What are denture repairs and relines?
Denture repairs and relines fix the everyday problems that come up with a denture over time, from a break or broken clasp to a fit that has become loose or uncomfortable.
A repair fixes a damaged denture so you don’t need a new one. A reline refits the surface that sits on your gums, which change shape over the years. A soft liner adds a softer layer to that surface.
Broken denture?
All emergency situations considered. The sooner you call, the sooner we can help. Repairs come into the clinic, either dropped off at Capalaba or Redland Bay or posted to us. We don’t do repairs on home visits.
Why repairs and relines matter
A denture that’s damaged or loose affects more than comfort. Keeping yours in good condition helps with:
- Comfort: a well-fitting denture is less likely to rub, pinch or cause sore spots.
- Eating: a secure fit makes it easier to bite and chew.
- Speech: a denture that stays in place is less likely to slip or click when you talk.
- Gum health: a loose denture can put uneven pressure on your gums.
- Value: repairing or relining a denture that’s still sound can extend its life.
Book a consultation
Call, text or send an enquiry. We get back to you within four business hours.
Who needs a denture repair or reline?
Anyone who wears a full or partial denture is likely to need a repair or reline at some point.
You wear your denture every day, and even with good care, accidents happen and your mouth changes shape over time. You may need a repair or reline if:
- Your denture has broken: from a drop, a hard bite or general wear and tear.
- A tooth or clasp has broken: a tooth has come off or a clasp on a partial has snapped.
- Your denture feels loose: it moves when you eat or talk, or needs more adhesive than it used to.
- You have sore spots: your denture rubs or presses on certain areas of your gums.
- Food keeps getting trapped: gaps under the denture let food slip underneath as your gums change.
When we recommend a new denture instead
Every repair starts with an assessment. To get you a good result, we don’t reline dentures that are already incorrect or have excessively worn teeth, and we don’t work on dentures more than 10 years old.
- Made incorrectly: a denture with the wrong bite needs a remake. A reline won’t correct it.
- Excessively worn teeth: a reline won’t restore your bite, even when the denture is fairly new.
- More than 10 years old: We’ll talk you through a new denture instead.
Repairs often lead to longer relationships. Many of our patients first came in with a repair, and if your denture is past fixing, we’ll explain why and what a new one involves.
What types of repairs and relines are available?
The right fix depends on what’s gone wrong. We’ll assess your denture and recommend the option that suits it.
Simple repairs
A clean break, where your denture is in two pieces. No impression needed. Drop it off and come back later.
- Timing: often the same day.
- Best for: dentures that still fit well but have broken cleanly.
Complex repairs
Adding a tooth or replacing a clasp. We take an impression at a booked appointment, do the work in-house, then fit the denture at a second appointment.
- Timing: two appointments.
- Best for: a lost tooth, a broken clasp, or a tooth to add to a partial.
Relines
A reline refits the surface of your denture that sits on your gums, for partials or full dentures. As your gums change over time, a reline brings back a closer fit.
- Timing: an impression appointment, then a fitting appointment. The work takes a day, sometimes two to three.
- Best for: dentures in good condition that no longer fit as well as they used to.
Soft liners
We add a soft liner to the surface of your existing denture that sits on your gums.
- Timing: the same as a reline.
- Best for: people who want a softer surface against their gums.
The repair and reline process
Repairs and relines are much faster than making a new denture, because we do the work in-house.
The exact steps depend on what your denture needs. We’ll tell you how long it will take once we’ve assessed it.
Call or text so we can plan your visit and set time aside for your denture.
- Tell us what’s wrong: let us know if your denture is broken, loose or causing sore spots.
- Choose a clinic: drop in to Capalaba or Redland Bay, or post your denture to us.
- Plan your day: we’ll give you an idea of when your denture is likely to be ready.
Every repair starts with an assessment, so we can work out the right way to fix the problem.
- Check the damage: We inspect breaks and worn areas closely.
- Check the fit: if your denture is loose or sore, we look at how it sits against your gums.
- Recommend a fix: you’ll know whether a repair, reline, soft liner or new denture is needed, and what it costs, before any work starts.
For a complex repair, reline or soft liner, we take an impression at a booked appointment.
- Using your own denture: for a reline, we take the impression inside your existing denture.
- Capturing the detail: the impression records any changes in your gums since your denture was made.
- Not needed for simple breaks: a clean break can usually be fixed without an impression.
- Repairs: We join breaks and replace or add teeth and clasps in our workshop.
- Relines: we add new material to the fitting surface to match your gums.
- Finishing: we smooth and polish your denture so it feels comfortable in your mouth.
- Fit: We make sure your denture sits securely against your gums.
- Bite: we check your teeth meet evenly when you close.
- Comfort: we adjust any rough or high spots there and then.
- Follow-up adjustments: come back if anything feels different once you’ve worn your denture for a few days.
- Clean and polish: every six months is good practice. A polished surface stops build-up.
- Fit check: come back at least every two years so we can catch fit problems early.
How much do denture repairs and relines cost?
The cost depends on the type of work your denture needs.
We tell you the cost once we’ve assessed your denture, before any work starts.
What affects the cost
- Type of repair: a simple break or a complex repair such as adding a tooth or replacing a clasp.
- Reline: whether your denture needs a reline.
- Soft liner: whether a soft liner is added.
- Number of dentures: work on an upper, a lower, or both.
Ways to pay
We’re upfront about cost once we’ve seen you, and there are a few ways to manage it:
- Health funds: we accept all major health funds and claim on the spot with HICAPS, so you only pay the gap.
- MediPay payment plans: spread the cost over instalments, so you can go ahead with the right treatment rather than a compromise.
We accept all health funds
We work with all major health insurance providers, so you can claim toward your treatment on the spot with HICAPS.
