Short answer
A tooth replacement swaps out a fractured, worn or debonded tooth on an acrylic full-arch implant bridge without remaking the prosthesis. A reline resurfaces the intaglio of a removable denture that no longer fits the tissue, working from an impression taken inside the denture. Both go through our resin department and through QC.
What it is
Two repairs handled in our resin department. With a full-arch tooth replacement, we replace a fractured, chipped, worn or debonded tooth on an acrylic full-arch implant bridge (often called a hybrid) and keep the framework and the remaining teeth.
With a reline, the intaglio of a removable denture gets new resin, copying the tissue from an impression you take inside the denture. The denture regains its fit without being remade. The replacement tooth material and the types of prosthesis we reline are confirmed when the case is opened.
When to prescribe it
A tooth replacement makes sense when the framework is sound and the problem is local. Acrylic fracture and wear are among the most reported complications on metal-acrylic full-arch bridges. In a retrospective study of 84 prostheses (The Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry, 2024), fracture accounted for 61% of replacements and excessive wear for 19%. When fractures keep coming back or the whole bridge is worn, it’s worth discussing a new prosthesis; our article on zirconia, titanium or PMMA for full-arch compares the options.
A reline fits the case where the denture has lost retention as the ridge resorbed but the teeth and occlusion are still good. In a 2025 trial in BMC Oral Health, relined maxillary complete dentures had better retention and adaptation than new milled dentures, which scored higher on esthetics.
How we make it
Tooth replacements and relines are done in our lab in São Paulo, Brazil, and every stage is validated and logged, as with any restoration; you follow the phase in the portal. Occlusion matters here: a 2024 study found vertical dimension changes after the laboratory phase of relining, so the prosthesis comes back checked against the opposing arch.
What to send
The basics are in our case submission guide. The prosthesis should arrive cleaned and disinfected, with the opposing arch and a bite registration. For a tooth replacement, give the shade from the guide; our shade guide shows how to record it.
Frequently asked questions
How common are tooth fractures on acrylic full-arch bridges?
They are among the most reported complications. In a 2024 retrospective study of 84 metal-acrylic prostheses in The Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry, acrylic fracture accounted for 61% of replacements and excessive wear for 19%. In a 2020 series, material wear was the most frequent major complication.
How long will the patient be without the prosthesis?
Turnaround is agreed when the case is opened. If the patient can't go without the prosthesis, say so on the order; a rush fee is available for cases that need to be ready sooner.
Reline or make a new denture?
It depends on the denture, and that's your call. In a 2025 trial in BMC Oral Health on ill-fitting maxillary complete dentures, relined dentures had better retention and adaptation than new milled ones, while the new dentures scored better on esthetics.
Can a reline change the occlusion?
It can. A 2024 study measured dentures before and after the laboratory phase of relining and found vertical dimension changes in every group. That's why we ask for the opposing arch and a bite and check occlusion before dispatch.
Sources
- Prosthetic complications and survival rates of metal-acrylic implant fixed complete dental prostheses — a retrospective study up to 10 years · The Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry (2024)
- Survival rates and prosthetic complications of implant fixed complete dental prostheses — an up to 5-year retrospective study · The Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry (2020)
- Comparison between relining of ill-fitted maxillary complete denture versus CAD/CAM milling of new one regarding patient satisfaction, denture retention and adaptation · BMC Oral Health (2025)
- Assessment of occlusion changes during laboratory phase of relining — an in vitro study · The Journal of Indian Prosthodontic Society (2024)