1913
First dental hygiene school in Bridgeport, CT.
- First dental hygiene school established
Background
In 1913, Dr. Alfred Civilion Fones opened the first dental hygiene school in Bridgeport, CT, to train dental hygienists to educate children in self-care and provide preventive oral health services. The Bridgeport Board of Education hired graduates of the first class to clean children’s teeth and provide oral health education. Five years after the program was implemented, Dr. Fones found a two-thirds reduction in the incidence of dental caries (tooth decay) and also observed improvements in academic performance and a decrease in the incidence of communicable diseases.
Impact
Children’s oral health and academic performance improved.
Source
University of Bridgeport. Fones School of Dental Hygiene.
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