M. Evangeline Jordon, pioneer in pedodontics.
At a time when little attention was paid to the care of children's teeth, Evangeline Jordon pioneered new techniques and laid the groundwork for what became the dental specialty, Pedodontia. Jordon went to college and became an elementary school teacher in 1885. By 1897, dissatisfied with her life as teacher and as a result of her work as a dental assistant during summer vacations, she enrolled at the University of California and graduated in dentistry in 1898. Immediately after graduation, Jordon became involved in organized dentistry and in 1901 was elected 2nd vice -president of the Southern California Dental Association. In 1901 she developed a lecture course on "Care of Children's Teeth," started a clinic at the Orphan's Home, and later also became responsible for the development of a clinic for children at the School of Dentistry at the University of California. By 1909 she had limited her practice to children and started publishing papers on dental treatment of children. In 1924 she published the first book in English on pediatric dentistry. She was one of the founders of the Federation of American Women Dentists and was active in the founding of the American Society of Dentistry for Children. She recognized the problem of nursing bottle caries and the need for the psychological training for dentists treating children. Jordon paved the way for much of our progress in pediatric dentistry. She is an example of what can be accomplished if there is a vision, a desire to serve and recognition of the needs of children.