While everyone is eager to save money, it’s sometimes best to leave complicated work to the professionals. While it might be tempting to look up instructions for adjusting your own dentures if they no longer seem to be fitting right, doing so could result in a ruined appliance or even negative consequences for your oral health. Here’s why you should only have your dentures relined by a qualified dentist.
Why Do My Dentures Not Fit Right Anymore?
Even after getting dentures, the human mouth will continue to grow and develop. As the jawbones recede due to no longer receiving stimulation from the teeth during the chewing process, a pair of dentures that once fit splendidly may begin to slide about in the mouth, making it harder to speak and eat properly. This can even lead to embarrassing situations such as the denture falling out of your mouth in the middle of a conversation.
What Is a Denture Reline?
To adjust the fit of a denture, a dentist will apply an amount of material along its interior where it makes contact with the gums. This compensates for the bone mass lost in the jaw by filling in the resulting space, allowing dentures to fit properly again. They generally come in two varieties:
Hard reline
For a hard reline, your dentist will apply additional acrylic material to the interior of your denture. This reline is durable enough to last for up to two years before needing to be redone.
Soft reline
For a soft reline, your dentist will place an amount of soft material in the dentures. This creates a cushion for the gums during the chewing process, which is especially great for patients who have recently had oral surgery. However, they wear out quickly, meaning that they will have to be replaced sooner.
What’s So Bad About Relining My Dentures Myself?
Using a do-it-yourself denture reline kit involves a high risk of user error, and placing the material incorrectly can result in the dentures being completely ruined by creating an uneven bite that can cause the dentures to eventually break. An uneven bite can also make it difficult to chew or even harm the TMJ joints that connect the jaws to the skull, which can lead to headaches, backaches, or neck pain. Leaving your denture relines to your dentist eliminates all of these risks.
Dentures are not an inexpensive investment, so they deserve the maintenance they need to work well for the longest time. With proper care, your dentures can last for up to ten years.
About the Author
Dr. Jennifer Pham earned her dental degree at Temple University School of Dentistry and has completed advanced education courses in Invisalign, Laser Dentistry, and Sedation Dentistry. She is proud to be a member of the American Dental Association, the Virginia Dental Association, and the Academy of General Dentistry. Her office in Leesburg, VA offers general, restorative, cosmetic, and emergency dentistry as well as denture services. To schedule a denture reline, contact her office online or dial (703) 666-3867.