Women in dentistry in the United States facts for kids

Emeline Roberts Jones became the first woman to practice dentistry in the United States in 1855.

For a long time, dentistry was mostly a job for men. But brave and smart women in the United States worked hard to change that! They became dentists, teachers, and leaders, opening doors for many others. Let's explore the amazing journey of women who shaped dentistry in America.

Trailblazing Women in Dentistry

Early Pioneers (1800s)

• 1855: Imagine being the very first! Emeline Roberts Jones was the first woman to practice dentistry in the United States. She started as an assistant to her dentist husband.
• 1866: Lucy Hobbs Taylor made history by becoming the first woman to graduate from a dental college. She studied at the Ohio Dental College.
• 1869: Henriette Hirschfeld-Tiburtius, who was born in Germany, became the first woman to complete a full college course in dentistry. She graduated from the Pennsylvania College of Dental Surgery.
• 1874: Fanny A. Rambarger was the second American woman to earn a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree. She also graduated from the Pennsylvania College of Dental Surgery. She worked in Philadelphia, helping only women and children.
• 1890: Ida Rollins became the first African-American woman to earn a dental degree in the United States. She earned her degree from the University of Michigan.
• 1892: The Women's Dental Association of the U.S. was started by Mary Stillwell-Kuesel. It began with 12 founding members.

Making History in the 20th Century

• 1904-1905: Faith Sai So Leong, born in China, became the first Chinese-American woman to graduate from dental school. She was also the first woman of any race to graduate from the College of Physicians and Surgeons. This school is now part of the University of the Pacific Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry.
• 1909: Minnie Evangeline Jordon opened the first dental office in the United States that focused only on treating children. This special area of dentistry is called pediatric dentistry.
• 1916: Gillette Hayden became the first female president of the American Academy of Periodontology. This group focuses on gum health.
• 1920: Maude Tanner was the first recorded female delegate to the American Dental Association. A delegate is someone chosen to represent a group.
• 1921: During a big meeting of the American Dental Association (ADA), several women dentists met. They formed the Federation of American Women Dentists. Today, it's known as the American Association of Women Dentists (AAWD). Their first president was Minnie Evangeline Jordon.
• 1923: Anita Martin was the first woman to join the national dental honor society, called Omicron Kappa Upsilon.
• 1925: Minnie Evangeline Jordon wrote the very first textbook about dentistry for children. It was called Operative Dentistry for Children.
• 1951: Helen E. Myers became the Army Dental Corps' first female dental officer. She was a graduate of Temple University.
• 1975: On July 1, Jeanne Sinkford became the first female dean of an American dental school. She was appointed dean of the Howard University School of Dentistry. A dean is a leader of a college or university department.
• 1975: Jessica Rickert became the first female American Indian dentist in the country. She graduated from the University of Michigan School of Dentistry. She was a member of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation.
• 1977: Nancy Goorey became the first female president of the American Association of Dental Schools. This group is now called the American Dental Education Association.
• 1988: The American Student Dental Association chose its first female president. She was N. Gail McLaurin from the Medical University of South Carolina.
• 1991: Geraldine Morrow became the first female president of the American Dental Association. This is a very important role in dentistry.
• 1993: Juliann Bluitt Foster became the first female president of the American College of Dentists.
• 1997: Hazel J. Harper became the first female president of the National Dental Association.

New Milestones in the 21st Century

• 2001: Marjorie Jeffcoat became the first female editor of The Journal of the American Dental Association. An editor decides what articles are published.
• 2003: Rear Admiral Carol I. Turner became the first female Chief of the Navy Dental Corps. This means she was the top dentist in the Navy.
• 2004: Sandra Madison was elected as the first female president of the American Association of Endodontists. Endodontists are dentists who specialize in root canals.
• 2007: Kaumudi Joshipura became a special leader at the University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus. She directed a center for health research.
• 2007: Laura Kelly became the first female president of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. Cosmetic dentistry focuses on making teeth look better.
• 2008: Beverly Largent, a pediatric dentist, 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. This field deals with diseases of the mouth and jaw.
• 2009: Kathleen T. O'Loughlin was chosen as the first female executive director of the American Dental Association. An executive director helps run the organization.
• 2013: Gayle Glenn was elected as the first female president of the American Association of Orthodontists. Orthodontists are dentists who straighten teeth with braces.