Though dentures are made to fit their patients’ mouths, they still require adjustments every so often. Changes in your mouth mean the prosthetics need regular relining to keep your smile whole. That said, you shouldn’t try to reline your dentures yourself; doing so will harm them and your grin. The best option is to see your Long Beach dentist and have them perform the relining work. If you want to learn more, here’s why you mustn’t reline dentures yourself.
What Does “Relining” Dentures Mean?
A poorly-fitting denture doesn’t always need replacement. Instead, you can have it relined to adjust its structure.
“Relining” a denture refers to adding new material to its inner surface. Through this addition, an ill-fitting prosthetic can fit your mouth more snugly and comfortably. The relining can even work with varying substances and materials depending on your needs. As a result, it’s viewed as a highly versatile type of tooth replacement repair.
Why is DIY Relining a Bad Idea?
No matter the DIY kits or videos, you really shouldn’t try to reline dentures yourself. This approach can threaten your prosthetics and oral health.
DIY relining is well-known to damage modern dentures. Since the process doesn’t let you see areas that need support, it often adds too much or too little material. That means it often leaves dentures in much worse shape than before.
Worse yet, DIY relining risks your oral health. This practice leads to dentures fitting more poorly, resulting in jaw pain, headaches, and eating difficulties. Those effects result in severe oral issues over time, as well as a lower quality of life.
Why Should You See a Dentist?
It’s always best to let a dentist reline your dentures. After all, their knowledge and resources ensure they’ll do an excellent job.
Most dentists follow several key steps in denture relining. First, they’ll examine the denture itself to see why it fits poorly. The dentist will then review their findings before suggesting (and performing) a hard or soft reline. (Soft relines involve sending a denture to a lab, while hard ones are done in the office.) After the relining, the dentist will have you check the denture to see if their fit has improved.
Since you shouldn’t reline your dentures yourself, contact your dental provider soon. Professional help will soon make your prosthetic teeth fit well!
About the Practice
Dr. Glen’s Happy Teeth is based in Long Beach, NY. Led by Drs. Glen, Eliana, Mendosa, and Moskovic, our practice prides itself on offering individualized dental care. We always ensure each patient’s treatment is tailored to their needs, whether the required service is preventive, cosmetic, or restorative. Our office even remains open late and on Saturdays to make things more convenient for you. For more details or to book a visit, please contact us on our website or by phone at (516)-517-0331.