Dr. Lucy Hobbs Taylor: The very first woman to earn a degree in Dental Surgery. She was born on March 14, 1833 in northern New York. At twelve years old, she was sent to the Franklin Academy in New York and graduated at the age of 16. In March of 1861, Lucy completed her apprenticeship and applied to the Ohio College of Dentistry for admission. She was refused admission because she was a woman. At that time, it was not necessary to have a formal degree and Lucy, on her 28th birthday, started a practice in Cincinnati. The cost 25 cents to have a tooth extraction and $50.00 to have a denture made. Business, however came to a standstill when Fort Sumpter was fired upon and the Civil War started!