The National Museum of Dentistry will unveil a new historical exhibition called The Smile Experience on June 6, 2009, marking the achievements of Dr. Irwin Smigel, the father of aesthetic dentistry.
An Affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, the National Museum of Dentistry attracts thousands of families with children each year to its fun, educational, oral health-minded exhibits. From amazing teeth feats to George Washington’s not-so-wooden choppers, to vintage toothpaste commercials, visitors leave with renewed interest in the power of a healthy smile and the importance of developing healthy oral care habits.
In a dazzling, new multimedia presentation, The Smile Experience looks historically at the amazing power of a smile: how people have sought to enhance their smiles since ancient times, to the impact that modern cosmetic dentistry now has on creating healthy smiles that give people confidence and change lives.
Visitors begin The Smile Experience by taking a snapshot of their own unique smile and instantly uploading it to the Wall of Smiles monitor. From there, they take a spectacular video journey around the world to reveal the beauty of a smile in all cultures and ages. Viewers will discover how people have enhanced their smiles throughout history, from the ancient Mayans who decorated their teeth with jade, to the Elizabethans who whitened their teeth with acid, to Dr. Irwin Smigel’s modern introduction of tooth bonding to the American public on the popular TV show "That’s Incredible, " the beginning of the modern-age of cosmetic dentistry.
"People have always wanted a beautiful smile, but how they achieved that has changed over time, " said National Museum of Dentistry Executive Director Rosemary Fetter.
Visitors can test their celebrity savvy by matching the signature smiles of iconic stars of movies, sports and music with their owners in the Guess the Smile game, then explore Dr. Smigel’s actual before-and after cases that reveal the science and artistry of cosmetic dentistry through remarkable real-life smile transformations.
"I am humbled by this extraordinary tribute, " said Dr. Irwin Smigel. "I hope this exhibit will help educate the thousands of children and families who visit each year about the importance of developing good oral care habits early, and the joy of a healthy smile. Clean, healthy teeth are a marker of good health and happiness."
The new exhibit will be installed in the Museum’s 32 Terrific Teeth galleries, an homage to the noble dentist and all things tooth-related in modern culture.
The National Museum of Dentistry is located at 31 South Greene Street. Admission is $6 for adults, $3 for youths, seniors, and students with ID, and free for children age 6 & under. Open Wednesday-Saturday 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and Sunday 1-4 p.m. Closed Mondays, Tuesdays, and major holidays. Call 410/706-0600 or visit www.dentalmuseum.org.
