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TODAY THERE ARE AS MANY WOMEN AS THERE ARE MEN in dental schools. But 150 years ago it was very different. We admire and honor those women who paved the way.

Unofficially, Women In Dentistry Go Back A Long Way

Although a dental education wasn’t available to women until fairly recently, women have been practicing dentistry for a long time. This ranged from neighborhood women using traditional remedies, to women like Emeline Roberts Jones and Amalia Assur.

Amalia Assur learned dentistry in her family’s business... Her father was a dentist, and so was her brother. In Sweden, the Royal Board of Health granted her special permission to independently practice dentistry in 1852.

Around the same time in America, Emeline Roberts Jones was married to a dentist and served as his assistant for years. When her husband died in 1864, Emeline continued serving their patients. Later, she was awarded an honorary membership into the Connecticut Dental Society.

Lucy Hobbes Taylor Was The First Woman To Receive A Dentistry Degree

Lucy Hobbes Taylor earned her dental degree in 1866, but her road there was long and hard. She was initially denied entrance to medical school based on gender. Looking for a warmer welcome into dentistry, she started studying under the dean at the Ohio College of Dental Surgery. She applied for the college in 1861 and was denied.

Lucy persisted in apprenticing under several prestigious dentists, then boldly opened her own practice. After successfully treating patients for years and being admitted to the Iowa State Dental Society, she was finally accepted to the Ohio College of Dental Surgery in November, 1865. Because of her experience, she was only required to take one course before she was awarded her D.D.S. in 1866.

Many Others Made A Difference

Other women struggled through societal restrictions, bureaucracy, and disadvantage to contribute to the field of dentistry. These include Ida Gray Nelson Rollins, the first African American dentist, and Grace Rogers Spalding, who co-founded the American Academy of Periodontology and helped spearhead the preventative dentistry and gum care movement. In the field of orthodontics, we have women like Gertrude Locke, one of the founding members of the American Society of Orthodontists.

Thanks for your trust in our orthodontic practice!

We appreciate having you as our valued patient. If you have comments about these great women, we’d love to hear them in the comments section below. And, you can always reach out to us on our Facebook page!

Lucy Beaman Hobbs Taylor photo courtesy of the Kansas Historical Society
Emeline Roberts Jones photo courtesy of The New Haven Museum & Historical Society

I AM FREQUENTLY ASKED, how does one become an orthodontist?

I Was Inspired By My Orthodontist, Dr. Larry Olivera

In middle school and high school, it’s good to like dentistry, people, and orthodontics. I was inspired in 7th grade by my orthodontist, Dr. Larry Oliviera of New Bedford, Massachusetts to become an orthodontist. I thought his work was fun.

I loved his orthodontic office and looked forward to going there. His brother was our Monsigneur and his sister was one of my mother's best friends. I admired him as a person and thought that he was very nice. If you feel this way about going to your orthodontist, perhaps you should consider becoming one.

I Prepared For Dental School At Wellesley College

There will be several college classes you will need to take for your dental school application. These include: Biology (2) Chemistry (2) Organic Chemistry (2) Physics (2) Calculus (2) and English (2). During Junior year, you will need to take the Dental Aptitude Test (DAT) which will test these subjects.

You will need to have a good DAT score and good grades to get into dental school. At Wellesley College, I majored in Molecular Biology and Music.

Research Projects Strengthen Your Application

While in college, it is a good idea to do a research project. This will strengthen your dental school application. In college, I had a research grant and worked at Massachusetts General Hospital in the lab of a young oral surgeon, Dr. R. Bruce Donoff. My research project was “Collagen Synthesis in Wound Healing”.

I was with Dr. Donoff the day he paid off his student loans. Now he is Dean of Harvard School of Dental Medicine! I also had students loans. Don’t let money prevent you from following your dream of going to dental school.

Dental School Is Busy, But Exciting!

Once in Dental School, you will be working full time on your studies. Your classes are assigned. You will take Biochemistry, Physiology, Anatomy, Pathology, Neurobiolgy, Immunology, Pharmacology, Dental Anatomy, Nutrition, and other classes.

Then after two years you take the National Board Part I on these subjects. At Harvard School of Dental Medicine where I went to school, we also took the Medical Board Part I. During Third and Fourth years of dental school you will be treating patients full time. Then you take the National Board Part II Exam on clinical subjects and Regional Board exam on live patients.

Dental School is a lot of fun. You live in the dorm and spend a lot of time studying with your friends. The time passes quickly.

To Be An Orthodontist Requires Additional Training After Dental School

To become an orthodontist or any dental specialist, you must study hard and be near the top of your dental school class. I was the only orthodontist from my dental school class of thirteen students at HSDM '88 to become an orthodontist. After Junior year, you fill out your application for residency and go on interviews to these programs.

I did my residency at Northwestern University in Chicago, Illinois. I loved Chicago and lived two blocks from Oprah! My biggest surprise, however, was that I was the only female student! These guys were like my brothers.

Questions? Please Ask!

To learn more about orthodontics and how to become an orthodontist visit Dr. Ann Marie Gorczyca at Gorczyca Orthodontics www.clubbraces.com in Antioch, California or invite her to come and speak at your school. She would love to see you! At Gorczyca Orthodontics, we love orthodontics, braces, Invisalign, and retainers and being an orthodontist. You will, too!

TRUE LOVE IS RARE. SO ARE “KISSING” MOLARS. The condition of impacted bilateral kissing molars is so rare a phenomenon, it has only been reported five times in the literature.

Kissing Molars Can Cause Complications

“Kissing” or “rosetting” molars are impacted permanent mandibular second, third, and very rarely, fourth molars with contacting occlusal surfaces. The imaginological appearance of “kissing” molars show roots pointing in opposite directions while their occlusal surfaces are in close apposition “kissing” while occupying a single follicular space.

The term “kissing molar” was given by Van Hoof in 1973. Early surgical removal of kissing molars is recommended as this condition can cause complications including formation of dentigerous cysts and other pathologies that can cause destruction of the lower jaw bone. In surgical treatment of impacted kissing molars of the lower jaw, a high resolution conebeam computed tomography (CBCT) can be used to evaluate the relationship of the impacted teeth to the alveolar inferior nerve. In the management of asymptomatic patients, the risk and morbidity of a surgical procedure must be evaluated.

This Case Was Actually Found By Dr. Gorczyca

This case of “kissing” molars was discovered by Orthodontist Dr. Ann Marie Gorczyca at Gorczyca Orthodontics, in Antioch, California. If you would like to find out how romantic your molars are, visit us at www.clubbraces.com. If you need to find an orthodontist in your area, visit the American Association of Orthodontists at www.mylifemysmile.org.

If you have third molar symptoms, your molars need to elope. To find an oral surgeon in your area, visit the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons at MyOMS.org. Isn’t it romantic?

SUMMER IS THE PERFECT TIME of year for all of us at Gorczyca Orthodontics to say “Thank you for choosing our office for your orthodontic care. It is a pleasure and privilege for all of us at Gorczyca Orthodontics to serve you. We appreciate you very much.”

We love being your orthodontist and your orthodontic team and having you as a patient in our office. We love spending time with you, talking with you, and seeing you, your family, and your friends.

You Are Special To Us!

We’d like to show our appreciation to you by spending a special evening together, just for fun, at the Gorczyca Orthodontics Patient Appreciation Summer Splash Party.

Our Summer Splash Party will be on Saturday, July 19, 6:30 p.m. at the Antioch Water Park. This evening the park will have a special opening just for our Gorczyca Orthodontics private party. Please invite everyone in your family including grandma, grandpa, aunts, uncles, and cousins, too! Feel free to invite friends and neighbors. We would love to meet and see them all! The more, the merrier!

Come Be A Part Of The Tradition

Gorczyca Orthodontics has been hosting the Summer Splash Party at the Antioch Water Park since the park opened in 1998. The Antioch Water Park is a landmark in our East Contra Costa County Community and the Gorczyca Orthodontics Annual Summer Splash Party has become and anticipated local summer event and part of our practice culture.

So get on your suit, kick off your shoes, and take a splash or stroll with us under the stars!

It is going to be a great evening! See you there!