Repairs, Relines & Additions
A denture reline is a simple procedure to reshape a denture so that it fits more comfortably on the user’s gums. Relining is periodically necessary as dentures lose their grip in the mouth. The process is usually straight forward and often takes very little time.
A Reline is a procedure used to re-fit the surface of a denture to a person’s gum. This is achieved by placing a new acrylic lining into the denture, duplicating the new shape of the mouth.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common signs include dentures feeling loose, slipping when you talk or eat, food getting trapped underneath, or new sore spots developing where there weren’t any before. As gums and underlying bone change shape over time, the denture stays the same — so the fit gradually drifts. A reline reshapes the inside surface to match your gums again, restoring a snug fit without making a whole new denture.
Immediate dentures usually need one or more relines within the first six to twelve months as the gums heal and shrink. After that, most dentures benefit from a reline every two to five years, depending on how quickly your gums change. If you’ve recently lost weight, had teeth extracted, or your dentures suddenly don’t fit the way they used to, it’s worth getting them checked.
A reline keeps the existing denture and reshapes only the fitting surface — it’s quicker, cheaper, and ideal when the teeth and overall denture are still in good condition. A new denture is needed when the teeth are worn, the bite is wrong, the denture is cracked or warped, or the fit can no longer be corrected by relining. Your denturist can usually tell at a glance which is appropriate.
Most denture damage can be repaired — including cracked or split bases, broken teeth, and missing clasps. Simple repairs are often turned around the same day or next day. The exception is a denture that has been badly damaged or repeatedly broken in the same spot, which sometimes signals the underlying fit is the real problem and a reline or replacement is the better answer.
Many simple repairs (like a broken tooth or a hairline crack) can be done within a few hours, sometimes while you wait. Relines typically take a day or two, depending on the type. Denture South handles repairs and relines in-house at our Somerfield clinic, which usually means faster turnaround than sending work to an outside lab.
Yes. If you’ve lost another natural tooth or your current partial denture needs to cover a new gap, an additional tooth can usually be added to your existing denture rather than starting over. This is one reason traditional acrylic dentures remain popular — they’re easy to add to, which can be useful if more teeth are likely to need replacing in future.