What are relines and soft liners?
For those of you who have worn dentures for many years relining a denture may be a procedure you are familiar with. In recent years however, reline procedures have evolved, and what you have your denture lined with can be as important as when.
First lets deal with what is relining, and why is it done?
The bony ridges that support your dentures are in a constant state of resorption, from the day you have your natural dentition extracted, and for the duration of your natural life. This bone loss occurs at different rates from patient to patient, but for most, it is a measurable change every two to five years. As this change occurs dentures become looser. Symptoms of less stability when chewing, food entrapment under plates, or more frequent sore spots are common indications change has taken place. Some patients experience no noticeable symptoms at all, but never the less that shrinkage factor is ongoing. Ill fitting dentures left unchecked can lead to more rapid loss of ridge, making it more difficult for patients to wear dentures in later years.
This is where relining comes in.
Through a simple impression technique inside your old denture a new record of your ridges can be obtained. The fitting surfaces of your dentures are removed and rebuilt utilizing these new records. When the denture is returned and refitted back into the patients mouth the result is an accurate fit, much like a brand new denture. It should be noted, dentures going through this process must still have proper bite alignment for relining to be successful. A simple examination by your dental professional will assess your dentures in this regard.
What about soft liners?
Patients who suffer chronic discomfort wearing dentures will often benefit with a layer of soft compressible material between their oral tissue and acrylic denture bases. This layer acts much like a shock absorber and can increase patient comfort dramatically. The more common types, Molloplast B or Luccisoft, can be processed in at time of denture construction, or relined into an existing denture. The average life span of these linings ranges from two to five years.
Whether you choose a soft or a hard base, relines are an excellent way to keep your dentures working well, while protecting your ridges from premature resorption.