Overview and Organizational Structure
- The American Dental Association (ADA) was founded in 1859 and is the largest and oldest national dental association in the world.
- It has over 152,000 members, including 55 constituent dental societies and 545 component dental societies.
- The ADA is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, and has over 400 employees.
- The ADA is committed to promoting good oral health and representing the dental profession.
- The ADA has a Board of Trustees and a House of Delegates, as well as 11 councils that serve as policy recommending agencies.
- The ADA publishes the Journal of the American Dental Association, ADA News, and ADA Guide to Dental Therapeutics.
- The Commission on Dental Accreditation, recognised by the U.S. Department of Education, accredits dental education programs.
Seal of Acceptance
- The ADA established guidelines for testing and advertising dental products.
- The first ADA Seal of Acceptance was awarded in 1931.
- About 350 manufacturers participate in the voluntary program.
- Over 1,300 products have received the Seal of Acceptance.
- Manufacturers pay fees for product evaluation and annual renewal, but the ADA does not profit from the program.
Advocacy
- The ADA advocates for dental research, student loans and residency programs, increased dental coverage, insurance and medical liability reform, public health initiatives, and disaster planning.
- The ADA opposes the expansion of dental benefits within Medicare.
- The ADA's advocacy efforts resulted in the exclusion of dental benefits in the Build Back Better legislative package.
Advertising
- Dudley the Dinosaur is an advertising character from the ADA, promoting healthy teeth and good oral hygiene.
- Dudley debuted in 1990 as the nation's first bilingual public service campaign for kids.
- Dudley has won over 100 major awards and appeared on mugs and as a doll.
- Dudley stars in comic books and DVDs available from the ADA.
History and Milestones
- The ADA Council on Dental Education was formed in 1936.
- The ADA worked with Congress to establish National Children's Dental Health Day in 1950.
- The ADA produced the first color television PSA by a non-profit health agency in 1964.
- The ADA established the ADA Health Foundation in 1964.
- The ADA changed policies to condemn discrimination in 1965.
- ADA News was first published in 1970.
- The ADA Commission on the Young Professional was formed in 1987.
- Dr. Geraldine Morrow became the first female ADA president in 1991.
- The ADA website, ADA ONLINE, was created in 1995.
- Dr. Eugene Sekiguchi became the first Asian-American ADA president in 2002.
- Dr. Kathleen OLoughlin became the first female ADA executive director in 2009.
- Dr. George R. Shepley was installed as ADA president in 2022.
- Linda J. Edgar was elected ADA president-elect.
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The American Dental Association (ADA) is an American professional association established in 1859 which has more than 161,000 members. Based in the American Dental Association Building in the Near North Side of Chicago, the ADA is the world's largest and oldest national dental association and promotes good oral health to the public while representing the dental profession.
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| Founded | August 3, 1859 |
|---|---|
| Founder | William Henry Atkinson |
| Founded at | Niagara Falls, New York, U.S. |
| Type | Professional association |
| 36-0724690 | |
| Legal status | 501(c)(6) nonprofit organization |
| Headquarters | Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Location |
|
Membership | 161,000 |
| George Shepley | |
| Dr. Raymond A. Cohlmia | |
| Subsidiaries | ADA Foundation, ADPAC Education Fund, ADA Business Enterprises Inc, American Dental Association Political Action Committee |
Revenue(2020) | $124,074,848 |
| Expenses(2020) | $114,649,855 |
Employees(2014) | 461 |
Volunteers(2020) | 325 |
| Website | www |
The ADA publishes a monthly journal of dental related articles named the Journal of the American Dental Association.
