Relines, Repairs and Additions
Relines
A reline is the resurfacing of the tissue surface of a denture base with new
material to make it fit more accurately
Loss of fit of dentures can lead to instability or mucosal injury Reline
This can be carried out in the mouth using either soft or hard materials
o Soft materials
Best for mucosal inflammation
Provide cushioning effect
Distributes the load more evenly thus promoting
healing
o Hard materials
Non-poly methyl methacrylate
Adaptable directly in the mouth but have poor
colour stability
Relining procedure:-
1. Diagnostic alginate impression
2. If the denture is to be relined at chair side, correct under
extension
3. Form a but joint between the two resins
4. Seat the denture correctly
a.
b.
c.
d.
5. After reline, excess material should be removed from polished
surfaces and teeth
6. Instruct patient on how to clean the lining:-
a. Soft Lining
b. Hard Lining
Linings need to be assessed regularly, in case of soft lining they need to be
replaced periodically until inflammation is resolved. New denture can
then be constructed
Repairs
IT IS IMPORTANT TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FRACTURE SO THAT
APPROPRIATE CORRECTIVE MEASRUES ARE UNDERTAKEN
1. Metal repairs
o Commonly occur on clasps and occlusal rests
o Clasp fractures are usually due to fatigue, careless handlining, poor
design, lab faults
o Before repairing alginate impression with denture in situ
o Clasps electric soldering to metal base or embedded in acrylic
resin
o Prevention of clasp fractures
Proper clasp material
Avoid burnout temperatures during casting
Avoid excessive manipulation during initial adaptation to the
tooth
Avoid careless nicks when using contouring pliers
Warn patients on how to remove dentures
o Occlusal rest fractures
Usually dentists fault not providing enough space for the
rest during tooth preparation
Electrically solder on a new rest
2. Resin repairs
o Denture base is fractured
o If patient has superglued it back together glue must be removed
with bur
o Remaining parts of denture are placed onto model and gap is filled
with impression compound
o Wash impression taken cast up reline and repair
simultaneously
3. Tooth Repairs
o If tooth is detached but still available rapid chairside repair can
be done with cold-curing acrylic resin
Maybe cut some undercut or perforations or soldered wired
loops to get mechanical retention
Can be joined to metal using metal adhesives
4. Connector fractures
o If denture portions can be relocated outside the mouth dentist
unites them together try in mouth send to lab for repair (can
also be done chairside using cold acrylic resin
o If denture cannot be relocated hold in best postion seat in
mouth while bonding material is still flexible send to lab for
repair
Additions
Add new tooth to fill a space due to loss of a denture tooth or natural
tooth
Best done by obtaining alginate impression and interocclusal records
then sent to lab to be done
Usually simple with acrylic dentures
More complex with metal bases (cast new component and attaching it by
soldering/creating retentive elements to attach acrylic resin extension
CAN ALSO ACHIEVE ACCEPTABLE RESULTS BY BUILDING UP
REPLACEMENT TOOTH USING TOOTH-COLOURED COLD-CURING
ACRYLIC RESIN TO THE DENTURE AT THE CHAIRSIDE
Flange additions
o Non poly methylmethacrylate which is adaptable in the mouth
o Colour stability is poor this technique is not ideal if the denture is
to be worn for more than a few weeks
o Alginate impression is obtained of the denture in-situ – extend in
area where new flange will be (compound)