Social Reformer. Irene E. Newman was the world's first dental hygienist, serving under Dr. Alfred C. Fones who was credited with coining the term "dental hygiene" and pioneering the corresponding movement. In 1906 Irene E. Newman, then Alfred Fones chairside assistant, was trained by Dr. Alfred Fones to clean teeth and perform other preventive treatments on children, making her the world's first dental hygienist. In 1907, Irene Newman first performed oral prophylaxis for the public at Dr. Fones new office, the carriage house at 10 Washington Avenue, in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Dental professionals would come from some distance to visit this "modern office of oral health care." In November of 1913 Dr. Alfred Fones opened the Fones School of Dental Hygiene. The all volunteer faculty was impressive with the deans of the dental schools of Pennsylvania and Harvard, seven professors from Yale and two from Columbia and three New York specialists. On June 5, 1914, twenty-seven of the original enrollees graduated and were given diplomas; among them was Irene E. Newman. In 1917 Irene Newman received the world's first dental hygiene license and she became the first president of the first dental hygiene association, the Connecticut Dental Hygienists Association.
Social Reformer. Irene E. Newman was the world's first dental hygienist, serving under Dr. Alfred C. Fones who was credited with coining the term "dental hygiene" and pioneering the corresponding movement. In 1906 Irene E. Newman, then Alfred Fones chairside assistant, was trained by Dr. Alfred Fones to clean teeth and perform other preventive treatments on children, making her the world's first dental hygienist. In 1907, Irene Newman first performed oral prophylaxis for the public at Dr. Fones new office, the carriage house at 10 Washington Avenue, in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Dental professionals would come from some distance to visit this "modern office of oral health care." In November of 1913 Dr. Alfred Fones opened the Fones School of Dental Hygiene. The all volunteer faculty was impressive with the deans of the dental schools of Pennsylvania and Harvard, seven professors from Yale and two from Columbia and three New York specialists. On June 5, 1914, twenty-seven of the original enrollees graduated and were given diplomas; among them was Irene E. Newman. In 1917 Irene Newman received the world's first dental hygiene license and she became the first president of the first dental hygiene association, the Connecticut Dental Hygienists Association.
Bio by: Marcia Lorentzen
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