Dentures may be time-tested, but they don’t stay functional all on their own. These prosthetics need regular “relining” in order to restore your smile properly. That said, you mustn’t try to reline dentures yourself; doing so would further ruin your restorations. It’s better to have a qualified dentist – a dental expert – perform the necessary repairs. To learn more about these matters, here’s a primer on why you shouldn’t perform DIY relining on your dentures.
What’s Denture Relining, Anyway?
Since tooth loss changes face shape, your dentures will likely fit poorly over time. Even so, you may not need to replace them; you can have them relined instead.
To “reline” a denture is to add suitable material to its inner surface. Through this addition, an ill-fitting prosthetic can fit your mouth more smoothly and snugly than before. The relining can even use varying substances that correspond to your needs. As such, it’s essentially a versatile type of tooth replacement repair.
In general, relines are either “soft” or “hard.” Soft ones add or place a smooth polymer, and hard relines use material similar to pink acrylic.
The Problem with DIY Relining
Despite the trends on TikTok and other social media, please don’t reline dentures yourself. A DIY approach would leave your restorations and smile in worse shape.
More specifically, DIY relining can cause severe harm to dentures. It often adds too much or too little material because you can’t see areas that need support. Given that fact, your efforts would probably make your dentures fit even more poorly than before.
It’s also the case that DIY relining risks your oral health. Since the task ruins a denture’s fit, it will often trigger jaw pain, headaches, eating struggles, and more.
Why See a Dentist for Relining?
Rather than pick DIY relining, you should have a dentist reline your dentures. A dental team would provide you with much safer and more effective results.
Thanks to their expertise, dentists follow several steps to reline a denture. Their first move is to check the actual prosthetic and confirm why it fits poorly. Once they have, the dental team will review their findings and either suggest a soft reline or a hard one. The dentist will let you check the denture to see if it fits better after the relining.
Even if you’re tempted, please don’t reline dentures yourself. Let your dental provider handle the repairs – they’ll help you keep your restored smile!
About the Practice
Benchmark Family Dental & Orthodontics is based in Copperas Cove, TX. Led by Drs. Celebi, Ahmed, Sharma, and Rahman, our practice aims to give every patient exceptional dentistry. We thus offer preventive, cosmetic, and restorative services, with each treatment tailored to your smile’s needs. Our team can even reline and replace your dentures for you! For more details or to book a visit, please contact us on our website or by phone at (254)-547-4866.