Why You Shouldn’t Reline Your Dentures Yourself

Dentures are among the most tried-and-true dental solutions for replacing missing teeth, and they’ve served countless patients well in their quest to live a normal life with full oral functionality! But as convenient and useful as they may be, the restorations can, unfortunately, stop fitting as intended. Needless to say, this can cause issues for patients and necessitates the need for their dentures to be relined—but is this something patients should do themselves, or should they seek out professional assistance? Keep reading to learn more about why it’s always best to have your dentist handle this process.

Why Dentures Need to Be Relined

If you’ve had your dentures for a while, you’ve probably become quite accustomed to eating, speaking, and going about your daily routine with the prosthetics. However, over time you might begin to notice that the dentures don’t seem to fit quite like they used to. This is because your jaw continues to change over time since you no longer have all of your natural teeth, which in turn changes how your dentures fit inside your mouth.

This can lead to a wide range of oral health issues if left untreated. Fortunately, refinement is often a reliable answer! The process is normally very straightforward; first, an impression is made of the existing denture. Next, it’s sent to a lab where acrylic material is used to fill in gaps in the base that meet anywhere the gums might’ve changed. There are also “soft” relines which are appropriate for patients with sensitive tissue or excessively resorbed ridges, but these tend to not last as long as permanent relines.

4 Reasons You Shouldn’t Reline Your Dentures Yourself

Though it might seem much more convenient and cheaper to reline your dentures yourself, it’s always best to seek the assistance of a dental professional. Here are four reasons why:

1. Your Dentist Is the Expert – Your dentist is the expert on all things relating to oral health, including dentures! Not only will they be able to correctly identify when your dentures need to be relined, but they also have the tools and expertise to do it without issue.
2. Possibility of Damage to Your Dentures – DIY kits meant to assist with denture relining sometimes involve materials or methods that aren’t suitable for dentures, which can lead to damage either to them or your oral structures.
3. Oral Health Risks – Ill-fitting dentures can lead to a slew of oral health issues including gum inflammation, oral sores, headaches due to jaw pressure, jaw atrophy, and limited oral functionality that can affect your diet. Needless to say, a dentist can assess your oral health and know exactly what to do to treat particular issues that affect the fit of your dentures.
4. Long-Term Cost Implications – While it might seem cost-effective to skip out on visiting the dentist and attempt to reline your denture yourself, this can lead to more costly expenses in the future.

About the Practice

Dr. David M. Fisher, Jr. has proudly served patients and families in the Greensboro, NC community for several years! His practice is thrilled to provide an exceptional level of care and a wide range of services that are certain to help you achieve a brighter, healthier, and confidence-inspiring smile! If you have any questions about the article or would like to schedule a visit to see if you might benefit from dentures, don’t hesitate to contact the practice online or by phone for further assistance: (336) 203-8884.