Rooted in Baltimore:
The Rise of Dental Education
Many have chosen dentistry as a profession, with the belief that a knowledge of it was more easily acquired, than that of any other; and some, after having followed it for two or three years, and finding that in order to attain respectability and usefulness in it, greater difficulties were to be surmounted than they had anticipated, have preferred to abandon it altogether, rather than bring disgrace upon both it and themselves. Let no one, therefore, be deceived into a belief, that, in a few weeks or months, he can become master of the art; for, should he commence its study under such an impression, he will most assuredly be disappointed, and, perhaps, find, after having devoted to it what he before thought sufficient time for its entire acquisition, that he has scarcely attained to a knowledge of its elementary principles.
Dentistry’s history is filled with magical and religious healers, smiths and barbers, and philosophers and scientists that, more often than not, simply had the tools available to pull teeth rather than the knowledge to treat the oral issues at hand. As a result, the medically educated who took a special interest in the health and understanding of the oral cavity were the minority in treating the public’s oral health for most of human history. With oral disease being an ever-present and ever-growing issue throughout the world, the need for regulated and professionalized dentistry was long overdue by the 1800s.
By 1840, professional dentistry would find its successful origination in Baltimore City. Bolstered by an innovative medical community and benefiting from a rapidly expanding industrial port city, the founders of the dental profession were provided an opportune and supportive setting to progress dentistry for the better.
Rooted in Baltimore: The Rise of Dental Education will explore the role Baltimore played in the foundation of the dental profession and dental education.
This project has been financed in part with State funds from the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority, an instrumentality of the State of Maryland. However, project contents or opinions do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority.
hours
Tuesday - Friday: 10am to 4pm
Address
31 S. Greene St. Baltimore, MD 21201
Phone
410-706-0600
The Dr. Samuel D. Harris National Museum of Dentistry is an auxiliary enterprise of the University of Maryland, School of Dentistry at the University of Maryland, Baltimore.
