Denture repairs and relines are two very different things, but both are necessary for the long-term health of your dentures. After a proper checkup, your dental prosthetist will be able to tell you which one you need. With proper maintenance you may be able to keep yourself from needing a repair, but a reline is something that is essential for all dentures over the course of their usable life.
Denture Repairs
A denture repair is needed when there has been damage to the denture. For instance when:
- There is a chip or a crack in a tooth
- A replacement clasp is required
- A tooth or clasp has broken off
- The denture base is broken or cracked
- Adding a new tooth on your denture after a natural tooth has been extracted
Chipped, cracked, and broken teeth can happen when you bite down hard on something, like refrigerated chocolate, and creates a lot of pressure on the teeth. This can also happen if the denture is dropped. Whenever a denture is dropped or you feel it may have been damaged after eating hard foods, it is always a good idea to get it checked before using it again. Eating with a cracked denture can cause greater long-term damage so it’s better to have your denture examined.
You should not try any denture repair procedure at home as it can further damage your denture and can even cause serious oral health problems. It will also be more cost-effective to leave your denture repairs to the professionals.
Denture Relines
No matter how well you take of them, a denture reline is something that you’ll need after several years.
This is a reshaping of the dentures fitting surface, as your gums are continually changing with age, to improve the denture fit.
A denture reline involves adding a new base on the tissue side of the denture so that it sits on the jaw bone perfectly. A denture reline will not have any impact on the look of the denture, and will not make the dentures cleaner. It is only for fitting purposes.
Common signs that you need a denture reline are:
- Difficulty chewing
- Changes in facial shape
- Constant lisping in speech
- A loose denture
- General discomfort
Denture Adjustments
A denture adjustment is a small alteration made to your denture to make the denture feel more comfortable or fit better. Sometimes your denture might feel uncomfortable for no apparent reason. This can occur as the gum tissue and natural teeth changes over time.
Signs that you need a denture adjustment are:
- Oral sores
- Gum irritation
- Stains
- Slight denture movement
We offer same day denture repair and reline services to meet any denture repair emergency, and are happy to discuss any oral health needs you may have.