Denture Rebasing

Save Your Teeth, Replace the Base — Without Starting Over

A worn or damaged denture base can cause a surprising number of problems, such as, poor fit, discomfort, trapped bacteria, and accelerated bone loss, but that doesn't automatically mean you need a completely new set of dentures. If your denture teeth are still in excellent condition, our denturists at Parkland Denture Center in Tacoma and Meridian Denture Center in Puyallup will often recommend a rebase instead. It's a smarter, more cost-effective solution that gives your existing teeth a fresh, well-fitting foundation. All handcrafted in our own on-site lab.

Not sure whether you need a rebase, a reline, or new dentures entirely? That's exactly what a free consultation is for. Our team will evaluate your dentures and give you an honest assessment of your options before any treatment begins.

What Is Denture Rebasing?

Denture rebasing is the process of completely replacing the acrylic base of your denture, the pink gum-colored portion, while keeping your existing denture teeth intact. Think of it as giving your dentures a brand-new foundation built to match the current shape of your mouth.

New impressions of your tissue are taken to capture the precise contours of your gums as they are today. Our denturists then use those updated impressions to fabricate a new acrylic base in our state-of-the-art on-site lab, customized to fit your mouth accurately and comfortably. The result is a stable, well-fitting denture, without the cost or timeline of a full replacement.

Every rebase at Berlanga Dentures is handcrafted using the highest quality materials available.

Rebase vs. Reline — What's the Difference?

These two procedures are often confused, but they address different levels of wear:

A denture reline is the less extensive option. It reshapes the inner surface of your existing denture base, smoothing out grooves and indentations, to restore a more comfortable, snug fit against your gum tissue. The base itself is retained.

A denture rebase goes further. It replaces the entire acrylic base of your denture from scratch, using your existing teeth and updated impressions of your mouth. A rebase is recommended when the base material itself is too worn, cracked, or structurally compromised for a reline to adequately address.

Not sure which one you need? Our denturists will examine your dentures and your mouth and give you a clear recommendation — no guesswork required.

Why Would I Need a Denture Rebase?

There are several reasons your Berlanga denturist might recommend a rebase:

Your denture base has become noticeably worn over time
The base has cracked, broken, or is structurally compromised
Your dentures no longer fit properly, but your denture teeth are still in great shape
Your mouth has changed significantly since your dentures were originally made

If your dentures crack or break in an accident, it's important to come in as soon as possible. The sooner we evaluate the damage, the more options you have — and the better your outcome.

How Is Denture Rebasing Done?

The process is straightforward and completed in our office and on-site lab:

First, we take fresh impressions of your mouth to capture the current shape of your gum tissue. These impressions account for the natural changes in the grooves, ridges, and contours of your tissue over time, the same changes that make your old base ill-fitting.

Your existing denture teeth are then carefully preserved and set into an entirely new acrylic base, fabricated by hand in our on-site lab using your updated impressions. When the new base is complete, we fit and adjust your dentures to ensure the most accurate, comfortable result possible.

Poor-fitting dentures aren't just uncomfortable, they're a genuine health risk. Gaps between your denture and gum tissue create pockets where bacteria and plaque accumulate, increasing your risk of gum disease, oral infections, and accelerated bone loss. A timely rebase eliminates those gaps and protects the long-term health of your mouth.

Denture Rebasing Q&A

Denture rebasing is the complete replacement of the acrylic base of your denture using your existing teeth and fresh impressions of your mouth. It's recommended when the base material is worn, cracked, or no longer fits properly, but the teeth themselves are still in good condition.
A reline is a less extensive procedure that reshapes the inner surface of your existing base for a better fit. A rebase replaces the entire base from scratch, making it the right choice when the base material is too compromised for a reline to fix effectively.
Normal use over time is the most common cause. Constant pressure from chewing, speaking, and movement gradually wears down acrylic material. Accidents, drops, or an ongoing poor fit that places uneven stress on the base can also accelerate this wear.
Absolutely. We evaluate and rebase dentures from any provider. Bring your dentures in for a free consultation and we'll give you an honest assessment of what they need.
That's exactly the kind of question we answer at your consultation — at no charge. In many cases, a rebase is sufficient and significantly more affordable than full replacement. We'll always recommend the most conservative and cost-effective option that meets your needs.