The effect of relining on the accuracy and stability of maxillary complete dentures--an in vitro and in vivo study.

A technique was developed for evaluating in vitro the accuracy or fit of experimental denture bases using a low-viscosity impression material for determining the space between the master die and the processed denture base. These measurements indicated that relining heat-cured maxillary denture bases with autopolymerizing acrylic resin improved their adaptation to the ridges. Interestingly, if no teeth were present in the heat-cured denture base, markedly less distortion occurred after processing. Limited clinical measurements on the stability of maxillary dentures in function showed no statistically significant change in stability after relining, but the trend was toward increased stability with the relined denture.