May Firoozmand discusses some of the key women pioneers in dental history and how they helped to pave the way for today’s generation.
There are a number of historical figures that have made dentistry more accessible to women.
This article will shed light on those individuals that have been at the forefront of the pioneering movement of dentistry among women. They exceeded the expectations of a woman at the time and broke free from the stigma that dentistry is a male-dominated profession.
Women working within the field of dentistry have made a valuable contribution to the profession, and continue to inspire more and more women to pursue a career in dentistry. They have made the profession more inclusive to women. It has encouraged women to make advances not only in clinical care but as well as in research, business and hospitals – with many also holding positions of responsibility in dental associations.
Lilian Lindsay
Lilian Lindsay broke through the misconceptions that women were not well suited to a profession in dentistry. In 1895 she became the first qualified woman dentist in the UK and, in 1946, the first female president of the British Dental Association (BDA).
She went to great lengths in making dentistry inclusive to women. She embraced the challenges with positivity and left an everlasting legacy that will continue to inspire so many women to pursue a career in dentistry. Through her constant efforts, Lilian Lindsay had a vision to establish equality between men and women in the workplace.
Lucy Hobbs Taylor
In 1866, Lucy Hobbs was the first woman to earn a doctor of dental surgery degree in the US.
Her motivation and drive in pursuing a career in dentistry was to ‘enter a profession where she could earn her bread not alone by the sweat of her brow, but by the use of her brains’. This mindset of finding satisfaction from working as a woman was frowned upon but despite the critique, negativity and rejection encircling her, Lucy Hobbs went on to show her determination that could not be suppressed easily.
Her route into dentistry was not the straightforward one – her initial desire was to pursue medicine. However, the college denied her of the opportunity to study with them. The dean of the Ohio College of Dental Surgery welcomed her in his clinic until another dentist agreed to mentor her. In 1861, she was faced with the harsh reality that as a woman it was going to be a hard struggle to make a breakthrough as the university refused to enrol her on for further education.
Despite this, she opened a practice in Iowa and earned an excellent reputation. Soon after, she mentored her husband and they went on to run a successful practice together. In 1866 the college of Ohio recognised her positive contributions to the profession and admitted her to the university. She graduated successfully.
Hobbs campaigned for women’s rights and practised intermittently until her last days.
Emeline Roberts Jones
Emeline Roberts Jones was determined to become a dentist. However, it was difficult as a woman as dental colleges were not admitting women so she found a way to practise fillings and extractions discreetly.
Her husband was a dentist as well and welcomed her to join his practice in 1855. Alongside working, she also studied science related subjects to contextualise the impact oral health can have on the rest of the body and visa versa. Her husband died in 1864 and despite her loss of a loved one, she took full reigns of the practice and ran it to success to financially support her two young children.
She became nationally recognised as the first woman dentist at the 1893 World’s Columbian Dental Congress. That same year she became the 18th dentist to be licensed in Connecticut.
Ida Gray
Ida Gray was the first African American woman to graduate in dentistry in 1890.
She had the honour to work alongside Jonathan Taft while finishing high school. Jonathon Taft became the first dean of the dental college at the University of Michigan. He supported the admission of women to the programme and encourage Ida Gray to enrol so she could have the opportunity to pursue a career in dentistry.
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