- Irwin Smigel
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Dr. Irwin Smigel Occupation Doctor's Degree in Dental Surgery Known for Work In Dental Surgery Website www.smigel.com Dr. Irwin Smigel, DDS is an American Aesthetic Dentist and entrepreneur. Acknowledged as “one of the great pioneers of aesthetic dentistry” by Dentistry Today, The National Museum of Dentistry, created The Smile Experience, marking the achievements of his career in aesthetic dentistry. New York University College of Dentistry formally recognized Dr. Smigel as “the father of aesthetic dentistry,” as Dr. Smigel is credited with developing the bonding technique for aesthetic dentistry, as well as trailblazing tooth whitening, laminates, veneers and non-surgical facelifts and has been celebrated as an “uberdentist” by WWD, and a “tooth genius” by Teen Vogue.
He is the author of Dental Health/Dental Beauty and has written over a hundred articles on the subject of dental aesthetics. Dr. Irwin Smigel is the founder and current president of the American Society for Dental Aesthetics, diplomate of the American Board of Aesthetic Dentistry, and is the creator and spokesperson for Supersmile. Smigel has been at the forefront of every major new development in dentistry over the past three decades- including, laminates, veneers, changing facial structures and teeth whitening. Dr. Smigel is on the editorial advisory board for New Beauty Magazine.
He is the father of writer/comedian Robert Smigel.
Contents
Life and career
A graduate of the New York University College of Dentistry in 1945, Smigel pioneered the aesthetic dentistry field.
Bonding
In 1970 Smigel set out to change the reactive nature and pain-associated image of dentistry, by turning dentistry into an aesthetic art. That year, Smigel developed the bonding technique as a way of repairing chips and cracks in teeth as well as reshaping teeth that are too small or out of alignment. The composite tooth bonding material can also be used to fill cavities in place of silver amalgam fillings. Smigel was the first to introduce dental bonding as a technique to fix imperfections and fill gaps using this painless technique.
In 1977 Smigel founded the American Society for Dental Aesthetics and he has served as president of the organization from 1977 to today. Twenty years later, in 1997, he founded the American Board of Aesthetic Dentistry. That same year he was appointed as director of American Board of Aesthetic Dentistry and has remained so for over twenty years. He is also a regent of the International Academy for Dental Facial Aesthetics.
In 1979 Smigel published the nationally best-selling book Dental Health/Dental Beauty, which prompted an appearance in the TV show, “That’s incredible.” On that show Smigel performed the first nationally televised bonding demonstration in front of 50 million viewers. The appearance brought bonding and dental aesthetics to the forefront of the American public and piqued public curiosity as well as acclaim in the dental community.
Tooth whitening
In the mid 1980s, Smigel created a whitening toothpaste to brighten the smiles of his first generation bonding patients. This toothpaste became the basis for the now Supersmile line of which Smigel is the developer and international spokesperson for.
Today
Smigel currently practices on Madison Avenue in New York City. He is a visiting lecturer for several postgraduate aesthetic dentistry programs including the University of Minnesota Dental School, SUNY School of Dentistry – Buffalo, University of Missouri Dental School, Case Western University and the Baylor University School of Dentistry.
Publications
- Smigel, Irwin (1979). Dental Health/Dental Beauty. M. Evans. pp. 275. ISBN 978-0871312846.
- Dentistry Today – Publication: From 1983 to 1995 Smigel contributed to every issue in the section labeled “Smigel on Aesthetics.”
Television appearances
Smigel has appeared as a guest on a wide range of national television programs, including The Today Show, Good Morning America, Regis & Kathy Lee, NBC News, ABC News, Fox News, CBS News, CNN and other major talk shows.
Honors
American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, 1994: Outstanding Contribution to Aesthetic Dentistry Award.
New York University College of Dentistry creation of the Irwin Smigel Prize in Aesthetic Dentistry presented to dentists for outstanding contributions to the world of aesthetic dentistry.
Irwin Smigel Aesthetic Clinic opened on September 2000 at Hadassah Dental School in Jerusalem.
In June 2009 the National Museum of Dentistry, an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, honored Smigel in a new historical exhibition called The Smile Experience.
References
- Things That Can Stain and Damage Your Teeth
- Inaugural Irwin Smigel Prize Presented
- Tooth Truth. Renowned Aesthetic Dentistry Pioneer Dr. Irwin Smigel takes a bite out of our oral healthcare questions
- Dr. Smigel Recently Featured in the News
- Supersmile Inventor Dr. Irwin Smigel reveals secrets
- The Smile Experience exhibition
External links
Categories:- American dentists
- Living people
- New York University alumni
- American dentistry academics
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