BriteSmile is a branded teeth whitening procedure that is conducted in a dentist’s office. There are dental professionals across the country that utilize this system and get marketing support from the BriteSmile product manufacturer. The technique is similar to other dental procedures for whitening teeth.
The BriteSmile process utilizes a gel that is applied to the teeth and then illuminated with either a gas plasma or an LED light that hastens the procedure. The gel is 15% hydrogen peroxide, which is the active bleaching agent. The purpose of the light is to activate the peroxide molecules which will in turn hasten the process. The bleaching agent penetrates the porous teeth enamel and bleaches the “dentine” surface beneath as well.
The gel is applied evenly to the teeth and is carefully kept away from the gums in order to avoid pain or sensitivity. The process is repeated once; each cycle using the BriteSmile gel and light takes about twenty minutes. In all, it’s a one-hour one time procedure performed in a dentist’s office.
The advantages of BriteSmile are that it is an end-to-end product that does not require any special knowledge from the dentist other than the ability to apply the gel and position the light. Consumer reviews on the product are mixed, as with all cosmetic products, but many of the comments found on product review forums are from satisfied customers.
Disadvantages, if you want to call them that, include the fact that you’ll be paying dentist’s teeth whitening costs for a procedure that can be an at-home process. It is not uncommon for people who go through a light-enhanced bleaching process to loose some of the new whiteness shortly after the treatment. That is due to the fact that light (and heat) dehydrate the tooth, which creates an artificial whitening effect. When the tooth rehydrates some of the old coloration returns.