As we prepare to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Lucy Hobbs Award, we reflect on Dr. Lucy Hobbs Taylor, the first woman in America to graduate with a dental degree and an instrument she most certainly had at her disposal – the tooth key. At one point in her autobiography, written in the third person, Lucy discusses her rise to prominence, after so many trials and tribulations: “Her reputation widened, until all Iowa knew of the woman that pulled teeth.”…

According to Dr. Rella Christensen at the Driving Dentistry Forward podcast, restorative materials may be on the horizon that will “allow you to have all your bad habits and still control dental caries?” At least that’s her hope. The recipient of the Lucy Hobbs Project Industry Icon award shares her inspirational level of knowledge as a clinical researcher – and some lighthearted moments — in a discussion with Chuck Cohen, Driving Dentistry Forward podcast host, and Benco Dental Managing Director….

Dentistry, like every profession, could never move forward without all types of action takers: mentors, icons, innovators, humanitarians, clinical experts, women to watch, trailblazers. On #InternationalWomensDay, consider this collection of wisdom from a handful of award-winning women in dentistry. Spotlighted in 2020 by The Lucy Hobbs Project and Benco Dental, these seven women affect positive change every day and offer inspiration for us all. Nominate an inspirational woman in dentistry? Celebrate #InternationalWomensDay by nominating her for a 2021 Lucy Hobbs…

Dr. Maria Maranga revels in the role of “connector”. Yesterday, the American Dental Association House of Delegates voted the Aquebogue, New York endodontist as its second vice president, and she plans to put that proficiency to work immediately for 163,000 ADA member dentists across the U.S. “As an organization we must connect members with the tools they need to succeed in practice. As leaders we need to connect to the next generation to mentor our future leaders,” said Dr. Maranga,…

Meet the founder of two institutes and a university bachelor’s program, a front runner of advanced dental surgical techniques, an advocate for the oral care of 28,000 children and counting, the mind behind 100-plus medical devices and technology, an engineer of empowerment, and a unifier of oral health and medicine. They are Lucy Hobbs. Dr. Lucy Hobbs Taylor earned her dental degree in 1866, advancing equality for her gender. She defied nearly a decade of resistance, leading with clinical proficiency…