Early dental journalism: a mirror of the development of dentistry as a profession

The rise of dentistry from a mechanical trade to a profession has often been attributed to the so-called "triumvirate" of organization, education, and journal literature. This essay focuses on one part of the triumvirate, examining the role of journals in the growth of dentistry as a profession, from the appearance of the first journal in 1839 to the publication of the Index to Dental Literature in 1921. Rather than discussing the history of individual titles, it identifies some of the broader issues and problems that confronted early dental journalism. The evolution of dental journals from trade house publications to independent scientific literature mirrored the movement toward professional status in dentistry during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.