In 1885 Dr. C. Edmund Kells of New Orleans had his wife, Mrs. Kells to assist him in his dental practice. Mrs Kells became the first dental assistant and she was called "Lady in Attendance", making it respectable for women patients to go into a dental office without being accompanied by their husbands. The "Lady in Attendance" was very helpful around the dental office by assisting the dentist where possible and mixing the needed dental materials.

In 1900, Dr. Kells was prosperous enough to expand his dental practice to include a full time trained chair-side dental assistant and a secretarial assistant.

Malvina Cueria, one of the first "ladies in attendance" was born in 1893. She started working with Dr. Kells in her late teens.

Dr. Kells was a pioneer in the use of radiography and traditional in his approach to treating abscessed teeth...he used leeches, and each he use them, Malvina left the room.

Since Malvina was not familiar with the new fangled x-ray machine along with other members of the staff, this allowed Dr. Kells to perfect his usage of the machine on them. At this point a great deal of Malvina's hair had fallen out, but she had long hair and arranged it over the bald spots until it all grew back.

Dr. Kells had to have his fingers, then his hand and finally he had his entire arm amputated. After his arm was amputated he committed suicide.

Later on, after the death of Dr. Kells, Malvina got married, retired from her job to be a full time housewife and then later returned to work as a dental assistant for another dentist.

During her active professional years she earned her certification, became a charter member of both the New Orleans, and the Louisiana Dental Assistants and served as an American Dental Assistants Association district trustee from 1953 to 1956.

In 1980 at 87 she was interviewed with American Dental Assistants Association and had never felt any other ill effects of the old fashioned x-rays.

She was also honored by the American Dental Assistants Association convention in New Orleans in 1980 and she spoke of the early days in dentistry.

In 1978 the first Dental Assistant Recognition Week was launched complete from several HEW officials and President Jimmy Carter.

Dental Assistant Week falls every year on the first full week of March. Dental Assistants Recognition Week is a time for all dentists to pause in their busy schedules and to recognize the many important skills and accomplishments of their dental assistants.

It is also a time to express appreciation for the invaluable role dental assistants perform as dental professionals.

In time, other dentists have been following Dr. Kells' lead of working with the profession of dental assisting. Chair-side dental assisting has changed from an unskilled assistant to a true professional requiring education, experience, licensing and certification.

The dental assisting field is interesting, challenging and it is a fulfilling career for both men and women. A dental assistant does more than just assist at the chair. They perform clerical/administrative duties; oversee treatments, dental x-rays, polish teeth, take pulse/ blood pressures, laboratory work, maintain inventories of supplies and materials.

Dental assistants also educate and advise patients and they develop positive relationships with them based on mutual respect and trust.

Resource: The Dental Assistant Journal of the American Dental Assistants Association
May/June 1999

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