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. Most often sealants are applied to the children's new permanent molars. But adults with high risk of decay in pits and fissures also are candidates for treatment with sealants. A midnight toothache is perhaps the most common dental emergency.