Improving Dentistry in the Negro Population

Education for the profession of dentistry has njot been overwhelmingly popular with the Negro group. Many good reasons may be advanced to account for this state of affairs. Among these reasons may be mentioned the relative lack of readily available funds to pursue the dental course. When these funds were available, the majority of students undertook a medical education which was more attractive from the standpoints of popularity and prestige. Also, very little was known and thought about dentistry, and that which was known did not at all contribute towards even slightly changing the prevailing opinions of that time. This lack of knowledge was directly responsible for the resultant lack of interest in the aims and aspirations of the dental profession. In addition to this, it was a rather common belief that those who pursued the dental course, did so because of firm convictions of a presumably mentally easier course affording, however, social and financial benefits not quite up to but satisfyingly near to those possessing the medical degree. The acquisition of the latter incidentally was thought by many members of the Negro group to be the summum bonum that could be attained by any member of the group. To a lesser extent, the fact that dental education was not under university auspices or conducted as a university discipline was responsible for feelings of inferiority among the laity and among dentists themselves. Sensitive parents were not disposed to place their children in a new profession about which not only was very little known but also about which there were opinions of righteous indignation and doubts as to its necessity. Despite several setbacks, however, dentistry has continued to progress and to make its importance felt.