How Long Have You Had Your Dentures?

Over time your mouth and dentures undergo inevitable changes. Dentures should be replaced every five to seven years to restore optimum fit, function and appearance. In the meantime, if your dentures require a repair or relining, your denturist can best advise you of the most suitable treatment plan.

Rebase 

Rebasing is usually done when the denture teeth have not worn out in comparison to the denture base material. It is a process of retrofitting dentures by replacing all the (pink) acrylic, which provides a stable denture without replacing the denture teeth.

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Relines 

Relining consists of adding a new base (pink) material to the tissue side of a denture to ensure a snug fit. Your denturist will need to take an impression inside your existing denture to complete the reline.

Relining affects only the fit of your denture and will not change the appearance or address any wear of the denture teeth.

Relines are required when tissue changes occur due to resorption (shrinkage) which can be due to:

• loss of weight

• loss of teeth

• loss of bone/tissue

• disease or illness

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Repairs

Never attempt to repair or alter your dentures yourself. Improperly repaired dentures (with Krazy Glue®) will not last long and may cause irritation due to the poor fit and have an adverse effect on your overall health. Repairs may be required when breakage or damage occurs, when one or more teeth need to be added to an existing denture (due to tooth extraction), or because of wear and tear. Often denture teeth and clasps can be added to existing partial dentures when natural teeth are lost.

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A proper repair requires the addition of a new denture base (pink) material to the repair area and may require an intra-oral impression by the Denturist prior to repair. Most repairs can easily be done in one day. If your denture requires a repair, it may indicate underlying problems associated with the age of the denture, worn teeth, or poor fit.