Women in dentistry


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

  • 16th century: In a 1523 copper engraving by Lucas Van Leyden, an itinerant tooth drawer can be seen, with a woman standing behind the patient. While some interpreted the woman as a dental assistant, the person behind the patient is picking his pocket.

    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 was not yet required, meant that women dentists did exist during the 18th century.
  • Early 18th century: A Mademoiselle De Reze published in 1719 a short treatise on elixirs for toothache entitled Dissertation Apologetique. This was a few years before "Le Chirugien Dentiste" by Pierre Fauchard in 1728.
  • 1740: Madeleine-Françoise Calais became the first female dentist to obtain a license as a master dentist from the Surgical Society of Paris.
  • 1755: A new law in France banned women from practicing any medical profession except midwifery.
  • 1775: Hannah Crippen her services as a dentist and phlebotomist, continuing the business of her late husband, at Baldwins Gardens, Gray's Inn, London.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 1777: La Signora Foggioni of Genova advertises herself as a dentiste at No. 5, New George Street, Blackfriars Bridge, London.
  • 1782: Maria Briwolski of Dresden was granted permission from the authorities to practice dentistry in Sweden.
  • 1791: Catherine Madden of 53, St John's Street, West Smithfield, London, advertises her services as a dentist.
  • 1792: A Mrs Hunter, a beautician, advertised her services as a dentist from her home, No 78 Great Titchfield Street.

    19th century

In the 19th century dentistry gradually became a regulated and clearly defined profession, and formal education come to be required to practice it. This initially excluded women from dentistry; however formal education gradually became available to women in the 19th-century, resulting in the first formally educated female dentists.