[Historical monograph of the Ateneo Odontológico Mexicano]

This monograph is focused on the role the study group (as an instrument for professional improvement) has played in the development of Mexican Odontology. Today, it still is the most factible alternative for the one who does not wish to be relegated with regards to odontological innovations. Since the first professional societies emerged last century, they had the nature of study groups. And although their aspirations were nationwide, they gave the profession one of the most valuable means of information to the dentist of that time: the scientific magazine. From these societies (study groups) the idea of forming the first Dental School in the Mexican Republic in 1904 originated and crystallized. In the 1930's, societies of specialties appeared in the Mexican Republic working from that moment on as study groups. They are responsible for directing scientific information to the dental population in general, even stepping out of the subject-matter pertaining to their own area. These Associations were: Orthodontics and Buccal Surgery. In 1945, the Dental Study Group U.S.C. of Mexico appeared as a formal study group. Since then, this group offers the dental profession a seminar that is the second oldest Dental Seminar worldwide. One of the merits of the group was to initiate this type of education which spread throughout the Mexican Republic giving rise to the formation of new study groups. In 1966, the Ateneo Odontológico Mexicano was created, and the mystic of its formation, politics and performance are described in this monograph.