Although increasing numbers of women are entering the once male-dominated dental profession in Australia, in 2005 females still only comprised just over one-quarter (28.4%) of all practising dentists.

Check out the Dentistry Library’s latest display examining the contribution of women to the dentistry profession in Australia. We focus on two pioneer women of dentistry; Myra Rendle, Queensland’s first practising dentist, and Annie Praid who along with Margaret Barnes, became the first women to graduate from the University of Sydney as Bachelors of Dental Science.

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Dental labour force survey 2005. AIHW Cat. No. DEN 172. Canberra: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2008