Denture relines in Pearisburg

Why do dentures get loose?

When teeth are lost, the ridge of bone that held their roots starts to shrink, because nothing is loading it anymore, and the gum on top follows it down. It happens slowly, and it carries on whether or not you wear a denture.

The denture keeps the shape it was made in, so the space between the two grows until the denture rocks, slips or lets food underneath. The change is fastest in the months after teeth are taken out, which is why a denture worn through that healing often needs relining once the gums settle.

Lower dentures usually feel it most, because a lower one sits on a narrow ridge with far less to hold onto than an upper.

Signs your denture needs a reline

The fit changes too slowly to notice from one day to the next. These are the signs that it has:

• Food getting underneath the denture when you eat.
• Clicking, or the denture slipping when you talk or laugh.
• An upper denture that drops, or a lower one that lifts when you chew.
• New sore spots, or gums that feel tender by the end of the day.
• Needing more adhesive than you used to, or needing it for the first time.
• The denture rocking when you bite down on one side.

What does a denture reline involve?

First we look at the denture and your gums. Sometimes the trouble is really one sore spot or a bite that needs adjusting, and easing that is all it takes. If the fit itself has changed, a reline is the usual answer.

A reline adds a new layer to the underside of the denture, the surface that rests on your gums, shaped to fit them as they are now. The teeth and the outside stay as they were. Once it is back in, we check how it sits and how your teeth meet.

Before anything is booked, we tell you how your reline will be done and how long you will be without the denture, so you can plan around it. If a spot rubs afterward, call and we will ease it.

Reline or a new denture?

A reline makes sense when the denture itself is still sound and only the fit has changed, and it costs less than starting again. If relining would be money spent on a denture that is past it, we will tell you plainly.

A new denture is often the better answer when:

• The teeth on it have worn flat, so chewing takes more effort than it used to.
• The base is cracked, or has broken before.
• It has been relined several times already and still will not stay put.
• Your bite has changed, and the denture no longer supports your lips and cheeks the way it did.

Why not just use more adhesive?

A little adhesive is fine if it makes you more comfortable. Needing more and more of it means the space under the denture is growing, and adhesive covers that up rather than fixing it.

A denture that moves also rubs, and one that fits badly for years can harm the gums and bone under it without much pain to warn you. A sore under a denture that has not healed in two weeks is worth showing us, even if you are sure the denture is the cause.

What about partials and implant-retained dentures?

A partial denture rests on the gum between the teeth it clips onto, so its base can loosen the same way. If yours has started to rock or trap food, bring it in and we will check the fit and the clasps.

An implant-retained denture is held by clips on the implants rather than by its fit on the gum. When one feels loose, the clips may need replacing rather than the denture relining.

If a lower denture keeps moving even after a reline, implants may be what makes the difference. Implants versus dentures sets out the trade-offs.

Do you still need check-ups with dentures?

Yes, even with no natural teeth left. We check how the denture sits and the gums underneath, so a reline happens when the fit starts to slip rather than after months of sore spots. Every exam also includes an oral cancer screening.

If it has been years since anyone looked at your denture, that is the usual reason people call, and nobody here is going to make you feel bad about it. You get a written estimate before a reline, and we file the claim if you have insurance.

Questions patients ask