The Society's History

In May 1867, a professional dental association was formed, after a meeting of a number of dentists from Lancaster city and county. This new association was named the Harris Dental Association of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, in honor of Dr. Chapin Harris.

Dr. Chapin Harris is considered one of the founding members of the profession of dentistry in the United States of America, father of American Dental Science, and a pioneer of dental journalism. He has been inducted in the hall of fame of the Pierre Fauchard Academy. He was instrumental in getting the University of Maryland to add dental training to the medical department of the college in 1839. The establishment of the Baltimore College of Dental Surgery is seen as one of the three crucial steps in the foundation of the dental profession in the United States.

Through the vision and dedication of this group of dentists, what has now become the 4th oldest dental society in America was established. In 1954, the name of the association was formally changed to the Lancaster County Dental Society.

Some of the Society's Past Successes

The Municipal Water Company in Lancaster started to supply fluoridation to our water supply in 1967.

In 1980, the Lancaster County Dental Society established the first Access to Care Programs in the state of Pennsylvania. Later, the Society, working with the Office of Aging, needed mobile equipment to care for nursing home patients, as well as house bound and other non-ambulatory patients. To this end, a non-profit Foundation for Dental Health was established in 1984. The Foundation solicited and received funds to pay for this desperately needed equipment. Many dentists in the Society also answered the call, agreeing to accept Department of Public Assistance reimbursement for eligible patients.

Each year, the Society sponsors a Children's Dental Health Celebration, in February. The members of the Dental Society, Oral Hygiene and Dental Assistants Associations and the members of our auxiliary, volunteer their time and present programs to the community, in local schools, and other areas open to the public. At these programs tooth brushes, brochures, floss, etc. have been given to participants. A library of video tapes is available at the Lancaster County Dental Society's office, and many are specifically designed for educating children and youth.