Denture Relines
New dentures will typically fit your mouth very securely as it has been designed specifically for your gums. As time goes on, your gum tissues will change and the fit of the denture will become more loose and thus more prone to movement inside your mouth. Having the denture professionally relined when necessary will keep the denture secure and functional.
Hard Reline
Dr. Harogiannis removes a layer of plastic from the denture’s interior surface, and then fills the denture with a putty-like material which conforms to the contours of your mouth creating an accurate impression. The denture is sent to the lab where it is adjusted to the new shape of your gum tissue. This results in maximum contact between the denture and your mouth.
Temporary Relines
If dentures have not been serviced in quite some time, a patient’s gums may be red, swollen, or misshapen. This creates problems in taking impressions for a new hard reline and may lead to a denture that would perpetuate the problem.
A temporary, or palliative (medicated) reline material called a tissue conditioner may be recommended to allow the inflammation to subside. This reline makes the denture fit much more tightly, and is usually soft and pliable. After a few weeks, the gums return to a more normal state. More than one treatment may be necessary to get the gums to their ideal health. The patient is then ready for his new denture or hard reline.