Women in Dentistry

March is Women’s History Month and March 8th was International Women’s Day. As the month draws to a close, celebrate with us by recognizing trailblazing women in dentistry.  While these women overcame great obstacles to advance dentistry in the United States, others from around the world participated in improving and enhancing patient care.

Today more than 32% of dentists are female and that number is estimated to grow even more by 2020.  In some dental schools, graduating classes are more than 50% female!

1866 – Lucy Beaman Hobbs Taylor – First woman to graduate from dental school.  After originally being denied admittance to the Ohio College of Dentistry, Ms. Taylor taught herself core concepts and fundamentals.  She graduated after she had already learned to practice dentistry.

1890 – Ida Gray Nelson – Opened a solo practice in Cincinnati, Ohio as the first African American Dentist. She graduated from the University of Michigan.

1913 – Grace Rogers Spalding – Founded and was the first female president of the American Academy of Periodontology.

1944 – Sara Gdulin Krout – The first female dentist to serve in the US Navy.

Congratulations to the many first women!