If you already know what a denture reline is and want to know what actually happens at the appointment, here’s the process step by step.
Step 1: Assessment
Your denture is checked for fit, wear, and any damage. If the teeth are in good condition and it’s just the fit that’s off, a reline is usually recommended over a full remake.
Step 2: Preparing the Fitting Surface
A thin layer of material is removed from the inside surface of the denture — the part that sits against your gums — to make room for the new lining material.
Step 3: Taking an Impression
An impression material is placed inside the denture and it’s fitted back into your mouth. This captures the current shape of your gums accurately, which is the whole point of a reline — your gum shape has changed since the denture was made or last relined.
Step 4: Fitting the New Material
Depending on the type of reline, the new lining is either set immediately (a same-day, chairside reline) or the denture is sent to a lab and processed with a more durable material, typically returned within a day or two. Our denture repair and reline service offers same-day or next-day turnaround for most relines.
Step 5: Final Fit Check
Once the new material is set, the denture is checked back in your mouth for comfort, bite, and fit, with any small adjustments made on the spot.
What to Expect Afterward
A freshly relined denture may feel slightly firmer or tighter for the first day or two while you adjust, which is normal. For how long the whole visit typically takes, see How Long Does It Take to Reline Dentures?, and for ongoing care between relines, see how to take care of your dentures.
Book a Reline
If your denture has started feeling loose or you’re due for a check, our denture repair and reline service can talk you through what your denture specifically needs.
