FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Contact: Kelly Sullivan/Heather Fass
April 5, 2000 202-289-5900
BriteSmile Appoints Dr. Gasper Lazzara, Jr. to Board of Directors
OCA Chief Brings Unique Industry Expertise to Company
Walnut Creek, CA - BriteSmile Inc. (AMEX: BWT) today announced the appointment
of corporate leader and dentalindustry veteran Dr. Gasper Lazzara, Jr. to its
Board of Directors.
Dr. Lazzara is the Chairman of the Board of Directors and Co-Chief
Executive Officer of Orthodontic Centers of America, Inc. (NYSE: OCA), the
leading provider of practice management services to orthodontic practices. Dr.
Lazzara served as President of the company from its inception until June 1997.
Prior to the founding of the company, Dr. Lazarra maintained a private
orthodontic practice for approximately 30 years. He is a member of the American
Association of Orthodontists and is Diplomat of the American Board of
Orthodontists.
"The appointment of Gasper to the BriteSmile Board of Directors only expands the
successful partnership that has been forged between BriteSmile and OCA. In
addition to bringing years of industry experience to BriteSmile, Gasper's strong
corporate vision will be an important addition to the Board as we continue our
expansion," said John L. Reed, BriteSmile's Chief Executive Officer.
Earlier this year, BriteSmile, Inc. and Orthodontic Centers of America, Inc.
announced that they were accelerating plans to offer the BriteSmile teeth
whitening procedure through OCA centers following the success of the
OCA-BriteSmile pilot program in Tucson, Arizona. In this expanded venture, it is
expected that the BriteSmile teeth whitening process will be available at more
than 100 OCA orthodontist locations.
Dr. Lazzara replaces Dr. Bruce Wainwright, who has resigned from the Board of
Directors.
"Bruce has been an important asset to the Board. The entire Board and Senior
Management team appreciate his service and the guidance he lent the company
during a period of great change and growth," said Reed.
BriteSmile, Inc. has developed and manufactures the most advanced
teeth-whitening technology in the United States, as well as manages
state-of-the-art BriteSmile Professional Teeth Whitening Centers. BriteSmile
Centers are currently operating in Beverly Hills, Irvine, Pasadena, Palo Alto,
Walnut Creek and La Jolla, CA; Honolulu, HI; Houston, TX; Boston, MA; Coral
Gables, Ft. Lauderdale and Boca Raton, FL and Atlanta, GA. In addition to
1
<PAGE>
BriteSmile Centers, there are also more than 300 BriteSmile Teeth Whitening
Systems located within existing dentist offices in cities including: Tucson, AZ;
San Francisco, CA; Louisville, KY; Canton, MA; Raleigh, NC; Huntington, NY;
Toronto, ON;, and the Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco and Honolulu
metropolitan areas. For more information about BriteSmile's procedure, call
1-800-BRITESMILE or visit the Company's Website at www.britesmile.com.
###
Cautionary Statement
This release, other than historical information, consists of
forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties such as the
acceptance of products in the marketplace and development of new strategic and
marketing relationships in the United States and internationally. Readers are
referred to the documents filed by BriteSmile with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, specifically the Company's most recent reports on Forms 10-KSB and
10-QSB, that identify important risk factors which could cause actual results to
differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. BriteSmile and
its affiliates disclaim any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking
statements.
