the condition of the gums.
People who wear standard removable dentures will find that as time goes by their gums change. This is caused by resorption of the bone beneath, resulting in a change to the shape and size of the gums and ruining the once great fit of the denture. This leads to dentures rubbing the gums and leaving sore spots. Some people will immediately seek help from their denturist, while others will choose to try to live with the discomfort, and this usually leads to a worse condition of the gums. Let's discuss three types of religns.
Hard religns should actually be performed on dentures every two to three years in order to make adjustments for changes in the bone and gums. Your denturist will check the fit of your dentures, and if needed he will scrape a small portion of the acrylic away from the underside of the denture and add a soft putty-like material. The denture will then be reinserted into your mouth, where the material will harden to the consistency of rubber, giving an accurate impression of your current bone and gum structure. Your denture will then be sent to the lab and the putty area will be replaced with new acrylic in the exact shape of the impression. When your dentures come back they should again have a snug comfortable fit.
Soft religns are called for when denture wearers find they simply can't tolerate the normal acrylic denture plate. In cases like these the under portion of the denture can be lined with a cushioning material, typically a flexible resin, that not only makes the denture more comfortable, but also adds a little more grip to the fit.
Frequently, some people wait until the situation has become quite grave. Their gums are so swollen, sore and misshapen that it is impossible to get an accurate impression of the dental ridge. This type of case calls for a temporary relign. Temporary realigns use a soft material to cushion the inside of the denture base and improve the fit of the denture. The patient is then able to tolerate the denture while the gums are allowed to heal. The material used is only designed to last a few months at best. Once healed, the denture wearer is ready for either a proper hard realign, or possibly an entirely new denture.
The moral of this story is don't wait to see your denturist if you are having problems. Suffering with denture discomfort isn't necessary, and will only lead to bigger pr
