What are the advantages of the BriteSmile System over the other methods available today?
Does the BriteSmile system whiten all of the teeth?
How can I maintain my new white teeth?
How will I know how it will look?
Can I have this done if I am pregnant?
I have a heart pacemaker can there be problems?
What if I'm not happy with the results?
Will my dental insurance cover this procedure?
What if I haven't seen my dentist recently?
Is this procedure for everyone?
Will
the procedure whiten existing crowns, veneers or 'tooth colored' fillings?
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In our experience with patients with the darkest stains, the BriteSmile
process has been able to achieve 9+ shades whiter on average.
Patients with lighter stains simply do not need that much of a shade
change to get to the top of the whitening chart.
Your results of course will vary as everyone's teeth respond a little
differently, but in virtually all cases, the results are dramatic. Ultimately,
the goal will be to achieve your optimum, natural whiteness.
During the consultation, the dentist will go
over what you personally can expect for your individual situation.
Severe discoloration can be treated and yield good results in many
instances. However, the more
difficult cases can sometimes require a more lengthy treatment than the standard
one-hour treatment. Tetracycline stains in particular require several treatments
and the result is unpredictable.
Regular professional care and avoidance of staining foods, such as drinks
and tobacco will help maintain the BriteSmile results up to two years.
Satisfaction is guaranteed at the end of the treatment.
The process takes about an hour, we recommend you allocate up to two
hours for the entire visit.
The dentist will first examine your teeth and gums for good oral health.
Next as you relax in the chair, our proprietary whitening gel is applied to your
teeth and the revolutionary; proprietary BriteSmile 3000 light will be
positioned over your teeth to activate the gel.
As you watch TV, listen to music, or nap, your teeth will lighten to
their optimum, natural whiteness in about an hour.
The light used by BriteSmile is a gas plasma arc lamp similar to other
lamps used in the dental industry. It works in the blue region of the spectrum
and does not contain harmful ultraviolet light. Our unique design allows the
light to focus only on the teeth, not the face, and it illuminates the entire
smile at the same time.
The primary ingredient in the BriteSmile’s gel is hydrogen peroxide,
which has been used in teeth whitening for 100 years and is recognized as an
effective whitening ingredient by the dental community.
The percentage of hydrogen peroxide used in BriteSmile’s proprietary
gel is only 15%, much lower than the other in-office whitening gels that often
contain 35%-50% hydrogen
peroxide
Yes. The BriteSmile
procedure will not soften enamel or damage existing fillings or composite
materials.... The primary ingredient in the BriteSmile's gel is hydrogen
peroxide, which (as mentioned above) has been safely used in teeth whitening for
100 years and is recognized as an effective whitening ingredient by the dental
community. The percentage of hydrogen peroxide used in BriteSmile's proprietary
gel is only 15%, much lower than other in-office whitening gels that often
contain 35%-50/o hydrogen
peroxide.
What are the advantages of the BriteSmile System over the other methods available today?
Both the porcelain crowns and veneers require some degree of drilling on
the teeth, and the cost to treat each tooth can range from $400 - $1,000+ per
tooth. Also, there is generally a 1-3 week waiting period while the permanent
crown/veneer is made at a lab. The BriteSmile system does not require drilling
on the teeth, or waiting for any lab work to be returned.
The gel/tray systems generally require at least 1 hour per
day, but generally 4 or more hours per day for 2-8 weeks, and often produce less
than 5 shades improvement. The most
important reason for poor results is that many people find the time requirements
of this method inconvenient with their busy life styles, do not want the
taste/hassle associated with the use of these gels and often do not want to wait
2-3 weeks for the results. Many users of the tray system have also stated that
there is often significant pain/sensitivity during the whitening process, and
that it must be endured for many hours.
Laser whitening can be a long
(up to 3 hours) and painful process, which may achieve good results, but at a
price, generally the cost is nearer to $1,000. The process uses a powerful laser
system as well as a 35-50% hydrogen peroxide gel. The teeth are often left
sensitive and some patients say they are unhappy with the outcomes.
By comparison the BriteSmile whitening process normally takes just
over an hour, is simple and safe and effective and in most cases produces very
little sensitivity.
Does
the BriteSmile system whiten all of the teeth?
On most patients, we are able to whiten the upper front 8-10 teeth, and
the lower front 8-10 teeth. These
are the teeth most of us show when we smile.
Because our process uses light in conjunction with the whitening gel, we
are generally unable to whiten teeth any further back in the mouth. Since for
most of the people the back teeth are not easily seen or noticed, this is
usually not a problem.
The BriteSmile process is mostly pain-free and has a good record by
comparison to the laser process and tray systems.
Most customers can expect to feel no discomfort with their teeth that is
any different from a good teeth cleaning. Some
customers may feel a dull 'ache' or a 'pinging' sensation during or following
the procedure. Taking some sort of
analgesic like aspirin or Tylenol almost always resolves the issue and most
discomfort goes away after 12-24 hours. Some
patients can get longer-term sensitivity to hot or cold as a result of a teeth
whitening. It is best to avoid very
hot or very cold drinks for the first 24 hours after treatment.
How
can I maintain my new white teeth?
We recommend the following to maintain your new BriteSmile: Brush your
teeth twice daily or after each meal; floss daily.
Use BriteSmile's whitening toothpaste once a day and a soft bristle
toothbrush. Visit your dentist for regular cleanings and check-ups
(recommendation: every 6 months). Avoid
smoking and staining food or drinks.
How
will I know how it will look?
During the consultation, the dentist will go over what you personally can
expect for your individual situation. The dentist will use a color chart that
will allow you to see the 'before' and projected 'after' color of your teeth for
comparison.
Can
I have this done if I am pregnant?
While there are no known constraints for pregnant women, some may
experience gum sensitivity. Pregnant women should consult with their physician before
having the procedure done.
The standard fee is $500.
I
have a heart pacemaker can there be problems?
No. Our procedure is safe for patients with a pacemaker.
What
if I'm not happy with the results?
We guarantee that the customer will be completely satisfied with the
level of whiteness at the end of the treatment or we will refund their money
back. If not satisfied after the
first treatment, we offer another treatment or their money back.
Our goal is to take the patient to the top of the whitening scale, not
above it. Most first or second
treatment patient's reach near the top of the whitening scale and are satisfied.
We do not guarantee satisfaction for tetracycline and other such unusual
stain cases. We do not guarantee
that the
result will last for two years even if they follow the rules because people's
teeth vary too much.
Will
my dental insurance cover this procedure?
No. As with most cosmetic
dental procedures, insurance will not cover the treatment cost.
However, we do accept cash, local personal check, Visa, MasterCard,
Discover and American Express.
What
if I haven't seen my dentist recently?
For the most effective whitening, the client should have seen their
dentist and had a teeth cleaning within the last year.
The BriteSmile procedure is a dental procedure and must be done within
the context of regular dental care. During
the dental screening process the dentist looks for problems, which might
eliminate a client as a candidate for teeth whitening.
Patient's who have not had a cleaning risks a poor result and
dissatisfaction.
Is
this procedure for everyone?
Virtually everyone wanting to lighten his or her teeth can benefit from
using BriteSmile - including people with severe food, coffee, tobacco or
tetracycline stains. The dental
examination by our dentist will determine if you are a good candidate for
whitening at the time of your free consultation. If the dentist uncovers a
condition that would delay whitening, you will be referred back to your primary
dentist for possible treatment. Customers
with a history of TMJ problems, extreme thermal sensitivity to hot and cold food
or drinks and those with numerous fracture lines in the teeth may not be good
candidates.
Will
the procedure whiten existing crowns, veneers or 'tooth colored' fillings?
Teeth whitening only works on natural teeth. While the procedure may lighten several stained crowns, veneers or tooth colored fillings it usually does not lighten them enough to match the shade of newly whitened teeth. If you have crowns, veneers or composites, and decide to have the procedure, the dentist will work with your regular dentist to achieve the optimum results.
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