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Professionalism
Dentists underwent a dramatic change in the 19th century, transforming into educated, dedicated professionals. Early dentists could be barbers, physicians, blacksmiths or quacks. Many were untrained tooth-pullers, others were skilled at tooth restoration and dentures.
A few far-sighted practitioners were determined to put dentistry on a sound, scientific footing. They established schools, started professional journals, encouraged and published research and set up professional organizations. The standards of dentistry rose rapidly as the public began to expect higher quality work and better trained dentists.
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Natural Scientist Becomes Dentist
Horace Hayden was inspired to take up dentistry after receiving excellent care from John Greenwood, George Washington’s dentist. In 1810, Hayden was the first person in the United States to be granted a license to practice dentistry.
Horace Hayden: Courtesy of Historical and Special Collections, Health Sciences & Human Services Library, University of Maryland
Encouraging Professional Development
After studying medicine, Chapin Harris became a student of Horace Hayden. In 1839, Harris published The Dental Art: A Practical Treatise on Dental Surgery, which remained in publication for 74 years. He co-founded the first dental journal, American Journal of Dental Science, in 1834, and was also a founding member of the American Society of Dental Surgeons in 1840.
Chapin Harris: Courtesy of National Library of Medicine
First College of Dentistry in the World
In 1840, Hayden and Harris opened the Baltimore College of Dental Surgery (Fig. 1). They taught the dental subjects, and two physicians taught pathology, therapeutics, anatomy and physiology. The two-year course required four months of instruction each year and practical experience in a dental office. Robert Arthur, one of the first graduates, founded the Philadelphia College of Dental Surgery in 1852.
At first, dentistry was considered a trade not worthy of serious scholarship and the earliest dental schools were privately owned. Harvard (1867) and the University of Michigan (1875) were the first to give dentistry full academic recognition by establishing dental colleges (Fig. 2). With a budget of $3,000, U-M’s College of Dental Surgery was in a former professor’s house on North University, where the Natural Sciences Building is now.
Fig. 2: Courtesy of Taubman Health Sciences Library, University of Michigan
Fig. 1
A Scientific Foundation with Sound Mechanical Skills
U-M recruited Jonathan Taft from the Ohio College of Dental Surgery to serve as the first College of Dental Surgery dean. The program required two six-month terms of classroom instruction and one year of apprenticeship with an established dentist. Graduates earned the degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery, DDS.
University of Michigan College of Dental Surgery, first class, students and faculty
Raising Standards
By 1885, the U-M College of Dental Surgery had been enlarged to accommodate a growing class size. The College was also a leader in raising academic requirements. By 1889, three years of coursework were required. In 1890, U-M became the first dental school to offer a graduate degree in dentistry. By contrast, admission requirements lagged behind. The average dental college didn’t require its entering students to have a high school diploma until 1910.
International Recognition
John A. Watling, a prominent Ypsilanti dentist, was a primary force behind the effort to establish the U-M dental college. During his 28 years (1875–1903) as professor of clinical and mechanical dentistry, he placed the college on a firm academic footing through his enlightened leadership. By 1885, Michigan’s program had earned international notice as one of only three American dental schools issuing diplomas that were recognized in Europe.
Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan
The Spread of Knowledge
The American Journal of Dental Science was the first dental journal in the world. It had articles on dental research, the latest scientific discoveries, improved techniques and news of the industry. Originally compiled and edited
by Chapin Harris, co-founder of the Baltimore College of Dental Surgery, it continued from 1850 until 1909.
Courtesy of Taubman Health Sciences Library, University of Michigan/Hathi Trust
Observe, Compare, Reflect, Record
The Dental Cosmos was the 1851 creation of Samuel S. White, a dentist who manufactured dental supplies. White understood that a journal providing the latest developments would advance the profession enormously. His journal was impartial and its topics wide-reaching. It was the most respected and widely read dental publication until 1926, when it was taken over by the American Dental Association.
Courtesy of Taubman Health Sciences Library, University of Michigan
Dental Societies
Early on, dentists formed societies where they could meet, exchange views and establish standards by which dentistry could be evaluated. The first such organization, Surgeon Dentists of the City and State of New York, was founded in 1834. This group of American Dental Association delegates met in Boston in 1866.
Courtesy of the National Library of Medicine
Licensing Requirements
To protect patients, states needed to identify who was competent to practice. In 1841, Alabama was the first state to pass restrictions on dentistry. Others soon followed, requiring proof of education and a satisfactory examination.
The National Association of Dental Examiners formed in 1883 to set standards for licensing and certification. This map shows the 1898 requirements and cost of examination and licensure for each state. Also note the number of dental colleges in each city.
Courtesy of Taubman Health Sciences Library, University of Michigan
Self-Monitoring
Dental educators formed organizations to address problems in dental education, to establish an adequate and uniform curriculum, to determine admission requirements for dental colleges and to debate issues of examination and licensure. The following list shows some of the organizations that sprang up to address these concerns:
1859 American Dental Association
1883 National Association of Dental Examiners
1884 National Association of Dental Faculties
1893 American Institute of Dental Teachers
1908 Dental Faculties Association of American Universities
1909 Dental Educational Council of America 1923 American Association of Dental Schools