Women Dentists Being Celebrated On International Women’s Day
Australia’s first female graduate from the then-named Australian College of Dentistry was Dr Fannie Gray in 1907. Images of Dr Gray at work, and other pioneering female members of the Melbourne Dental Student Society form part of an exhibition at Melbourne Museum.
“There’s a cartoon from Punch [magazine] in the 1870s that shows a woman dentist standing beside a patient clutching her wrist and saying, ‘It’s nearly out, I just need to rest for a bit,’” Dr Healy recalls. “It’s the same argument that was used for the first woman jockey to win the Melbourne Cup — she was told she wasn’t strong enough.”
– Bite Magazine
We Thank The Pioneering Female Dentists For Overcoming Bigotry
Technology and ingenuity have made many of the brute strength requirements of dentistry obsolete at the beginning of the 21C. Even back in the bad old days, most women were much stronger and physically capable than they were given credit for. Many women, of course did then and continue to now, do most of the actual work around domestic life. These convenient idealised views of genteel women were falsehoods fashioned for political purposes to maintain the male dominated patriarchal hegemony. I mention this because we are seeing a backlash against progressiveness in Trump’s America at this moment in time.
First Australian Female Dentists
“In 1906, two young women, Annie Praed and Margaret Barnes, made history: The first women to graduate from University of Sydney as Bachelors of Dental Science.”
– Trove.gov.au
“Martha Burns (1873-1959) was the first woman to qualify (graduate) in dentistry in Queensland, by taking the Licentiate of Dental Surgery (LDQ), a dentistry diploma, in 1907. She studied in Melbourne, though, at the time there were no university courses in the Sunshine State. Originally trained as a nurse at Brisbane General Hospital (1900), Martha decided to switch to dentistry. She famously convinced her father, a Scottish Engineer for Harbours and Rivers, to allow her apprenticeship by saying: “we would both be building bridges”. The Dental Board of Queensland Rough Register 1903 entry lists Martha as a pupil at Dodds and McLeod. At least two years of apprenticeship were still required.”
– Adaq.org.au
It is often hard for men to imagine what a life dominated by your reproductive identity must be like to live. These pioneering women dental practitioners had to overcome a great deal of commonly held sensibilities of the time. So much for the oft-celebrated common sense held up by many men as gospel to how lives should be lived. The famous female multitasking ability would prove that they could do both things – have a career and a family.
Women dentists being celebrated on International Women’s Day is a fitting thing in light of their contribution to the profession.
“When the dentistry profession started to be standardised in the late 1800s, no more than 1% of dental students were women. Today, studies show that in the majority of countries with available data, women graduates outnumber their male counterparts in dental schools.”
– FDI World Dental
When I was a younger person the only women I saw at the dental clinic were the hygienist and the practice receptionist. Not in any way to downgrade the wonderful professionalism displayed by these important parts of the oral care service, as they do fine work. However, we all enjoying driving the bus when it comes to our work and it is testament to the hard work put in by those who have trained to become fully fledged dentists and the progressive nation we live in.
Female Dental Practitioner Snapshot
A snapshot of the Australian dental scene, according to Jobs & Skills tells us that 52% of our dentists are women. The median age is 39 YO. They are earning on average $3, 877 per week. There are more than 26, 000 registered dental practitioners operating around Australia. Yes, it is a good wicket if you can manage it, but dentists of both genders work hard for their money.
Successful female dental practitioners point to the hours being flexible enough to support the career/family balance, once you are established within the profession. It is still hard work but the pay offs can be rewarding. The highly aesthetic nature of modern dental work may have contributed to more women training as dentists, according to some in the profession. Women bring more compassion and nurturing to their dentistry in the opinion of a number of female practitioners referenced in the relevant literature on the topic.
A Blogger’s Anecdote Involving My Female Dentist
Recently, I had a lower back molar removed at the dentist and it was done by a talented, young, female dental practitioner. In a test of determination, skill and her excellent training – this fairly diminutively sized individual cut out and extracted a long embedded broken back tooth from my jaw. The force required to achieve this was substantial and I could feel it despite the anaesthetic. The pain management was totally effective but nothing could disguise the force required to pull out this large cracked molar. I was suitably impressed, I must say. We are incredibly fortunate to have such quality dentists and dental schools in this country.
The Roots & Canals Of Dentistry
Dentistry began as the province of travelling barber surgeons back in medieval times. The pulling of teeth was barbaric and brutal. Like most occupations back in the day it was a male dominated profession. Teeth were tough little buggers and blokes were best suited to dig down into flesh and bone and rip them out when required. Of course, the progression of the oral care profession became more scientific over the journey. White coats and disinfected surfaces became de rigueur. Eventually, a few brave women pushed their way to be admitted into the training programmes. It cannot be denied that women approach situations with greater innate sensitivity and are less inclined to brute force things. This can only be a good thing for the standards of dentistry as a whole. As for women dentists being celebrated on International Women’s Day, within our industry we salute you and thank you for your service.
Disclaimer: The material posted is for informational purposes only and is not intended to substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Results vary with each patient. Any dental procedure carries risks and benefits. If you have any specific questions about any dental and/or medical matter, you should consult your dentist, physician or other professional healthcare providers.
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