BRITESMILE

Pros

• This in-office procedure takes no more than an hour. 
• Most patients feel little or no discomfort. 
• Unlike at-home teeth whitening products, BriteSmile is applied only to the teeth and not soft tissue, which helps reduce sensitivity.
• If you’re planning other cosmetic dentistry procedures, like porcelain veneers or dental bonding, whitening your natural tooth enamel first with a treatment like BriteSmile will allow the veneers and bonding to better match your white teeth. 
• It's also especially beneficial after orthodontic treatments like braces, which can leave behind discoloration that's difficult to remove with over-the-counter options.

Cons

• RealSelf members give BriteSmile a low Worth It Rating, with some describing misleading pricing info and concerns about tooth sensitivity not being properly addressed.
• Patients with tooth sensitivity might find it uncomfortable. 
• The effectiveness of the BriteSmile system varies from patient to patient, but many find that they need additional at-home whitening to get the level of white teeth that they want.

A BriteSmile whitening treatment involves a series of three applications, at 20-minute intervals. 

In each application, your dentist will carefully apply the whitening gel to your teeth. During the second and third sessions, they'll use an an accelerator laser to activate the gel and speed up the process, so your teeth get whiter, faster. 

Some dental offices allow you to watch TV while the laser whitens teeth, which can help take your mind off any discomfort you may feel.

Depending on your teeth’s condition, your dentist may also recommend a take-home teeth whitening system that you can use for up to six months after your in-office treatment, to improve on your results.

Your teeth may be more porous and susceptible to staining immediately after treatment. Avoid any food or drink that would stain a white shirt—including coffee, colas, or red wine.

BriteSmile is painless for many, but patients with sensitive teeth or exposed roots may experience discomfort during or after their treatment. 

Seattle-based dentist Dr. Lance Timmerman says, “Most people report little or zero discomfort from BriteSmile, and those who do experience it can manage with just over-the-counter medication,” like ibuprofen.

Zoom whitening is another in-office treatment intended to remove stains and yellowing. The treatment uses 25% hydrogen peroxide and incorporates a blue light, similar to BriteSmile’s laser, that the manufacturer claims accelerates the teeth whitening process. Zoom also includes an at-home period of tray whitening after your dental office visit.

Zoom maintains a much higher RealSelf Worth It Rating, with many members reporting great experiences and results. That said, "The products are almost identical. The longevity of your results depend entirely on your diet," says New York City dentist Peter Mann, DDS, in a RealSelf Q&A. 

Whatever option you go with, staying away from food and drinks that stain your teeth will help your results last longer.

BriteSmile To Go is a line of at-home whitening pens offered by the same manufacturer. (They also make toothpaste.) The pens are applicators for a gel, which you apply twice a day for two weeks, then as you see fit to maintain results.

They claim that it produces results similar to whitening strips or lower-strength bleaching trays.

There are a variety of teeth whitening options, including in-office treatments and at-home trays, strips, pens, and whitening toothpaste. 

If you want a more permanent solution, porcelain veneers like Lumineers create dramatic, consistent results, at a dramatically higher cost.

Veneers are thin shells made to fit over your existing teeth. You may need to have your natural teeth shaved down to fit the veneers properly. Lumineers work similarly, but they’re thinner and don’t always require shaving the teeth as drastically. Both options can hide discoloration.