Esther Wilkins

Esther Mae Wilkins (December 9, 1916 – December 12, 2016) was an American dental hygienist, dentist and author of the first comprehensive book on dental hygiene, Clinical Practice of the Dental Hygienist.[1] The dental instrument known as the Wilkins/Tufts Explorer was named after her.[1][2][3]

Esther M. Wilkins
Born(1916-12-09)December 9, 1916
Chelmsford, Massachusetts, U.S.
DiedDecember 12, 2016(2016-12-12) (aged 100)
Hudson, New Hampshire, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
EducationSimmons College (1938, B.S.); Forsyth School of Dental Hygiene (1939, RDH); Tufts University School of Dental Medicine (1948, DMD; 1966, Advanced Periodontal Certification)
OccupationDentist, educator, author
Years active1939–2016
Notable work
Clinical Practice of the Dental Hygienist
Spouse(s)James Gallagher (1966-1988; his death)

Early life

Born in Chelmsford, Massachusetts to Ernest Wilkins and Edith Packard,[4] Esther Wilkins grew up in the nearby town of Tyngsborough.[2] Her father was a handyman, and her mother was a secretary.[4] She graduated from Lowell High School[5] in 1934.[6]

In 1938, she graduated from Simmons College in Boston. She first enrolled in the nursing program, but then switched to a general science major. Her interest in dental hygiene began her senior year, when one of her professors lectured on public health careers. Inspired, Wilkins walked over to the children's dental clinic at the Forsyth School and soon decided to become a hygienist. She earned a certificate from the Forsyth School of Dental Hygiene in 1939.[1]

Career

After receiving her certificate in dental hygiene, Wilkins took a position with dentist Frank Willis, D13, in Manchester-by-the-Sea, Massachusetts. After several years as a hygienist, she applied for a degree in dentistry at Tufts University and was accepted for the class of 1948. The dean convinced her to defer to avoid being the only female student in the class. Following his advice, Wilkins entered the program the next year, where she was one of three women. At the time, less than 2 percent of U.S. dentists were women.[2]

After graduating from Tufts, Wilkins completed an internship in children's dentistry at Eastman Dental Dispensary in Rochester, New York.[7] Sponsored by Kodak founder George Eastman, the dispensary offered free dental services to low-income children.

In 1950, she founded the dental hygiene program at the University of Washington, Seattle's School of Dentistry. She developed the curriculum and taught most of the courses offered.[8]

Realizing a need for up-to-date textbooks on dental hygiene, Wilkins began writing and mimeographing handouts for her students. Over the years, the stack of papers accumulated, and soon Wilkins was approached by a textbook seller about turning her writing into a book.[1] The first edition of Clinical Practice of the Dental Hygienist was published in 1960. The book has since become a cornerstone of text in dental hygiene programs. Wilkins released updated editions of the textbook through its 12th edition in 2016. The book has been translated into many languages, including Japanese, Italian, Korean, Portuguese, and Canadian French,[9] and is used in dental hygiene schools around the world.[2][8]

After 12 years at the University of Washington, Wilkins returned to the Tufts University School of Dental Medicine to earn an Advanced Periodontal Certification in 1966.[7] She became a clinical professor at the university's School of Dentistry in 1966 and taught there for 45 years. In 2011, she became a professor emeritus.[4][10]

She launched the Esther Wilkins Education Program to provide dental hygiene professionals with tools and lessons to educate children about oral health.[11]

Awards and recognition

Legacy

Two awards have been established in her name: the Esther Wilkins Lifetime Achievement Award, by the American Dental Hygienists' Association, and the Dr. Esther M. Wilkins Distinguished Alumni Award, by the Forsyth School for Dental Hygienists.[15]

In 2004, Wilkins received an honorary degree from the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences for her achievements in the practice and advancement of dental hygiene.[16]

She established the Esther M. Wilkins Endowed Scholarship in 2011.[17]

Works
  • Clinical Practice of the Dental Hygienist (editions 1–12)
  • Little Book of Dental Hygienist's Rules (1997)

Personal life

In 1966, Wilkins married a former dentistry classmate, James B. Gallagher.[4] They were married for 22 years until Gallagher's death in 1988.[2]

Death

Wilkins died of a stroke on December 12, 2016 at a nursing home[6] in Hudson, New Hampshire.[3][4] Her death came three days after her 100th birthday.[18]

References
  1. Flaherty, Julie (March 13, 2012). "By the Book". Tufts Now. Retrieved December 13, 2016.
  2. Demers, Daniel (October 24, 2013). "Dr. Esther Wilkins: The rock star of dental hygiene". DrBicuspid.com. Retrieved December 13, 2016.
  3. Hartley, Mark (December 16, 2016). "Dr. Esther Wilkins, a dental hygiene icon, passes away". Dentistry IQ. Retrieved December 16, 2016.
  4. Saint Louis, Catherine (December 19, 2016). "Esther Wilkins, Who Set Standards for Dental Hygienists, Dies at 100". The New York Times. Retrieved December 27, 2016.
  5. DePalma, Ann-Marie C. (August 1, 2002). "Dr. Esther Wilkins profile". Registered Dental Hygienist Magazine. Retrieved December 16, 2016.
  6. "Esther M. Wilkins, RDH, DMD". Pelham Funeral Home. December 2016. Retrieved December 27, 2016.
  7. Staff (December 13, 2016). "Dr. Esther Wilkins, rock star of dental hygiene, dies". DrBicuspid.com. Retrieved December 16, 2016.
  8. "Esther Wilkins, RDH, DMD: Top 25 Women in Dentistry". Dental Products Report. Modern Dental Network. Retrieved December 16, 2016.
  9. Staff. "Thought Leader Profiles: Esther Wilkins, RDH, DMD". Friends of Hu-Friedy. Retrieved December 16, 2016.
  10. Carraggi, Mike (December 14, 2016). "Esther Wilkins, Chelmsford Native and 'Godmother of Dental Hygiene,' Dies at 100". Chelmsford Patch. Chelmsford, Massachusetts. Retrieved December 16, 2016.
  11. Staff. "Esther Wilkins Education Program". America’s ToothFairy. National Children's Oral Health Foundation. Archived from the original on December 20, 2016. Retrieved December 16, 2016.
  12. Manchir, Michelle (December 16, 2016). "'Dental hygiene's matriarch,' Dr. Esther Wilkins, dies". ADA News. American Dental Association. Retrieved December 27, 2016.
  13. Ceruti, Kristie (December 13, 2016). "Tribute to a dental powerhouse, Dr. Esther Wilkins". The Daily Floss. Retrieved December 16, 2016.
  14. Ceruti, Kristie (April 17, 2015). "Award winners walk in the footsteps of Lucy Hobbs". The Daily Floss. Retrieved December 16, 2016.
  15. Staff (2016). "Who We Are". Tufts Alumni. Archived from the original on December 20, 2016. Retrieved December 16, 2016.
  16. Staff (July 2004). "Dr. Esther Wilkins receives honorary degree from Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences". Dentistry IQ. Retrieved December 16, 2016.
  17. "Esther Wilkins '38, Author of Definitive Dental Hygiene Text, Creates $100,000 Scholarship". Alumnet Simmons College. January 13, 2011. Archived from the original on December 20, 2016. Retrieved December 16, 2016.
  18. Melanson, Alana (December 13, 2016). "Pioneering dentist from Chelmsford dies at 100". Lowell Sun. Lowell, Massachusetts. Retrieved December 16, 2016..
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