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Letter to the Trustees of the Rochester Dental Dispensary (June 25, 1920):

"The main object in mind when the Dispensary was founded was the care of teeth of children in Rochester and its vicinity... When the Dispensary was founded I did not foresee that it might have an opportunity to become a part of a great project for a higher grade of dental education than had before been attempted..." George Eastman

Looking at George Eastman

The early years: the tradition of education and research is established.


1892

The first free dental clinic in the United States is established in the City Hospital but lapses after two years.

1905

The Dental Dispensary is opened by the Seventh District Dental Society Of New York in conjunction with the Rochester Public Health Association at the Rochester Public Health Association's building on 32 South Washington Street. Captain Henry Lomb of Bausch and Lomb donates $600 to the Society.

1910

Leading dentists of the day re-establish the dental clinic at No. 14 School.

1915

George Eastman donates the funds on October 13 to build the Rochester Dental Dispensary.

1916

Frank Ritter's daughters donate the Dispensary equipment.

The Dispensary establishes the Rochester School of Dental Hygiene. Dr. Rudolph Hofheinz, Captain Lomb's dentist, is named principal of the Dental Hygiene School, but dies suddenly. Mrs. Rudolf Hofheinz donates the laboratory equipment in her husband's memory.

Dr. Harvey J. Burkhart is named first Dispensary director and becomes principal of the Dental Hygiene School.

1917

First graduates of Dental Hygiene School are awarded diplomas in January. Rochester Dental Dispensary is dedicated May 9 and opens October 15.

1919

The Dispensary's Tonsil-Adenoid Clinic opens. George Eastman provides an additional endowment of 1000 shares of Kodak common stock to support the treatment of nose and throat ailments and orthodontics.

1920

Eastman gives $4 million to match $5 million grant by John D. Rockefeller, Jr., making possible the University of Rochester's School of Medicine and Dentistry. A plan to develop the School of Medicine and Dentistry in connection with the University of Rochester (UR) is announced.

1928

Plans for the dental component of the School of Medicine and Dentistry in cooperation with the Dispensary are abandoned for lack of student interest. The University of Rochester Dental Fellows Program is developed.

1929

The Rockefeller Foundation provides fellowships to the UR to support dental research and training in the fundamental biological background underlying dental health problems. A consultation dental clinic is established in Strong Memorial Hospital's out-patient department.

1930

Eastman Dental Institute in London is formally dedicated on November 19. Eastman dental dispensaries are built in Stockholm, Paris, London, Rome, and Brussels.

1932

George Eastman dies at age 77 and bequeaths another million dollars to the Rochester Dental Dispensary.

1933

The Eastman Dental Clinic of Rome is dedicated April 21.

1935

The Brussels Clinic is dedicated July 31.

1936

The Stockholm Clinic is dedicated April 25.

1937

The Paris Clinic is dedicated October 21.

1941

The Rochester institution is renamed Eastman Dental Dispensary on June 24.

1946

Dr. Harvey J. Burkhart dies at the age of 82.

The middle years: Eastman Dental Center and the University of Rochester are regarded as the cradle of dental academia; sealant research revolutionizes restorative dentistry.

1947

Dr. Basil G. Bibby is named director of Eastman Dental Dispensary.

1951

A master of science program with a major in dental science is established at the UR School of Medicine and Dentistry (SMD) in cooperation with the Dispensary.

1955

The Department of Dentistry and Dental Research is created at the UR SMD.

1963

American Dental Association (ADA) approves Dental Dispensary intern rotations through The Genesee Hospital.

1964

Administration of the Dispensary's School for Dental Hygienists is transferred to Monroe Community College.

Dedication of the Dispensary's new wing provides for an expanded program of dental research.

1965

Name of Dispensary is changed to Eastman Dental Center (EDC).

1967

Dr. Michael Buonocore describes a process for enhancing the adhesion of plastics to teeth, thus ushering in the modern era of restorative dentistry.

1968

The Rochester Neighborhood Health Center, under UR auspices, is opened in Hanover Houses with three dentists on staff who hold appointments at Eastman Dental Center or the UR.

1969

Formal affiliation between The Genesee Hospital's dental department and the UR SMD takes place. The American Dental Association approves a three-year oral surgery program, jointly developed with the school and The Genesee Hospital.

Recent years: a new building and a closer relationship with the University of Rochester are established.


1970

Dr. William D. McHugh is named third director of the Eastman Dental Center when Dr. Bibby retires from his administrative duties to devote his time to research.

1971

A clinical teacher training program is initiated between the UR and EDC with the objective of training the highest quality of dental teachers and researchers.

1972

The Department of Dentistry and Dental Research is renamed the Department of Dental Research and a new Department of Clinical Dentistry of the UR SMD is created.

1973

A formal affiliation between The Genesee Hospital's dental department and EDC takes place.

1976

Ground is broken for the new building which is adjacent to the University of Rochester Medical Center.

1978


The new Eastman Dental Center at 625 Elmwood Avenue is dedicated on October 26.

1992

Dr. McHugh retires and Dr. Dennis H. Leverett is named acting director of Eastman Dental Center.

1994


Dr. Ronald J. Billings is named the fourth director of the Eastman Dental Center.

1996

Eastman Dental Center and the University of Rochester agree to merge.

Future years: Eastman Dental Center and the University of Rochester become partners in the provision of oral health care, graduate education, and research.

1997

EDC and the UR merge thus becoming partners in the provision of oral health care, graduate education, and research. EDC is to be known as the University of Rochester Eastman Dental Center, a division of the University of Rochester Medical Center.

1998

The Eastman Department of Dentistry and the Center for Oral Biology are founded.

Dr. Cyril Meyerowitz is named the chair of the Eastman Department of Dentistry of the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry.

Dr. Ronald Billings becomes director emeritus of Eastman Dental Center.

1999

Dr. Meyerowitz is named director of Eastman Dental Center in January.

More Dental Center History in the Eastman Dental Center Archives at Bibby
Library

 

 

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