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History of the Oklahoma Dental Association |
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HistoryThe first dental office was opened in Oklahoma by Dr. J.E. Wright in 1885 in Savanna, Choctaw Nation, seven miles south of McAlester.
Beginning in 1891, dentists practicing in Oklahoma Territory were subject to the licensing provision of a law passed by the Territorial Legislature, the Congressional Act of May 2, 1890. Dentistry and pharmacy were the only professions for which laws were passed by the first legislature regulating their practice. This is more remarkable when it is recalled that not until after statehood, in 1908, did a law appear on the statute books for the regulation and licensing of physicians. Members of the profession met and organized the Oklahoma Territorial Dental Association in 1891. There was a need for a dental association in Indian Territory too; both territories were almost equal in size and population, and number of dentists. The official census of 1900 listed 398,311 inhabitants of Oklahoma Territory; 391,990 in Indian Territory. There were 23 dentists in Oklahoma Territory in 1893; 29 in Indian Territory. By 1904, the numbers were 181 and 188 respectively. The Indian Territory Association was organized in 1903. A joint session of the two associations held June 17-19, 1907, organized the current Oklahoma State Dental Association. The Constitution adopted provided for organization of the state association which is made up of eight district dental societies. |
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Oklahoma Dental Association |
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