The Advancement of Women in Dentistry

The first female dentist was licensed back in 1898 in Canada, and boy have things changed since then. The world has come a long way in the past 123 years, especially in the field of dentistry. More and more women have been getting involved in the field. In fact, there are all sorts of different ways that women in dentistry have brought the discipline to a whole new level. What better time to learn more about it than International Women’s Day!

More Women Are Graduating in Dentistry

Many people know that dentistry used to be a field that was primarily dominated by men, but this has been changing over the past few decades. In 2016, 29.8% of all dentists in the United States were female. Even though this is far from the 50.8% that represents women in the overall population for the country, there has still been an extreme growth in the number of women pursuing dentistry. Because of the increased number of women in the field, there is also more prominent female figures in the discipline.

Different Patient Experience

Now that more women are working as dentists, many people have described their experience at the dental office to be different. Female dentists have been described as more empathetic. The dental office used to be something that more people feared, but now, more patients feel additional comfort while in the practice.

Female Dentists Come from More Diverse Backgrounds

Diversity in different industries helps to bring in additional creativity, ideas, and experiences. More women tend to be from diverse backgrounds. This means more cultural and language diversity in the dental field.

Women in Dentistry Aren’t Limited to Dentists

According to the American Dental Hygienist Association, approximately, 98% of the nations dental hygienists are female as well as a large percentage of the country’s dental assistants. While the majority of dentists are men, this is not the case in other areas of the field.

Female Dentists Have a Different Way of Working

Female dentists tend to make different decisions than male dentists in the field. Personal values and sympathies are words that more women in the field tend to use to describe how they make decisions. As for men, objectivity, logic, and consistency are more common. Female dentists are also more likely to refer their patients to specialists than male dentists are.

The field of dentistry has come a long way and there are still many changes that are being made. While dentistry used to be a male-dominated field, it is very apparent that women are now shining through!

About the Author

Dr. Nancy Dysinger is an experienced dentist who has been working in the field for more than three decades. She earned her dental doctorate from The Ohio State University and is committed to continuing education in order to keep her knowledge and skills sharp. Currently, she is a member of the American Dental Association, Ohio Dental Society, Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, and several other professional organizations. To learn more or to schedule an appointment, visit her website or call (419) 293-2335.