Produced in the early 1960s by the U.S. Public Health Service and the American Dental Association, and directed by Cal Dunn, “The Challenge of Dentistry” is a film designed to promote good dental habits and encourage students to consider careers in dentistry. The film begins with the story of Mrs. Evelyn Carson, who is appearing on a TV show to discuss her successful fight against cancer. A dentist named Dr. Ford appears in the television studio — the man who detected Carson’s cancer and saved her life — and the film launches into the main title sequence. At 2:26, a student named Jim talks to Dr. Robert A. Ford about his TV appearance and discusses the mouth cancer diagnosis. Soon the discussion moves to the idea of being a dentist, at 3:25. At 4:00, a modern university is shown and various career options explored. At 4:23, a dentist is shown at work in a teaching hospital. At 6:00, a pediatric dentist’s job is described, and then various other patient types are shown including at 7:20, a woman who has no teeth. At 7:43, dentures are created for a patient — a form of “artistry”. At 9:26 an X-ray machine is shown along with other modern dental apparatus.
At 11:13, various fields of study for future dentists are explored and the academic rigors of dental school explored. At 12:40, dental students are seen at work in the school. At 15:10, dentists are shown working with children and looking at the development of children’s jaws and teeth. At 15:30 a microscope is used to look at micro-organisms in the human mouth. At 15:45, X-ray films are shown, and at 15:50 a medicine cabinet of drugs is shown. At 17:40, more work with the microscope is conducted (to the sound of cha-cha music!) At 18:50 the role of the public health dentist is described and at 19:16, research conducted. At 19:30, cleft palate cases are explored. At 21:40, Washington D.C. and the Dept. of Health, Education and Welfare is shown as well as the Dental Public Health and Resources program shown. The National Institute for Dental Research at Bethesda, Maryland is shown at 22:00, and the Bureau of Standards as well. The American Dental Association building is shown at 22:21. By now Jim is getting excited about becoming a dentist. At 23:00, Dr. Ford’s lifestyle is explored and wow is it All American, including a nice car and ranch style house, and two kids who receive (at 23:22) a new puppy. At 23:35, Dr. Ford gets involved in a better health campaign, scheduling a talk to the PTA. At 24:11, dentists get together to discuss their knowledge. At 26;11 Jim fantasizes about attending Midwestern University and becoming a dentist. “Never has the opportunity to serve been so great …”
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This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com
