The idea of forming a group of American dentists had been in the mind of some of the Americans practicing in Paris, and when Dr. C.A. BOGUE arrived in France in the late 1870s, he had been surprised to find that the French dentists were very secretive about their work and unwilling to share the fruit of their experience. They were ever seeking to keep their professional secrets. BOGUE decided to suggest to some of the outstanding practitioners to get together for “reasons of mutual interest".
Thomas Evans had also been disappointed when he arrived in Paris to find the quality and standards of the profession so low for he was aware of the importance French dentistry had had in the 18th century America.