In the world of dentistry, Robert Tanner Freeman is a name to be both recognized and remembered. Known as the first Black American dentist in the United States, Freeman's perseverance played a crucial role in laying the foundation for the future of Black American dentists.
A brief history of dentistry
Before the 1800s, dentistry was mainly practiced by dentists who were self-taught or learned the trade via an apprenticeship. Local dentists often offered services without any formal education. It wasn't until 1840 that dentistry became an established profession with the opening of the first dental college, Baltimore College of Dental Surgery. The first university-based dental program, the Harvard Dental School, opened its doors in 1867.
Dr. Robert Tanner Freeman’s path to dentistry
Robert Tanner Freeman was born in Washington, D.C., in 1846. As a teenager, Robert Tanner Freeman worked as a dental assistant for a local dentist, Dr. Henry Bliss Noble, who became his mentor and encouraged him to apply for dental school. He took this advice, and after being denied to two schools due to racial prejudice, Freeman was accepted into Harvard Dental School in 1867.
Robert Tanner Freeman was one of six students to receive a Doctor of Dental Medicine from Harvard University Dental School in 1869. He returned to Washington, D.C., and used this new degree to open his own practice. During this time, he mentored young Black Americans interested in pursuing medical and dental careers. Tragically, Freeman died just four years later, on June 14, 1873, due to an unspecified type of water-borne disease.
Dr. Robert Tanner Freeman's impact on modern-day dentistry
Despite his early death, Dr. Robert Tanner Freeman's legacy lived on to inspire future generations. His bravery and success paved the way for others to pursue careers in dentistry. Prominent Black Americans followed in his footsteps, including George F. Grant, who also graduated from Harvard just one year after Tanner, and Ida Nelson Rollins, who became the first female dentist in 1890.
Dr. Robert Tanner Freeman’s legacy was also recognized by the Washington Society of Colored Dentists, which was founded on Nov. 14, 1900, and it later changed its name to the Robert T. Freeman Dental Society in 1909. For almost 50 years, the Society fought to appoint a black dentist to the Board of Dental Examiners of the District of Columbia, and this battle was finally won in 1950.
The Robert T. Freeman Dental Society is the founding and local component of what is now known as the National Dental Association. The objectives of the Robert T. Freeman Dental Society were and remain to create fellowship, to cultivate the highest degree of excellence in the science and art of dentistry and to provide programs of continuing education for its membership and the community it serves.
