The Diverse Dental Society (DDS) is a unique entity comprised of three universally respected and culturally diverse organizations: the Hispanic Dental Association, the National Dental Association, and the Society of American Indian Dentists. These groups celebrate their rich and diverse cultures and share a common mission to address unmet needs in under-resourced communities and leverage their collective impact to eliminate disparities and increase health and oral health equity.
DDS promotes inter-professional collaboration and considers the integration of oral health throughout the healthcare infrastructure as essential for a healthier nation. Their manifesto includes dismantling structural racism and advocating for social justice in the health of traditionally disenfranchised populations.
These difficult times have amplified health disparities and underlying conditions in racial and ethnic minorities, populations served by the DDS members. Additionally, DDS has provided insights about the impact of oral health and the importance of dental care during the pandemic. To support their mission to support oral health awareness, DDS, with sponsorship by Colgate-Palmolive Company, created a Pandemic Oral Health Safety Video Contest, winners to be announced soon.
“With the Colgate brand in more homes than any other, we can, and we will create a healthier, cavity-free future for all. That is why we support the vision and mission of the DDS and its noble efforts to provide minority health professionals with a platform for addressing the oral healthcare needs of vulnerable communities throughout the US,” stated Dr. Marsha Butler, Vice President, Global Oral Health and Professional Relations, Colgate-Palmolive.
“We believe in and advocate for oral health access, equity and education in marginalized communities,” says Dr. Anna Munné, President of the Diverse Dental Society, “That said, we are an inclusive organization and encourage membership of all dental professionals, regardless of race, color, creed or national origin. The DDS is for everyone committed to social justice in health.”
About the Diverse Dental Society
DDS, established in April 2020, is a 501(c)3 organization comprised of three organizations whose alliance embodies their similar ideology and a shared mission: the Hispanic Dental Association (HDA), the National Dental Association (NDA) and the Society of American Indian Dentists (SAID). The unified and collaborative efforts of these organizations will address the unmet oral and healthcare needs of underserved populations through service, education, outreach, and advocacy. Collectively, DDS will impact and reform health policy.
Learn more at www.diversedentalsociety.org.
About Colgate-Palmolive
Colgate-Palmolive Company is a caring, innovative growth company reimagining a healthier future for all people, their pets, and our planet. Focused on Oral Care, Personal Care, Home Care and Pet Nutrition and reaching more than 200 countries and territories, Colgate teams are developing and selling health and hygiene products and pet nutrition offerings essential to society through brands such as Colgate, Palmolive, elmex, meridol, Tom’s of Maine, hello, Sorriso, Speed Stick, Softsoap, Irish Spring, Protex, Sanex, Filorga, eltaMD, PCA Skin, Ajax, Axion, Fabuloso, Soupline and Suavitel, as well as Hill’s Science Diet and Hill’s Prescription Diet. Colgate seeks to deliver sustainable, profitable growth and superior shareholder returns and to provide Colgate people with an innovative and inclusive work environment. Colgate does this by developing and selling products globally that make people’s lives healthier and more enjoyable and by embracing its sustainability, diversity, equity and inclusion and social responsibility strategies across the organization. For more information about Colgate’s global business, its efforts to improve the oral health of children through its Bright Smiles, Bright Futures program and how the Company is building a future to smile about, visit www.colgatepalmolive.com.
