American Dental Association

About

American Dental Association

The American Dental Association is the largest dental association in the United States, representing 152,000 dentist members from its Chicago headquarters. National dues for a full member are $627 in 2026, with state and local society dues on top. Patients know it through the Find-a-Dentist search, MouthHealthy.org and the ADA Seal of Acceptance on toothpaste and toothbrushes.

Twenty-six dentists formed the ADA in Niagara Falls, New York, in 1859. It is a 501(c)(6) professional association, EIN 36-0724690, and membership runs through a local dental society, a state society and the national body together. A dentist joining in 2026 pays $627 at the national level, and state and local dues vary by location. New graduates pay nothing in their first year, 50% in the second and the full cost from the third. Retired members pay 25% of the full active cost, and dental students join through the American Student Dental Association. A 2026 offer of 50% off national dues for returning members ended on August 31, 2026. The Seal of Acceptance has evaluated over-the-counter oral care products since 1931, and more than 400 products in 21 categories now carry it. Each Seal comes with a statement naming the specific product benefits the ADA evaluated. The ADA also maintains the CDT Code for documenting dental treatment, and the CDT 2026 book costs $144.95, or $99.95 for members. The Commission on Dental Accreditation, the Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations, the National Commission on Recognition of Dental Specialties and Certifying Boards and the ADA Foundation all sit under the ADA. Its research arm, the ADA Science & Research Institute, merged with the Forsyth Institute to form the ADA Forsyth Institute. Headquarters moved in 2025 to 401 North Michigan Avenue, after the ADA sold its building at 211 East Chicago Avenue to Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital. The FY2024 Form 990 reports revenue of $237,080,024 against expenses of $184,889,905, with $107,522,015 of that revenue from sales of assets. The year before, expenses of $157,217,505 ran ahead of revenue of $141,292,048. Nader A. Nadershahi became executive director on March 23, 2026, more than a year after Raymond A. Cohlmia resigned. Thomas M. Paumier of Canton, Ohio was installed as the 163rd president in October 2026. His predecessor, Richard Rosato, told members that accelerated investing had led to financial strain and that "we lost trust." The ADA backs community water fluoridation and opposed Utah's 2025 law, the first complete statewide ban. ProPublica's Nonprofit Explorer flags a significant deficiency in internal controls in the association's FY2025 audit.