From Pulling Teeth to Promoting Oral Health. Pharmacy and Dentistry 1815-2015

Two hundred years ago the occupational boundaries between different medical practitioners were blurred and unspecified, with many practicing in several fields. However the 1815 Apothecaries Act had a major impact on both the emerging pharmaceutical and dental professions. The 1878 and 1921 Dentists Acts enabled pharmacists who did some dentistry to continue practicing dentistry. Changes proposed by the British Dental Association (BDA) resulted in the formation of a Chemists Dental Association in 1910 to defend the interests of this group, which continued in existence until 1951. This paper explores the changing relationship between chemists and dentists from the early nineteenth century through to the early twenty-first century. Sources used include the published work of both dental and pharmaceutical historians, documentary sources, and quotations from oral history interviews.