Dr Mehvish Aijaz
In the field and profession of dentistry, women have been present in the field for centuries, yet history does not record this it all. This is due to the cultural view that appreciates the work of men and favors them over women.
Dentistry as any other health care profession requires hard working and motivated people who strive to deliver best care to the public through managing their oral health care. This essay discusses the role of women in dentistry in different parts of the world. Certain jobs have been associated with either the male or female genders and dentistry is traditionally one of them as it is thought to be a masculine profession.
Women were considered wives mothers – even no dental collage would accept women students with the notion that women lacked the physical ability needed for dentistry.
In recent years significant numbers of women have begun careers in law, medicine , business , Air Force, architecture, engineering, cinematography, dentistry and many more. Women have started more actively to express the need to treated and examined by women.
Today 53% of female dentists are solo practitioners compared to 75% of male dentists; 29% of women are employees. Our profession and society have come a long way and rise in number of women in profession has brought and continues to bring a number of positive changes. When I look back at that time I am amazed at how few of women changed concept of dentistry for us and how they accept the challenges for remaining women dentists. Today women hold significant power of profession in faculty positions in schools and dental colleges; their influence does not end up.
Women fit well in dentistry. Being women dentists, we also look at the patient’s full life picture and not just patients in the chair . Some women practice flexibility with hours and administrative involvement. Many women juggle more stuff than men between career, families, homes and communication.
—The author can be reached at: [email protected]

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