Abstract Denture retention was measured in each of ten patients who complained of poor retention. Eight of these dentures were restored to maximum retention by relining with a hydrophilic, soft-lining material. When new dentures were constructed, all ten patients obtained maximum retention. Retention levels were measurable up to the point at which each patient felt pain. In a concurrent laboratory study, improvements in wettability and in retention to glass with water were made by coating acrylic-resin disks with a layer of a hydrophilic, soft-lining material. Complete spreading of the soft-lining material was obtained with distilled water. Retention values obtained in vitro were more than twice those obtained with the uncoated disks. A mechanism requiring more energy was the cause of failure of the lined disks. A hypothesis was put forth that the soft elastic layer produced a more uniform distribution of stresses in the joint. Without the lining, the disks separated from the glass by a cantilever action. With the lining, an hourglass failure mechanism was observed.