You’ve had your dentures for years, and they’ve served you well, but now they are starting to become a nuisance. They just don’t fit like they used to, and you find yourself constantly having to adjust them whenever you’re speaking or eating. This is an extremely common issue for denture wearers, and fortunately, there is an easy solution: a reline. What is it? How does it work? Where do you actually get a dentures reline in Marshall? Read on below for a quick and easy guide.
Why Your Dentures Are Loose in the First Place
Your dentures were specifically shaped to fit your particular gum line, but as the years go by, your gums are likely to change shape due to bone recession. This is normal after tooth loss, as the body is resorbing nutrients from the jawbone because there are no teeth to support. That’s why a new denture may have the perfect fit, but after a few years, it starts to feel loose and unstable. Once again, this is nothing to be worried about, and it’s something routine relines can fix as time goes by.
How to Get a Denture Reline
Is there a particular place where you need to go to get a denture reline? While there are a multitude of businesses specifically dedicated to denture services, for most people, the dentist who designed their dentures in the first place should be their first call. Most dentists offer basic reline services, and because they are already familiar with a particular patient, this makes the process much more seamless and straightforward.
The Types of Denture Relines
There are 3 main types of relines, and the one that is best for you will depend on your particular needs:
- Soft Reline: For patients with tender gums that may have developed sore spots, a soft reline is often the way to go. A pliable material is applied to the inside of the denture that remains for about one to two years before needing to be replaced.
- Temporary Reline: If a patient has been dealing with ill-fitting dentures for a long time, then their gums might be swollen or misshapen, which can create problems when designing a long-term reline. A temporary reline helps stabilize a denture while a patient’s oral inflammation subsides. This will ensure that the new reline will not only fit better, but that the fit will last as well.
- Hard Reline: A sturdy acrylic material is added to the denture in order to make it more stable. This is usually recommended for patients whose denture already fits pretty well and isn’t causing a lot of irritation.
On average, a patient will need to have their denture relined every one to two years and completely replaced every five to seven. For those who want a more permanent solution that requires less periodic maintenance, they should ask their dentist about implant-retained dentures.
An unreliable denture is certainly annoying, but it doesn’t have to be a permanent problem. As soon as you experience any trouble with your denture, give your dentist a call, and they’ll fix you right up before you know it.
About the Author
Dr. Charles Parker is proud to call himself a denture expert, and he has been serving the East Texas/Louisiana area for nearly 40 years. Whether you’re in need of a completely new denture or just a temporary reline for dentures in Marshall, you can trust that you’ll always be in good hands with him. For more information about everything you’ve just read, he can be contacted through his website.