Relining of 3D Printed Dentures in Denture Base Resin from Formlabs

When a patient loses their teeth, the supporting bone structures begin to resorb in these regions as the body redirects the nutrients originally sent to this bone to other working functions. Over time, this bone loss changes the shape of the jaw and resulting dentition.  For a patient wearing dentures, this can result in loose-fitting dentures that can slip off and inconvenience their daily life, making it harder to eat or speak. This is most prominent for new denture wearers during their first year after tooth loss. Denture relining is a quick and easy way to reshape the underside of a denture and preserve the tight fit necessary to maintain denture comfort and functionality for the patient. There are two types of relining, namely, soft and hard relining.

Rapid bone loss generally occurs within the first few months from tooth loss. During this time, soft relining dentures for new patients provides a secure fit, as well as added comfort. Soft relining of dentures is preferred to hard relining, as the former can be done at the dentist’s office repeatedly using commercially available acrylic-based or silicone-based soft reline materials. 

Prior to following the manufacturers’ instructions for the use of the relining material, the denture surface must be prepared to enable optimal adhesion. The underside and borders of the denture, where the soft reline material will be applied, must be roughened via grinding or sanding. For best results, use carbide cutters and/or sandpaper (180 grit)  to roughen the intaglio surface and borders of the dentures. 

Once the denture is appropriately roughened, follow the preferred soft relining material manufacturer instructions to apply material on the dentures and fit them to the patient’s tissues to reshape dentures. If a silicone-based reline material is preferred, follow manufacturer instructions on using a suitable bonding agent on the roughened denture surface in combination with the soft reline material.

As a patient continues to wear dentures, bone loss begins to slow down and relining is not required as frequently. In this case, a more durable hard reline material is usually used on traditionally manufactured dentures to minimize out-of-pocket treatment expenses for patients. 

For denture manufacturers, hard relining a used denture can be labor intensive, often requiring additional steps to sterilize dentures exposed to questionable degrees of dental hygiene. Instead of hard relining, denture manufacturers can now use Denture Base Resin to design and 3D print a new denture at little cost to the manufacturer, dentist, and patient.

The following characteristics can be expected of a material used for a soft relining procedure. 

• Soft reliners are only meant for short term to intermediate use. 

• They should be easy to use chairside — no extensive tools and machines needed. 

• Setting at body temperature

• Fast setting with enough time for adjustments

• Easy adjustments and shaping

• Good bond to base material

• Biocompatibility

• Taste and smell

• Color

• Staining and plaque resistance

• Easy removal (these materials need to be replaced by final/hard relining later)

After being tested by our dental professionals, the following observations and conclusions regarding the use of GC COE Soft were made:

• Easy to use material 

• Easy to shapen and finish with common tools 

• Serves the purpose of short term relining. 

• Good adhesions

• Easy removal

• Poor color

• Some staining

• Some surface roughness

Please consult the following safety information and instructions for use before handling these products. 

After being tested by our dental professionals, the following observations and conclusions regarding the use of Detax Mollosil Plus were made:

• Easy to use material

• Serves the purpose of medium-term relining.

• Adhesion is strong (dedicated bonder included). 

• Only marginal staining due to final coating 

• Color fits very well. 

• Smooth surface

• Difficult to shape due to its toughness. 

• Accessory tools needed (provided by the manufacturer separately). 

• Tricky to remove.