ADA News
Noted dental historian dies
Brighton, N.Y.—World-renowned expert on dental history, Malvin Ring, died April 8.
He was 90.
Called "Mal" by his friends and colleagues, Dr. Ring was one of the world’s leading authorities on dental history. He served as professor of dental history at the School of Dental Medicine at the University of Buffalo; was the author of "Dentistry-An Illustrated History;" served as a consultant on "150 Years of the American Dental Association: A Pictorial History, 1859-2009," which was published earlier this year; and published more than 200 articles.
"They don’t come any finer," Dr. Clifton Dummett said as he laughed about his old friend.
Dr. Dummett described Dr. Ring as "very outgoing" and met him through the American Academy of the History of Dentistry, where Dr. Ring edited the bulletin for 27 years.
"His ability to combine his lifetime enjoyment and excitement of history and 'contribute to an underserved and vital component in dental education' became a lifelong pursuit," said Dr. David A. Chernin, executive director of the American Academy of the History of Dentistry and editor of the Journal of the History of Dentistry. "Through his world travels, engaging personality and passion for his chosen profession, he advanced a professional awareness of dentistry's historical roots."
Dr. Ring was a member of the American College of Dentists, ADA and American Academy of the History of Dentistry. He received a bachelor's degree from Brooklyn College, a D.D.S. from St. Louis University and a master's degree from State University of New York at Geneseo.
Dr. Ring was passionate about promoting dentistry as a primary profession, not a secondary one to medicine, Dr. Dummett said.
"He advocated for both an independent assessment of dentistry's successes and failures; while at the same time uncovering through his 'mining of our literature' the forgotten accomplishments of dentists and dentistry’s contributions to our culture and society," Dr. Chernin said.
Mary Kreinbring, director of the ADA library, worked with Dr. Ring on the ADA history book published earlier this year.
"Dr. Ring's book, 'Dentistry: An Illustrated History,' has become a classic of dental history. Nothing else published treats dentistry so broadly with such wonderful illustrations," Ms. Kreinbring said. "To meet Dr. Ring in person was always a pleasure because he was so knowledgeable and full of interesting stories. His contributions as consultant for the ADA's sesquicentennial book were invaluable."
Dr. Ring is survived by his wife of 35 years, Hilda; two children; three step-children; five grandchildren; and a sister. He served in World War II and Korea, practiced dentistry in Batavia, N.Y., and retired to Brighton, N.Y., where he resided until his death.
To many in the dentistry community, Dr. Ring will be remembered for his professional accomplishments. But to many others, "Mal" will be remembered for just being himself.
"He was not only a wonderful dentist but a great friend," Dr. Dummett said. "I'm very much affected by his loss."
