Relines, Rebases and Soft Liners
Your denturist can help you understand the circumstances involved in ill-fitting, loose or broken dentures. Not all of these situations will require a new denture. A reline or rebase may resolve your problem.
Relines
The requirement for relining occurs when bone and tissues change due to shrinkage.
Possible causes may be:
Post immediate dentures
Tooth loss
Weight loss
Bone loss in the upper or lower jaw
Sickness or disease
General physiological aging
The bite position, existing teeth and acrylic base(s) must be in good condition and not worn or stained to provide a reline procedure. There are several different ways that a denture can be relined, and they vary in price and longevity. Some relines are called “direct” or “temporary” and they act as a patch to take up space in the denture as the mouth changes, usually used after immediate dentures or tooth extractions. A “lab processed” or “heat processed” reline or rebase uses the same material that your denture was made out of and is much more labour intensive procedure. Not all relines are created equal, and a free consultation is the best way to find out which method and materials best suit your specific situation.
Rebase
The procedure is similar to relining. The difference being is that, a rebase replaces all the pink-acrylic denture base material. The existing denture teeth remain in the exact same place.
Reasons for rebase procedure:
Broken denture
Weakened or old pink denture base
Immediate denture
Bone loss in the upper or lower jaw
Sickness or disease
General physiological aging
Soft Liners
A soft liner is a layer of soft rubberized material that is permanently fitted to the surface of the denture and rests next to the oral tissues. In short, a soft liner is a cushion or shock absorber between the hard plastic base of a denture and the gums. Soft liners can be used in the fabrication of a new denture or can often be placed in an existing denture when getting a rebase procedure.
Soft liners provide comfort and relief for individuals with:
Severely receded or flat gum that will not tolerate the stress of dentures
Chronic soreness
Gums with prominent or sharp bony areas