EMELINE ROBERTS JONES was the first female practicing dentist in the United States, an accomplishment that has inspired women for over a century. What is often overlooked is the work it took for her to succeed in a field where women were told it was scientifically impossible for them to be dentists because “The very form and structure of a woman unfits her for its duties.”
Emeline married Dr. Daniel Jones when she was just 18. He allowed her to be his assistant, in spite of her desire to be a dentist. He laughed her goal away, telling her she had “frail and clumsy fingers.” She studied in secret, eventually presenting him with a two-quart jar filled with extracted teeth full of fillings, proving she could handle dental surgery. Her efforts paid off. While at first she was only allowed to work on a few patients, as her skills grew so did his trust in her. Eventually she became his partner in the practice, gaining a reputation as a skilled dentist.
After her husband’s death, Emeline became a traveling dentist. With a portable dentist chair, she traveled to eastern Connecticut and Rhode Island to help those without access to dental care. She eventually settled in New Haven, where she established her own practice. Through hard work and dedication, she established the most successful dentistry in Connecticut.
Emeline Roberts Jones died at the age of 80, after nearly six decades of dentistry. Her refusal to give up, and subsequent success, enabled generations of females to pursue their dreams in the field.
To read more:
- Ripe Global: A Celebration Of The 9 Most Important Female Dentists In History
- Connecticut Women’s Hall of Fame: Emeline Roberts Jones
- American Orthodontic Society: 10 Pioneering Women in Dentistry
Photo credit: See page for author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons