1. Removal of pain or distress, physical or mental. 2. In dentistry, reduction or elimination of pressure from a specific area under a denture base. SEE ALSO: r. area, r. chamber. [see relieve]
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re·lief ri-'lēf n removal or lightening of something oppressive or distressing <\relief of pain> <symptomatic \relief>
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re·lief (re-lēfґ) [L. relevatio] 1. the mitigation or removal of pain or distress. 2. the reduction or elimination of undesirable pressure or force from a specific area under a denture base. See also under chamber and space. 3. a thin lining of adhesive or hard baseplate wax in the master cast beneath lingual bar connectors or bar portions of the lingual plates, areas where major connectors will contact thin tissue, and beneath framework extension onto bridge areas for attachment of resin bases, which correspond accurately to the tissue topography. See also blockout.Medical dictionary. 2011.