Women’s Innovation in Dental Education: A Narrative Review

Background Women now graduate from dental school in numbers comparable to men, yet a persistent gap remains between their presence in the profession and their influence on its direction. This review examines women’s leadership in dental academia through the lens of innovation, exploring how they change practice, education, and research, and what is lost when these contributions remain unrecognized.Methods A narrative review was conducted using PubMed/MEDLINE and Scopus to identify English‑language articles published between January 2010 and January 2026. Search terms included combinations of “women,” “dentistry,” “dental profession,” “dental education,” “leadership,” and “innovation.” Eligible publications addressed women’s participation in the dental workforce or education and discussed at least one dimension of innovation (clinical, scientific, educational, or entrepreneurial). Opinion pieces and studies focused solely on non‑dental health professions were excluded. Data were synthesized qualitatively.Results The review confirms well‑documented inequities in income, academic rank, funding, and editorial representation, but finds 6 articles discussing women’s leadership in driving innovation. Where examined, women leaders are shown to reorient curricula, clinical training models, research agendas, and organizational practices toward prevention, equity, and community‑engaged care. Women‑led networks and professional organizations function as innovation‑enabling infrastructure, expanding mentorship, pipelines, and institutional reforms.Conclusion Supporting women’s innovative leadership in dental education is essential for strengthening institutional adaptability and broadening the priorities, problems, and future that guide the profession.Practical Implications Dental schools and professional organizations should intentionally recruit, develop, and resource women leaders to catalyze innovation in curricula, research agendas, and organizational structures.