Improving the outcome of denture relining

When residual ridge resorption occurs, dentures tend to become loose. For most patients, denture relining is an economical means of improving a denture’s stability and retention, the overall occlusal vertical dimension and, in some cases, facial appearance. Although improvements in retention, stability and occlusion do not always improve chewing efficiency,1 Garret and others2 found that “almost all patients perceived improvement in ... chewing comfort, chewing ability, less difficulty eating hard foods, and eating enjoyment. Most patients also reported improvements in speech and security. These results support the beliefs of clinicians and observations of some researchers that patients benefit from properly fitting dentures.” This paper outlines several techniques for improving relining procedures.