Home reliners-where we have failed

Francis S. Tautin, D.D.S.* V. A. Hospital, Pittsburgh, Pa.

M ost of us become very alarmed when we see or hear of one of our patients using a home reliner. We cannot think of enough words, nor say them fast enough, in admonishing the patient. We would not think of blaming ourselves; it could not be our fault, because it was not done in the confines of our office. We may not be directly at fault, but we surely have done nothing positive to eliminate this problem. On all levels of dentistry, from the practitioner in his office to the people on a national level, we must eliminate these potentially destructive preparations from the market, and we must make the public aware of the danger in using these products.

Terry, Lutes, and Ellingerl have stated that, “. . . these materials do not adapt to the basal seat under dentures. Instead they create contours that may cause severe and irreparable tissue damage.” The patient who returns to the office after having relined his or her dentures several times usually presents with the following: acutely inflamed mucosa, ridges that are severely resorbed, no semblance of occlusion, and facial contours that have changed drastically. Anyone encountering these patients will become immediately impressed with the dangers of the home reliners. Means” has described the use of home reliners as a vicious circle. The patient develops a problem with the fit of the dentures, and instead of consulting his dentist, he relines his dentures. Some discomfort and sore areas may be experienced, but the dentures will seem to be stable. They will become loose again, and more reliner will be added. This process will be repeated until the patient finally seeks professional help. “Many of the self-administered reliners have an adverse effect upon the denture base, but what is far worse, they have a harmful effect on both the soft and hard tissues. Both chemical and physical traumas are caused by the self-administered reliners.“”

I feel now that there is a need for positive action by the dental profession. Fluorides are now being added to water supplies because of their positive effects in the prevention of tooth decay. The profession, as a whole, campaigned in cities and towns throughout the country for fluoridation of public water supplies. Hun- dreds of thousands of dollars were spent on these campaigns, because it was a method of preventing tooth decay. It helped to preserve vital tissue. We have joined

*Prosthodontic Resident.

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20 Tautin J. Prod. Dent. January, 1971

with the medical profession in making known the ill effects of cigarette smoking. However, we have done very little regarding home reliners, which have been shown to cause tissue destruction. The Food and Drug Administration is now, or will be in the near future, requiring warnings on the packages of home reliners. I do not feel this is enough; it may help, just as the warnings on cigarette packs may have helped, but it is not far reaching enough.

MEANS OF ACTION In the private office

1. Launch a positive campaign warning the public of the dangers inherent in in the use of home reliners.

2. Make a positive point of telling your patients ( 1) to notify you if there is any perceptible change in their dentures and (2) that they should, under no circum- stances, attempt to correct this problem themselves.

3. Place all edentulous and partially edentulous patients on periodic recall.

local, state, and national levels

1. Launch a positive campaign warning the public of the dangers inherent in using home reliners.

2. Seek legislation regarding the advertising and manufacturing of these products. 3. Place all edentulous and partially edentulous patients on periodic recall.

CONCLUSIONS

I hope this has refreshed some memories regarding the use of home reliners. I am sure we all know what damage they cause, but we take for granted that our patients may be using them. In any treatment, we not only replace what is lost, but we must preserve the health of the remaining tissues. It is our responsibility to preserve these tissues, and if we continue to allow the home reliners to be used by the public which we serve, we have failed in our responsibility.

References

1. Terry, J. M., Lutes, M., and Ellinger, C.: Do-it-Yourself Denture Reliner Materials: A Contourator Study, J. PROSTH. DENT. 18: 31-38, 1967.

2. Means, C. R.: A Study of the Use of Home Reliners in Dentures, J. PROSTH. DENT. 14: 623-634, 1964.

3. Means, C. R.: Resins and Elastomers, in Guide to Dental Materials, ed. 4, Chicago, 1968-69, American Dental Association.

V. A. HOSPITAL DENTAL CLINIC LEECH FARM RD. PITTSBURGH, PA. 15206