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Each day, African American dental professionals around the country work diligently to improve oral health and light up smiles. Filled with endless opportunities, dentistry has evolved over the last three centuries from a profession of teeth restoration to a respected discipline of practitioners with a passion for health and disease prevention.
Dentistry is about cultivating relationships and building trust between doctors and patients. It's about teaching prevention to children. It's about recognizing the intimate connection between oral health and general health -- and addressing and overcoming disparities in health and dental care.
For its 23rd anniversary edition, Aetna's 2004 Calendar of African American History recognizes the powerful contributions made by enterprising and successful African American oral health care professionals. It features a broad view of dentistry, highlighting academia, military, forensics, geriatrics, pediatrics, hygiene and public health. The year culminates with a story about six students from Meharry Medical College, School of Dentistry, that highlights their passion to serve the underserved.
Explore the evolution of the toothbrush from the first "twig" brush to today's colorful and playful children's tools such as Brushtime Bunny®. Meet the unsung heroes of dentistry such as Colonel Sidney Alan Brooks, Sr., who addresses the dental needs of the entire U.S. Army. Discover the importance of shaping oral health literacy that is understood and embraced by African Americans. Live the rich heritage of African American dental professionals through the words of respected author and historian Clifton O. Dummett, D.D.S.
Since 1982, Aetna's calendar has recognized the outstanding contributions of African Americans, past and present, in fields such as athletics, politics, business, medicine and entertainment.
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