NYM: As a luminary in crafting Hollywood’s most iconic smiles, could you share your insights on the transformative power of cosmetic dentistry and its profound effects on the lives of your esteemed clientele?
Dr. Dorfman: Your smile is the first thing that people notice about you. If you’re not confident with your smile, it can hinder your life, your career success, and your interpersonal relationships in a very deep and disturbing manner. People who are not comfortable with their smile tend to hide their smile or cover it with their hand, and the perception of those around them is that they’re unfriendly or unhealthy if it looks bad, which may be far from the truth. There are certain genetic conditions that can make your teeth appear as if you have drug problems or major health problems that are inconceivable to the lay person.
I’ve had patients in the past who have suffered their whole life because of their smiles. Once we were able to do a smile makeover and give them a beautiful, natural, healthy smile, it was almost as if they had been liberated from this dark cloud that covered them their entire lives. I’ve literally seen people’s personalities take a 180-degree directional change from being shy, apprehensive, and even being a recluse to becoming an active happy go lucky person. It’s amazing!
For me, one of the most pivotal moments in my career was when ABC gave me the opportunity to be the featured dentist on its hit show ‘Extreme Makeover.’ Prior to the show, these smile transformations were a very private and personal thing that just took place between me and the patient. Through the show, cosmetic dentistry was highlighted on primetime TV worldwide for the first time ever. With the show, this experience became a public ordeal where everybody in the world got to see these transformations. It was life changing!
As much as people may have criticized other parts of the show and said, “Well, they didn’t need to change their body or change their nose, etc.” There wasn’t a single person that ever said, keep the bad teeth. We pretty much had a hundred percent approval across all platforms.
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NYM: When it comes to attaining the epitome of a radiant smile, what expert advice do you offer to individuals seeking to achieve their dental aspirations?
Dr. Dorfman: The most important thing is to do your research. It’s important to go on a doctor’s website and look at their before and after pictures to make sure they have the same kind of aesthetic constitution that you have. The best way to find a great cosmetic dentist is to ask a friend who’s had a great experience with one and then go on their website.
If you really don’t know where to start you can go to the AACD website at aacd.com. There is no board-certified specialty in cosmetic dentistry, unlike being a periodontist or an endodontist or an oral surgeon. However, there are dentists who have gone through a very extensive accreditation process through the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry and our accredited members. The next level above accreditation is a fellowship. I’m one of very few fellows in the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry.
I would start off in your neighborhood looking for dentists, looking on their websites, and then of course, checking in with the AACD and seeing if there’s somebody in your area.
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NYM: Reflecting on your experience being on ABC’s ‘Extreme Makeover,’ could you delve into your personal journey during this groundbreaking television experience?
Dr. Dorfman: I think it was the first time ever that cosmetic dentistry was highlighted on primetime TV in a positive light. Not only was it educational, but it also helped viewers understand the emotional component that patients were going through. One thing I credit the show with is eliminating many unknown factors and the fear that people associated with dentistry by getting to see patients go through the process. It also taught patients what possibilities existed for different cosmetic dilemmas. Overall, it was a great experience for patients and dental professionals.
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NYM: As an inventor of numerous products like Zoom Whitening, Pooof! & Kickballz, can you walk us through the process of coming up with these ideas and bringing them to fruition?
Dr. Dorfman: Each of my inventions had a little bit different path. I’ll start off with whitening. Back in the late eighties, tooth whitening hit the market and the initial products were rough. The packaging and the product weren’t appealing at all. The whole experience was basic and not user friendly. However, I saw the potential. I realized very rapidly the desire for white teeth. Nobody wants yellow teeth!
Through a series of events, I ended up meeting an amazing man who became my business partner and is still my best friend in life. His name is Robert Hayman. Robert grew up in the fashion world and had an MBA from Boston. We joined forces and created a company called Discus Dental with the objective of building a better mousetrap and we did. We created our first whitening product, called NineWhite which became a category killer. We basically ruled the whitening market. Soon after NineWhite was launched, in-office tooth whitening started to become popular, and we developed the Zoom! tooth whitening technology, which became the leading tooth whitening product on the market. During that growth period, we had an amicable acquisition of our biggest competitor, Bright Smile. We then ended up owning both Zoom and Bright Smile, and we kept that company on a growth trajectory that was astronomical until we sold it in 2010 to Phillips.
After that I had a non-compete in tooth whitening, and I wasn’t allowed to make any other products. Well, that expired. During the pandemic when I couldn’t see patients, I produced two new product ideas. First was a new whitening strip, Pooof!, which is an over-the-counter product. We really focused on making it the best take home whitening experience possible. The advantages of the Pooof! whitening strip are that the strip has a great taste and it’s made with a zero-sensitivity formula. I have given it to hundreds of patients and haven’t had a single patient complaint of sensitivity. It sticks to your teeth well and doesn’t slide around, so it is very comfortable. The biggest differentiating factor between Pooof! and other whitening strips is that it dissolves in 10 to 15 minutes. The tagline is, stains disappear, strips disappear, and your teeth are white. And yes, they are! We did a 10-day clinical in vitro study and compared white strips to the leading white strips on the market. And after a 10-day period, we were 37% more effective at whitening teeth than the leading whitening strip was. We’re very excited to launch this product and bring it to the market!
The second product I developed during the pandemic is Kickballz. Kickballz are caffeinated gumballs that are sugar free and help fight tooth decay. Plus, they give you fresh breath, and you might think of it as kind of the equivalent of a nine-ounce cup of coffee. There are 110 milligrams of caffeine per kickball. It’s quick, convenient, and a great source of caffeine for when you really need that little kick in your day. And the tagline for Kick balls is Kickballz kick balls.
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NYM: Your unwavering dedication to fitness is very impressive, how has it influenced your overall lifestyle and professional endeavors?
Dr. Dorfman: I have always been an athlete my entire life. One of the things that happened when I started dental school is that I was so inundated with the curriculum that it was the first time in my life that I started to slack off and not exercise. As a result, I was miserable. My back hurt, my neck hurt, my shoulders hurt. I mean, everything hurt. People don’t realize how physically strenuous dentistry is. I met with a doctor, and he gave me some stretches and whatnot. I quickly realized that I needed to be more physically active.
As I started getting back into my exercise routine, all my aches and pains just disappeared. So, throughout my entire career, I have kept a very active physical fitness regimen going. I go to the gym every day for an hour. But because I’ve done that consistently for the last 40 years, I’ve stayed in as good a shape as when I was in my twenties. Most men at 65 don’t maintain that physique. I have, and I think that that is one of the things that has been kind of a real motivation for a lot of younger men and especially younger dentists who have realized the importance of staying physically active to have longevity in a career.
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NYM: How do you effectively manage the demands of your demanding career in cosmetic dentistry while maintaining a rigorous fitness regimen?
I work out for an hour each day. I make sure I carve out that time for myself to stay active.
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NYM: Could you share with our readers the daily rituals and practices you employ to nurture both your physical and mental well-being?
I alternate between my workout A and my workout B. Workout A is upper body weights and about ten-minutes of core to finish it off. My workout B on the alternate days is comprised of 30 minutes of core and 30 minutes of cardio. I’ll do the upper body routine four days a week and the core and cardio routine three days a week.
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NYM: Not only are you a committed cosmetic dentist, but also a devoted father. Could you share some activities you and your daughters enjoy, nurturing cherished moments and deepening meaningful connections?
Dr. Dorfman: I have always been very active in my kids’ lives. We take two epic vacations every year, which are always the highlight of the year. We enjoy skiing quite a bit during the winter. I see them often every few weeks for dinner. And I talk to all of them every day at least once a day and have been a very integral part of their lives, of their relationships, of their education. They are a big part of my life as well.
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NYM: What strategies do you recommend for individuals aiming to consistently evolve and become the best versions of themselves, embodying the essence of the “New You“?
Dr. Dorfman: I think if you’re seriously committed to becoming the best version of yourself, you need to realize that even when you get there, you don’t stay there without continued effort and input. It really depends on staying active, continuing to take courses, reading, and being aware of what’s going on in the world. The fastest way to success is to find a great mentor who has been successful and can mentor you and help you find the best trajectory for your growth and success.
