Public education in the 1930s and 1940s helped make preventative dental care, such as regular brushing, commonplace. Prevention was further supported by dental hygienists who were now an integral part of the dental office, taking over tooth cleaning so that the dentist could focus on restorative work.

Advances in dental techniques continued and by 1949, The American Dental Association recognized the specialties of Oral Surgery, Periodontics, Pediatric Dentistry, Oral Pathology, and Orthodontics. Learn about artifacts on display below…