Dentures are more than a functional replacement for missing permanent teeth. They're also essential for quality of life, greatly improving a person's self-confidence. Nobody wants the world to know that they might be missing some (or all) of their teeth, and the cosmetic importance of dentures cannot be dismissed. However, the appearance of dentures can be compromised when they start to slip—especially when the problem seems to happen more and more frequently.

A Physical Change

When your existing clothing no longer fits well, it's usually due to a physical change to your body (you may have lost or gained some weight). The same applies to the mouth. The contours of your oral mucosa (the soft lining of your mouth) also experience changes, and these changes mean your dentures no longer fit as they once did. This is nothing to do with weight loss or gain—meaning there's nothing you can do to prevent it. However, there's something you can do to correct the fit of your dentures.

The Surfaces Inside Your Mouth

These changes to the texture of the surfaces inside your mouth (your upper and lower palates) are unavoidable. When teeth are missing, the bone that would ordinarily support the bite pressure of these teeth loses some density and mass, meaning it slowly changes shape. This is a natural function, but since the base plate of your dentures was designed to hug the contours of your mouth, it's easy to see why your dentures have started to slip. The problem will get worse without some adjustments to your denture base plate.

Denture Relining

The adjustment in question is denture relining. It's not complicated, nor is it time-consuming. Many dentists and denture clinics offer same-day dentures reline services. It can often be done while you wait. What does relining involve?

An Improved Fit

All that's required is an additional coating of resin. The denture base plate is already made of resin, and a new, ultra-thin coat is added. This allows your dentures to once again fit tightly (yet comfortably), staying in place while eating and speaking, and restoring your confidence to do these things without anyone spotting that you're wearing dentures. Relining essentially restores the function and natural feeling of your dentures.

To keep your dentures up-to-date, periodic relining is recommended. Your dentist or denture clinic can give you an approximate idea of how often this will be needed, but don't be concerned—it won't be a frequent task. However, it's an essential task for keeping your dentures looking and feeling their best.