Attaining and sustaining leadership for U.S. women in dentistry.

It wasn’t until the late 1960s that women could enroll in coeducational colleges at some of the most elite universities in the United States.1 Similarly, until recently, dental schools did not have significant female enrollments. Just over 150 years ago, women were unable to attend a U.S. dental school. While dental schools have been admitting women since the 1860s, these were just token acceptances, with only a few accepted every several years.2 By the 1970s, dental school classes consistently had more than a few female students, but meaningful increases in their ranks didn’t begin until the 1980s. As a result, the percentage of women making up the population of U.S. dentists is only now significantly increasing. Why are these trends important? Women are changing the face of the dental profession. Different practice patterns can change oral health staffing needs; different decision making patterns can influence purchasing choices; and different career aspirations can impact practice arrangements, practice ownership, and a student’s choice to enter public service or pursue careers in academia or dental research. The first step to becoming a leader in oral health care requires acceptance into dental school. Then come leadership roles in local constituent dental groups and, later, in state and national organizations, as well as academia. Understanding these pipeline trends is key to understanding the current state of women’s leadership in dentistry and the potential for increasing the influence of women leaders.