You've had dental fillings for as long as you can remember. Your fillings can actually last a few decades or so as long as your teeth are healthy; gold fillings last the longest of all filling materials.

Still, no filling will last forever, and if a filling becomes loose, actively falls out, or is chipping away or otherwise failing, your tooth can be in danger of decay or damage. The best way to know if your filling needs to be replaced is to know the signs your tooth is needing a new filling. Here are ways you can tell if your dental fillings need to be replaced.

Your metal fillings make you uncomfortable

Many people get fillings that are made of a material that looks like natural tooth material. Known as composite resins, many of these filling materials have hard and durable mediums, like glass or quartz. This type of dental filling is not used on large cavities, but it can be used on minor tooth repairs.

However, more common fillings are gold or silver options, which care more noticeable in the mouth. While these fillings will last a long time, if they make you uncomfortable because they are easily visible, speak to your dentist about having your silver or gold fillings replaced with a composite resin style that is more tooth-colored and less visible.

Your teeth are starting to feel tender

When you bite down on teeth that have dental fillings, do you feel slight tenderness, pain, or pressure? If so, then your filling may be loose or crumbling away, or you may be having problems with the tooth in general. Even if the filling appears to be fine, you should still have your dental fillings checked out because tooth tenderness can be caused by more than faulty fillings; you may have new or worsening cavities in your teeth that need dental care.

Your fillings are older and falling out

When a filling falls out of your mouth, you should feel the jagged edges or holes in the affected tooth that are left behind. You need to call your dentist right away if your older fillings are starting to fall out since neglect of your teeth can lead to more tooth damage and decay. Your dentist can replace older fillings at your next dental appointment or can make an emergency appointment for you if your lost filling is causing you tooth pain. Once you have your new dental fillings, you shouldn't have to worry about them for many years so long as you continue regular oral hygiene.

To learn more, contact a resource like Tijeras Dental Service.