The beginnings and development of dental services in Brooklyn date back to the first half of the nineteenth century. At least references to dental implantation and treatment services can be found as early as the 1830s. Learn more at brooklyn1.one
The first Brooklyn dentists
The first authentic mention of a dentist in the city relates to T. Jefferson Jones, who practiced dentistry in 1828 and owned a pharmacy. In one of the advertisements from 1832, he stated that he works as a dentist in his residence, where you can insert teeth, from one to the whole set. Teeth were brushed, filed and milled to ensure durability and aesthetic appeal. Also, T. Jefferson Jones advised Persian tooth powder to anyone who wanted healthy gums and clean white teeth without causing any harm. The ad’s caption stated that T. Jefferson Jones was a doctor of medical sciences.
In 1831, W. K. Northall, Jr. established a dental practice as well. The catalog advertisement from that year stated that he not only replaced lost teeth with artificial ones of the highest quality, but also offered a wide range of shades, strength, purity and natural appearance. These attributes set his dentures apart from the competition, not to mention their aesthetic appearance and comfort while chewing. Cavities in the teeth were filled with cement, gold or silver. Teeth that were loosened due to dental calculus, diseases or other causes were almost always restored to their original strength. Furthermore, doctors corrected children’s tooth abnormalities. By the way, Dr. Northall, Jr. also published two books: “Hints to Parents on the Importance of Early Attention to Children’s Teeth” and “Five Minute’ Advice on the Teeth”.
In 1837, Dr. Martin K. Bridges settled in Brooklyn and started his medical practice. In 1843, he issued a postcard for free distribution called “Dental Mirror,” which stated that every Friday, from 7 to 9 a.m., two hours in his office were dedicated to providing free services to the poor.
The Brooklyn Dental Society
On December 14, 1867, thirteen dentists established the Brooklyn Society of Dental Science and Art. Then on January 10, 1870, the society established a dental infirmary at 260 Washington Street. Following the opening, every week there were free dental procedures for the poor. Later, a superintendent was hired. Members of the group not only voluntarily provided their services but also, with the help of several public figures, paid for all expenses within a year. Following that, the city of Brooklyn allocated $1,500 per year to maintain the infirmary. The society lasted approximately four years. Dentists used it to educate people on the value of teeth and how to take good care of them.
For many dentists, training in the infirmary was equivalent to graduate school. As far as we know, this hospital was the first of its sort, and it provided significant benefits. Nevertheless, it needed to be closed. The truth is that people who could afford dental care attempted to receive it for free, undermining the clinic’s charitable mission. Instead, in 1882, the Brooklyn Dental Society (the Brooklyn Society of Dental Science and Art, renamed in 1869) and the Kings County Medical Society established a library and reading room at 398 Fulton Street. It was then relocated to the premises of the Medical Society in Bridge Street and greatly expanded. It is presently owned by the Second District Dental Society and is located in the new premises of the Kings County Medical Society on Bedford Avenue.
Dental dynasties
In 1895, the Brooklyn Dental Society ceased all activities in favor of its somewhat younger brother, the Second District Dental Society. On April 7, 1868, the state legislature passed a law known as “An Act to Incorporate Dental Societies for the Purpose of Improving the Regulation of the Practice of Dentistry in the State”. It called for the establishment of a dental society in each of the eight judicial districts, with eight delegates from each meeting at the capital of Albany to form what became known as the Dental Society of the State of New York. This society included approximately 600 dentists from Brooklyn and Long Island. Every year, the organization hosted postgraduate courses in a variety of disciplines.
Since the days when anyone could be a dentist if they had enough strength of mind and knowledge to pull out a tooth, dentistry in Brooklyn has come a long way. Now, a person must complete a four-year course of study. At the same time, there are numerous dental dynasties in Brooklyn. For example, Dr. Mark DiBona, the son of a dentist from Brooklyn, founded the DiBona Dental Group clinic in 1976. Dr. Mark graduated from New York University’s College of Dentistry. Instead of joining his father’s dentistry office, he relocated to Exeter, New Hampshire, to start his own practice.