There is a long history of women in dentistry. Women are depicted as assistant dentists in the middle ages. Prior to the 19th century, dentistry was largely not yet a clearly defined and regulated profession with formal educational requirements. Individual female dentists are known from the 18th century. When the profession was regulated in the 19th century, it took a while before women achieved the formal education and permission to engage in dentistry.
Timeline
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.[2]
18th century
In the 18th century dentistry was not yet a regulated and clearly defined profession, and could be performed by people of all professions, such as barbers and beauticians. The informality of the profession, where no formal education (unavailable to women) was not yet required, meant that women dentists did exist during the 18th century.
Early 18th century: A Mademoiselle or Madame Reze published a dentistry treatise a few years before "Le Chirugien Dentiste" by
Pierre Fauchard in 1728.[3][4]
1740:
Madeleine-Françoise Calais became the first female dentist to obtain a license as a master dentist from the Surgical Society of Paris.[5]
1755: A new law was established in France banning women from dental studies.[6]
1775: Hannah Crippen her services as a dentist and phlebotomist, continuing the business of her late husband, at Baldwins Gardens, Gray's Inn, London.[7]
1777: A Mrs Levis or Lewis and her husband, advertised their services as dentists at Marylebone Street, Golden Square; Mrs Levis attended the women and Mr Levis, the men.[7]
1777: A Mrs De St Raymond advertised her services as a dentist, from her home, No. 9, Kings-square Court, Soho, to the nobility and gentry.[7]
1777: La Signora Foggioni of Genova advertises herself as a dentiste at No. 5, New George Street, Blackfriars Bridge, London.[7]
1782: Maria Briwolski of Dresden was granted permission from the authorities to practice dentistry in Sweden.[8]
1791: Catherine Madden of 53, St John’s Street, West Smithfield, London, advertises her services as a dentist.[7]
1792: A Mrs Hunter, a beautician, advertised her services as a dentist from her home, No 78 Great Titchfield Street.[7]
ca. 1814-1830: A Madame Ana made a successful career as a "dentist for women" in a clinic on the Rue Rivoli in Paris, being the dentist of the royal
Marie-Thérèse, Duchess of Angoulême.[10][11]
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 fact that the profession was not legally opened to women in Sweden before 1861.[2]
1866:
Rosalie Fougelberg received a royal dispensation from Swedish King
Charles XV and thus became the first woman in Sweden to officially practice dentistry since the profession had been legally opened to women in Sweden in 1861.[2]
1872:
Petra Lie becomes the first female dentist in Norway.[18]
1874: Fanny A. Rambarger became the second American woman to earn the degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery in 1874, when she graduated from the
Pennsylvania College of Dental Surgery. She worked in Philadelphia and limited her practice to women and children only.[14]
1881:
Margaret Caro became the first woman to be listed on the Dentists' Register of New Zealand.[19]
1886: Margarita Chorné y Salazar became the first female dentist in Mexico.[2]
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 become a dentist in the United States.[26] In 1904 she became the first woman of any race to graduate from the College of Physicians and Surgeons (now the
University of the PacificArthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry).[27] In 1905 she was awarded the
Doctor of Dental Surgery from that school,[28] and after a trial of the State Board of Dental Examiners, which delayed the awarding of licenses, she was granted a dental license in August 1905.[29]
1907: Frances Dorothy Gray became Australia’s first female Bachelor of Dental Science graduate; she graduated from the Australian College of Dentistry,
University of Melbourne, in 1907.[2]
1907: Mathilde Athenas was the first female dentist to graduate in
Réunion.[30]
1909:
Minnie Evangeline Jordon established the first dental practice in the United States devoted only to pediatric patients.[31]
1957:
Simi Johnson and
Grace Guobadia both qualified as dentists in 1957, making them the first trained female dentists in Nigeria.[37]
1961: Etelvina González Martínez was the first woman to graduate from the School of Medicine of the Medical Sciences Campus of the
University of Puerto Rico.[38]
1965: Fatima Nazzal became the first female dentist in
Palestine upon settling in
Ramallah.[40]
1975: On July 1, 1975,
Jeanne Sinkford became the first female dean of an American dental school when she was appointed the dean of
Howard University, School of Dentistry.[15]
1975:
Jessica Rickert became the first female American Indian dentist in America upon graduating from the
University of Michigan School of Dentistry in 1975. She was a member of the
Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation, and a direct descendant of the Indian chief Wahbememe (Whitepigeon).[41]
1977: The American Association of Dental Schools (founded in 1923 and renamed the
American Dental Education Association in 2000) had Nancy Goorey as its first female president in 1977.[42]
^R.M.G. Ortiz, M. Diaz de Kuri. Women in dentistry. J. Hist. Dent., 49 (2001), pp. 37-41
^Prasanna JS, Karunakar P, Sumadhura C, Aishwarya MD, Monica P, Sayed AS. Women dentists: Changing the face of dentistry. J Oral Res Rev 2015;7:69-73
^Paul-Martin Bondois: La Première maîtresse-dentiste, Madeleine-Françoise Calais: par P.-M. Bondois, 1928
^Shaker RE, Babgi AA. Women in dentistry: A perspective on major universities in Saudi Arabia. Part 1:historical background. Saudi Dent J [internet]. 2009 Oct [cited 2022 Dec 11]; 21(3):103. Available from:/pmc/articles/PMC3804958/
^
abcdefJournal de l'Association dentaire canadienne. (1948). Kanada: Canadian Dental Association.
^Wessler, John, Gamla papper från tandläkarekonstens barndom i Sverige: Samlade, Stockholm, 1901
^R.M.G. Ortiz, M. Diaz de Kuri. Women in dentistry. J. Hist. Dent., 49 (2001), pp. 37-41
^Prasanna JS, Karunakar P, Sumadhura C, Aishwarya MD, Monica P, Sayed AS. Women dentists: Changing the face of dentistry. J Oral Res Rev 2015;7:69-73
^J. Sanz, “Polonia Sanz, la primera dentista española”, en Actas del XXXIII Congreso Internacional de Historia de la Medicina, Sevilla, 1994, págs. 1191-1195
^White, J. D.; McQuillen, John Hugh; Ziegler, George Jacob; White, James William; Kirk, Edward Cameron; Anthony, Lovick Pierce (1905).
The Dental cosmos - Google Books. Retrieved 2012-08-04.
^Autio, Veli-Matti: Ståhlberg, Hedvig. Kansallisbiografia-verkkojulkaisu. Studia Biographica 4. Helsinki: Suomalaisen Kirjallisuuden Seura, 1997– (viitattu 10.4.2021)
^Inger Dübeck: Kvinders retlige stilling. I Den Store Danske. Hentet 7. october 2015
^White, J. D.; McQuillen, John Hugh; Ziegler, George Jacob; White, James William; Kirk, Edward Cameron; Anthony, Lovick Pierce (1905-01-01).
The Dental Cosmos. S. S. White Dental Manufacturing Company.
^Loevy, H. T.; Kowitz, A. A. (Spring 2006). "M. Evangeline Jordon, Pioneer in Pedodontics". Journal of the History of Dentistry. 54 (1): 3–8.
PMID16764231.
There is a long history of women in dentistry. Women are depicted as assistant dentists in the middle ages. Prior to the 19th century, dentistry was largely not yet a clearly defined and regulated profession with formal educational requirements. Individual female dentists are known from the 18th century. When the profession was regulated in the 19th century, it took a while before women achieved the formal education and permission to engage in dentistry.
Timeline
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.[2]
18th century
In the 18th century dentistry was not yet a regulated and clearly defined profession, and could be performed by people of all professions, such as barbers and beauticians. The informality of the profession, where no formal education (unavailable to women) was not yet required, meant that women dentists did exist during the 18th century.
Early 18th century: A Mademoiselle or Madame Reze published a dentistry treatise a few years before "Le Chirugien Dentiste" by
Pierre Fauchard in 1728.[3][4]
1740:
Madeleine-Françoise Calais became the first female dentist to obtain a license as a master dentist from the Surgical Society of Paris.[5]
1755: A new law was established in France banning women from dental studies.[6]
1775: Hannah Crippen her services as a dentist and phlebotomist, continuing the business of her late husband, at Baldwins Gardens, Gray's Inn, London.[7]
1777: A Mrs Levis or Lewis and her husband, advertised their services as dentists at Marylebone Street, Golden Square; Mrs Levis attended the women and Mr Levis, the men.[7]
1777: A Mrs De St Raymond advertised her services as a dentist, from her home, No. 9, Kings-square Court, Soho, to the nobility and gentry.[7]
1777: La Signora Foggioni of Genova advertises herself as a dentiste at No. 5, New George Street, Blackfriars Bridge, London.[7]
1782: Maria Briwolski of Dresden was granted permission from the authorities to practice dentistry in Sweden.[8]
1791: Catherine Madden of 53, St John’s Street, West Smithfield, London, advertises her services as a dentist.[7]
1792: A Mrs Hunter, a beautician, advertised her services as a dentist from her home, No 78 Great Titchfield Street.[7]
ca. 1814-1830: A Madame Ana made a successful career as a "dentist for women" in a clinic on the Rue Rivoli in Paris, being the dentist of the royal
Marie-Thérèse, Duchess of Angoulême.[10][11]
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 fact that the profession was not legally opened to women in Sweden before 1861.[2]
1866:
Rosalie Fougelberg received a royal dispensation from Swedish King
Charles XV and thus became the first woman in Sweden to officially practice dentistry since the profession had been legally opened to women in Sweden in 1861.[2]
1872:
Petra Lie becomes the first female dentist in Norway.[18]
1874: Fanny A. Rambarger became the second American woman to earn the degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery in 1874, when she graduated from the
Pennsylvania College of Dental Surgery. She worked in Philadelphia and limited her practice to women and children only.[14]
1881:
Margaret Caro became the first woman to be listed on the Dentists' Register of New Zealand.[19]
1886: Margarita Chorné y Salazar became the first female dentist in Mexico.[2]
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 become a dentist in the United States.[26] In 1904 she became the first woman of any race to graduate from the College of Physicians and Surgeons (now the
University of the PacificArthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry).[27] In 1905 she was awarded the
Doctor of Dental Surgery from that school,[28] and after a trial of the State Board of Dental Examiners, which delayed the awarding of licenses, she was granted a dental license in August 1905.[29]
1907: Frances Dorothy Gray became Australia’s first female Bachelor of Dental Science graduate; she graduated from the Australian College of Dentistry,
University of Melbourne, in 1907.[2]
1907: Mathilde Athenas was the first female dentist to graduate in
Réunion.[30]
1909:
Minnie Evangeline Jordon established the first dental practice in the United States devoted only to pediatric patients.[31]
1957:
Simi Johnson and
Grace Guobadia both qualified as dentists in 1957, making them the first trained female dentists in Nigeria.[37]
1961: Etelvina González Martínez was the first woman to graduate from the School of Medicine of the Medical Sciences Campus of the
University of Puerto Rico.[38]
1965: Fatima Nazzal became the first female dentist in
Palestine upon settling in
Ramallah.[40]
1975: On July 1, 1975,
Jeanne Sinkford became the first female dean of an American dental school when she was appointed the dean of
Howard University, School of Dentistry.[15]
1975:
Jessica Rickert became the first female American Indian dentist in America upon graduating from the
University of Michigan School of Dentistry in 1975. She was a member of the
Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation, and a direct descendant of the Indian chief Wahbememe (Whitepigeon).[41]
1977: The American Association of Dental Schools (founded in 1923 and renamed the
American Dental Education Association in 2000) had Nancy Goorey as its first female president in 1977.[42]
^R.M.G. Ortiz, M. Diaz de Kuri. Women in dentistry. J. Hist. Dent., 49 (2001), pp. 37-41
^Prasanna JS, Karunakar P, Sumadhura C, Aishwarya MD, Monica P, Sayed AS. Women dentists: Changing the face of dentistry. J Oral Res Rev 2015;7:69-73
^Paul-Martin Bondois: La Première maîtresse-dentiste, Madeleine-Françoise Calais: par P.-M. Bondois, 1928
^Shaker RE, Babgi AA. Women in dentistry: A perspective on major universities in Saudi Arabia. Part 1:historical background. Saudi Dent J [internet]. 2009 Oct [cited 2022 Dec 11]; 21(3):103. Available from:/pmc/articles/PMC3804958/
^
abcdefJournal de l'Association dentaire canadienne. (1948). Kanada: Canadian Dental Association.
^Wessler, John, Gamla papper från tandläkarekonstens barndom i Sverige: Samlade, Stockholm, 1901
^R.M.G. Ortiz, M. Diaz de Kuri. Women in dentistry. J. Hist. Dent., 49 (2001), pp. 37-41
^Prasanna JS, Karunakar P, Sumadhura C, Aishwarya MD, Monica P, Sayed AS. Women dentists: Changing the face of dentistry. J Oral Res Rev 2015;7:69-73
^J. Sanz, “Polonia Sanz, la primera dentista española”, en Actas del XXXIII Congreso Internacional de Historia de la Medicina, Sevilla, 1994, págs. 1191-1195
^White, J. D.; McQuillen, John Hugh; Ziegler, George Jacob; White, James William; Kirk, Edward Cameron; Anthony, Lovick Pierce (1905).
The Dental cosmos - Google Books. Retrieved 2012-08-04.
^Autio, Veli-Matti: Ståhlberg, Hedvig. Kansallisbiografia-verkkojulkaisu. Studia Biographica 4. Helsinki: Suomalaisen Kirjallisuuden Seura, 1997– (viitattu 10.4.2021)
^Inger Dübeck: Kvinders retlige stilling. I Den Store Danske. Hentet 7. october 2015
^White, J. D.; McQuillen, John Hugh; Ziegler, George Jacob; White, James William; Kirk, Edward Cameron; Anthony, Lovick Pierce (1905-01-01).
The Dental Cosmos. S. S. White Dental Manufacturing Company.
^Loevy, H. T.; Kowitz, A. A. (Spring 2006). "M. Evangeline Jordon, Pioneer in Pedodontics". Journal of the History of Dentistry. 54 (1): 3–8.
PMID16764231.