Introduction
Carriers of “third teeth” often report that the dentures loosen after some time and wobble, especially when chewing and speaking. Adhesive creams can only temporarily solve this problem, as the cause of poorly fitting dentures is the conversion and decay of the edentulous jawbone. Therefore the base of the denture must be adapted to the changing surface.
This is done with the so-called relining. The jawbone does not retain its shape for a lifetime, but is subject to constant transformation. Since the oral mucosa is directly attached to the bone, the fit of a dental prosthesis is no longer correct if the original conditions have changed since it was inserted.
The consequence is that the prosthesis wearer feels insecure with his or her prosthesis because it easily loses its hold. Since there is no longer any intimate contact between the prosthesis and the oral mucosa, food residues can also accumulate in this gap. With a relining of the prosthesis the hold of the prosthesis can be restored and pressure points can be avoided.
Relining partial dentures
In the case of a partial denture, it is not only the change in the jawbone that is the reason for relining. Possibly necessary additional tooth extractions require relining of the denture after the missing tooth has been replaced and healed, since the jawbone has changed after the wound has healed. For partial dentures, the relining of the dentures is usually done directly in the dental office.
A cold polymerizing plastic is used, which hardens after being inserted into the oral cavity. The plastic material becomes warm during polymerization and can therefore cause irritation in sensitive patients. The plastic fills the cavities and thus restores the direct contact of the prosthesis with the oral mucosa, and the original hold of the prosthesis is restored.
Another method is to send the denture to be extended or relined to the dental laboratory together with an impression of the new situation. There the acrylic is then adapted to the new dental impression. The total denture is held between the denture and the oral mucosa by the saliva film.
If the jawbone atrophies, the salivary film is interrupted and the hold of the prosthesis is no longer guaranteed. A relining fills the gap again and the prosthesis wearer regains security for the fit of his prosthesis. In contrast to the relining of a partial denture, the denture is adapted to the new conditions in the dental laboratory.
For this purpose the dentist takes an impression with impression material, using the denture as an individual impression tray. It may be necessary to grind the denture base a little bit to make room for the impression material. The most important aspect is the marginal design of the denture. The prosthesis is then sent to the laboratory where it is finished with acrylic. This indirect method of relining dentures again ensures an uninterrupted saliva film and a correctly seated margin and thus the correct retention of the denture.
