National Museum of Dentistry Opens New Smile Experience, Exhibition Recognizes Dr....

National Museum of Dentistry Opens New Smile Experience, Exhibition Recognizes
Dr. Irwin Smigel as Father of Aesthetic Dentistry

BALTIMORE, June 1 /PRNewswire/ -- 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.

Contact:Amy Pelsinsky 410/706-0052 apelsinsky@dentalmuseum.umaryland.edu

SOURCE The National Museum of Dentistry

Amy Pelsinsky, +1-410-706-0052, apelsinsky@dentalmuseum.umaryland.edu