Loose dentures? No need to worry!

Using a full denture for a long period of time can cause the denture to lose its retention.

This is because the denture exerts a lot of pressure on the underlying tissues. As a result, the bone and gums shrink and a space is created between the denture and the underlying tissues, causing the denture to become loose.

Everyone has a different rate of bone loss, so the need for a new or relined denture is different for everyone.

The dentist will decide if a denture can be relined or if it needs to be newly fabricated.

In order to reline a denture, the existing denture must have:

• Good aesthetics
• Denture teeth with good anatomy
• Proper vertical dimension of occlusion
• Stable anatomy and occlusion.

There are two ways to reline an existing denture.

The first technique is done in the dentist’s office and its main advantage is that you don’t have to be without your denture at all: the dentist uses materials that are placed in the mouth and quickly polymerize to cover the space between the denture and the tissues. The technique is quick and easy, but the materials used are not the same as the denture material and tend to need to be replaced quickly.

The second technique starts in the dentist’s office, where an impression is taken, and continues in the dental laboratory, where the technician presses acrylic into the denture. The material used is the same as that used for the denture, and the reline is more durable. The main disadvantage of this technique is that the patient has to be without a denture for some time. In our clinic, we perform relines only after consultation with the laboratory technician, so that the time our patients spend without their dentures is as short as possible.

Despite the best efforts of the dentist and laboratory, the fit and function of a previously loose denture cannot be guaranteed, especially if you have extensive bone and gum tissue loss.

You may need to consider dental implants, which are generally the best option for people who have had dentures for a long time.

In this case, it may be worth considering dental implants. Dental implants can stabilise a denture and help with speech and chewing. Dental implants also prevent further bone loss.

A denture in the lower jaw can be stabilised with just 2 implants.

The implants can hold the denture with metal ball joints or similar components, or they can even be connected to a metal bar on which the denture is held.

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Finally, if you wish and there is bone available, you can have up to one fixed prosthesis with the help of more implants.

If you have an old denture that is no longer satisfactory, you should know that your problems can be solved.

A relined denture, a new denture or even an implant-supported denture

can help you significantly and improve the quality of your life.