What is a reline for dentures?

David, KY

Dr. Hair: The "horse-shoe-shaped" bones that hold your teeth are made just for that function - they hold your teeth.  When teeth are lost, the bone begins to resorb (dissolve away).  After a denture is placed, this process continues until the ridge (or your gums) no longer fits all the way into the denture.  At this point, the denture becomes loose.  A loose denture moves around and causes the bone to disappear even faster.

If the denture is in good shape otherwise, a reline may be indicated.  The goal is to add denture base in to replace the support you have lost so that the denture fits again.

In other words, the ridge (your gums) no longer fit completely into the denture. A reline will fill in the gap between the denture and your gums with plastic so that the denture actually fits your gums again.