Women in dentistry

Women in Dentistry

Women have played a significant role in the field of dentistry throughout history, contributing to advancements in dental care, education, and research. Despite facing numerous challenges and barriers, women have made remarkable strides in becoming leaders and innovators in the dental profession.

Historical Background

The history of women in dentistry dates back to the late 19th century. The first woman to earn a dental degree in the United States was Lucy Hobbs Taylor, who graduated from the Ohio College of Dental Surgery in 1866. Her perseverance paved the way for other women to enter the profession.

In the early 20th century, women began to establish themselves more prominently in the field. The American Association of Women Dentists (AAWD) was founded in 1921 to support and promote the interests of women dentists.

Education and Training

Women have increasingly pursued dental education and training over the years. Today, women make up a significant portion of dental school graduates. Dental schools have adapted to accommodate the growing number of female students, offering programs and resources to support their education and career development.

Contributions to Dentistry

Women have contributed to various areas of dentistry, including:

• Clinical Practice: Women dentists provide comprehensive dental care, including preventive, restorative, and cosmetic procedures.
• Research: Female researchers have made significant contributions to dental science, advancing knowledge in areas such as oral health, periodontology, and dental materials.
• Education: Women serve as educators and mentors in dental schools, shaping the next generation of dental professionals.
• Leadership: Women hold leadership positions in dental organizations, influencing policy and advocating for the profession.

Challenges and Barriers

Despite their achievements, women in dentistry have faced challenges such as gender bias, work-life balance issues, and underrepresentation in leadership roles. Efforts to address these challenges include promoting diversity and inclusion, providing mentorship opportunities, and advocating for equitable policies.

Future Directions

The future of women in dentistry is promising, with increasing numbers of women entering the field and taking on leadership roles. Continued efforts to support and empower women in dentistry will enhance the profession and improve patient care.

Timeline of Women in Dentistry

Section adapted from Wikipedia licensed CC by SA.

16th Century

• Unknown, 16th century: In an early copper engraving by Lucas Van Leyden, a traveling dentist can be seen along with a woman acting as his assistant.

19th Century

• 1814: Josephine Serre became the first woman to receive a dentistry degree from the University of Tartu. Her daughter, Marie-Louis Serre, later graduated with a dentistry degree in 1829 from the same university.
• 1852: Amalia Assur became the first female dentist in Sweden; she was given special permission from the Royal Board of Health (Kongl. Sundhetskollegiets) to practice independently as a dentist, despite the profession not being legally opened to women in Sweden before 1861.
• 1855: Emeline Roberts Jones became the first woman to practice dentistry in the United States. She married the dentist Daniel Jones when she was a teenager and became his assistant in 1855.
• 1866: Rosalie Fougelberg received a royal dispensation from Swedish King Charles XV and became the first woman in Sweden to officially practice dentistry since the profession had been legally opened to women in 1861.
• 1866: Lucy Hobbs Taylor became the first woman to graduate from a dental college (Ohio Dental College).
• 1869: Henriette Hirschfeld-Tiburtius, born in Germany, became the first woman to take a full college course in dentistry. She graduated from the Pennsylvania College of Dental Surgery in 1869 and was the first female dentist in Germany.
• 1874: Fanny A. Rambarger became the second American woman to earn the degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery in 1874, graduating from the Pennsylvania College of Dental Surgery. She limited her practice to women and children in Philadelphia.
• 1881: Margaret Caro became the first woman to be listed on the Dentists' Register of New Zealand.
• 1886: Margarita Chorné y Salazar became the first female dentist in Mexico.
• 1890: Ida Rollins became the first African-American woman to earn a dental degree in the United States, graduating from the University of Michigan.
• 1892: The Women’s Dental Association of the U.S. was founded by Mary Stillwell-Kuesel with 12 charter members.
• 1893: Caroline Louise Josephine Wells became the first woman to graduate from the Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario, making her the first Canadian woman to graduate from any dental school.
• 1895: Lilian Lindsay became the first licensed female dentist in Britain.
• 1898: Emma Gaudreau Casgrain became the first licensed female dentist in Canada.

20th Century

• 1904-1905: Faith Sai So Leong, also called Sai So Yeong, became the first Chinese-American woman to graduate from a school of dentistry and practice in the United States. She graduated from the College of Physicians and Surgeons (now the University of the Pacific Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry).
• 1907: Frances Dorothy Gray became Australia’s first female Bachelor of Dental Science graduate, earning her degree from the Australian College of Dentistry, University of Melbourne.
• 1909: Minnie Evangeline Jordon established the first dental practice in the United States devoted exclusively to pediatric patients.
• 1916: Gillette Hayden served as the first female president of the American Academy of Periodontology.
• 1920: Maude Tanner became the first recorded female delegate to the American Dental Association.
• 1921: During the annual meeting of the American Dental Association (ADA), 12 female dentists met in Milwaukee and formed the Federation of American Women Dentists, now known as the American Association of Women Dentists (AAWD). Their first president was Minnie Evangeline Jordon.
• 1923: Anita Martin became the first woman inducted into the American dental honor society Omicron Kappa Upsilon.
• 1925: Minnie Evangeline Jordon published the first textbook on pedodontics, titled "Operative Dentistry for Children."
• 1946: Lilian Lindsay became the first female president of the British Dental Association.
• 1951: Helen E. Myers, a 1941 graduate of Temple University, became the first female dental officer in the U.S. Army Dental Corps.
• 1965: Badri Teymourtash became the first female dentist in Iran and later became the first female dean of a dental school at Mashhad Dental School.
• 1975: Jeanne Sinkford became the first female dean of an American dental school at Howard University, School of Dentistry.
• 1975: Jessica Rickert became the first female American Indian dentist in America upon graduating from the University of Michigan School of Dentistry.
• 1977: Nancy Goorey became the first female president of the American Association of Dental Schools (now the American Dental Education Association).
• 1988: N. Gail McLaurin became the first female president of the American Student Dental Association.
• 1991: Geraldine Morrow became the first female president of the American Dental Association.
• 1997: Hazel J. Harper became the first female president of the National Dental Association.

21st Century

• 2001: Marjorie Jeffcoat became the first female editor of the Journal of the American Dental Association.
• 2003: Rear Admiral Carol I. Turner became the first female Chief of the U.S. Navy Dental Corps.
• 2004: Sandra Madison became the first female president of the American Association of Endodontists.
• 2005: Michele Aerden became the first female president of the FDI World Dental Federation.
• 2007: Laura Kelly became the first female president of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry.
• 2008: Beverly Largent became the first female president of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry.
• 2008: Valerie Murrah became the first female president of the American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology.
• 2008: Paula Jones became the first female president of the Academy of General Dentistry.
• 2008: Deborah Stymiest became the first female president of the Canadian Dental Association.
• 2008: Susan Bordenave-Bishop became the first female president of the Academy of Dentistry International.
• 2009: Kathleen T. O'Loughlin became the first female executive director of the American Dental Association.
• 2013: Gayle Glenn became the first female president of the American Association of Orthodontists.

See Also

• Dentistry
• Oral Health
• Dental Education
• American Association of Women Dentists

External Links

• [American Association of Women Dentists](https://www.aawd.org)
• [Women in Dentistry: A Global Perspective](https://www.fdiworlddental.org)