For those struggling with moderate to severe tooth loss, dentures can be a life-changing solution for restoring their missing pearly whites. Although they’re designed to fit nicely at the beginning, the mouth can start to change over time, meaning the prosthetics will need to be relined later on. While a visit to your dentist seems like the obvious thing to do for this, you may be wondering if you might be able to perform this at home. Read on to learn what this process involves and why you may want to avoid DIY kits.
Are You Able to Reline Your Dentures Yourself?
With so many kinds of treatments out there, you’re bound to come across a do-it-yourself approach somewhere. Though they may seem convenient or even affordable, it’s highly recommended that you never reline your dentures on your own. Only a trained dentist should be able to reliably evaluate your oral health and determine the appropriate way to adjust your prosthetics. This will allow you to avoid any potential damage to your dentures and reduce the chances of making them ill-fitting, which can lead to issues like irritation, swelling, and blisters.
Why Would Your Dentures Need to Be Relined?
Your dentist will custom-design your prosthetics to fit your smile precisely. Even so, over time you may notice that your mouth and jawbone can start to change, causing your dentures to not fit like before. This is typically due to the consequences of tooth loss, as the lack of roots means there’s no stimulation in your bone tissue to help preserve your facial structure. For this reason, you’ll have to get your dentures relined, otherwise, you might experience a variety of problems, such as:
- Gum irritation and inflammation
- Jawbone atrophy
- Trouble chewing (which can result in indigestion)
- Headaches and earaches from strange jaw pressure
- Blisters, scrapes, and cuts within the mouth
What to Expect from Denture Relining
To reline your dentures, your dentist will add new material to the surface to improve the way it fits in your mouth. For a permanent relining, they’ll take a thin impression of your current prosthetics. Your dentures will then be sent to a dental laboratory where they will be filled with acrylic material in the areas where your gumline has changed. On the other hand, a soft reline is provided for those who have sensitive tissue or severe bone loss. This method provides a cushion to the dentures, but it may not be as long-lasting.
Although you’ll have to reline your prosthetics at some point, you should avoid trying to do so by yourself. With your dentist’s help, you can be sure to have your new pearly whites fitting snugly in your mouth sooner than you think!
About the Practice
At La Prada Family Dentistry, our team offers convenient appointment hours and short wait times. We’re passionate about providing expedient and reliable care, and we’re highly experienced in various treatments, including dentures. If you suspect your prosthetics need to be relined or you want to schedule an appointment, don’t hesitate to visit our website or call us at 214-473-5696.
