If this antibiotic is prescribed in the last half of pregnancy or early childhood, stains appear when the child's permanent teeth come in The dentist uses several different methods to treat stains, depending on their type and severity. For example, smoke stains can range from moderate and removable to permanent. Some stains are removed by professional polishing of tooth surfaces. For other stains, bleaching treatments may be the answer. The dentist can create a new look for permanently stained teeth by applying tooth-color porcelain veneers to the front surfaces of teeth or by coating the surfaces with a composite resin.
Sealants offer an effective way to block tooth decay in certain areas.
They are designed especially to treat the chewing surfaces of the molars, which contain very tiny pits and fine grooves which invite decay-causing bacteria. These depressions are so minuscule, the bristles of a toothbrush cannot reach them. Sealants cover the pits and grooves and create a barrier to the bacteria that cause decay. Sealants are painted onto tooth surfaces by the dentist after the teeth have been cleaned and treated to enhance the adherence of the sealants. There is no drilling or discomfort.