What is the American Dental Association (ADA)?

The ADA is the largest professional dental organization in the U.S., representing over 159,000 members and guiding policy, education, and public health.

What does ADA CERP do?

ADA CERP recognizes CE providers that meet rigorous educational standards. It does not accredit individual courses or instructors.

What are some ADA controversies?

The ADA has faced criticism for opposing dental therapists, alleged antitrust collusion with Align, and prioritizing corporate investments over general dentists.

What companies has the ADA invested in?

The ADA has invested in Pearl, Oral Genome, and Overjet through ADA Corporate Ventures, supporting AI diagnostics and oral health innovations.

How does ADA influence dental policy?

The ADA advocates on over 150 legislative issues per session, including insurance reform, access to care, and workforce development.

American Dental Association (ADA)

The Oldest and Largest Voice of Dentistry in the United States

Overview

The American Dental Association (ADA) is the leading professional organization representing over 159,000 dentists across the U.S. Since its founding in 1859, the ADA has shaped dental education, policy, and public health. Today, its dual role as advocate and investor continues to shape the dental industry—but not without criticism.

Founding and Structure

Founded: August 3, 1859, Niagara Falls, NY
Headquarters: Chicago, IL
Legal Status: 501(c)(6) nonprofit
Governance: House of Delegates, Board of Trustees, specialty councils
Affiliates: ADA Foundation, ADA Business Enterprises, ADPAC

Mission and Core Activities

Mission: To help dentists succeed and improve public oral health, guided by values of integrity, excellence, and evidence-based care.

Accredits dental and hygiene programs
Publishes JADA and JADA Foundational Science
Guides ethics through its Code of Ethics
Organizes public health campaigns like National Children’s Dental Health Week
Influences national policy through legislation and advocacy

ADA CERP: Vetting CE Providers

Rather than approving individual CE courses, ADA CERP evaluates entire organizations for their ability to deliver high-quality, unbiased education. Courses from recognized providers are broadly accepted for licensure renewal.

What ADA CERP Evaluates

Scientific accuracy and educational merit
Freedom from commercial bias
Transparent funding and disclosures
Administrative and fiscal responsibility

Providers must undergo a rigorous application process and are reevaluated regularly to maintain recognition.

Third-Party CE Credit Distribution

ADA CERP recognition isn’t limited to large organizations. Commercial vendors and smaller companies can also become recognized providers and issue CE credits to others—sometimes subcontracting CE content under their name.

This system can be beneficial for accessibility but opens the door to “white labeling” and limited oversight in some cases. The ADA clarifies that recognition applies only to the provider—not individual courses or instructors.

Industry Concerns

Some professionals view this as “CE credit brokering,” where groups without educational expertise offer CE via partnerships. While ADA CERP sets strong standards, the system depends on the integrity of the recognized provider.

Summary Table

ADA CERP and CE Credit Oversight
CDA CE Offerings	Live, on-demand, and required CE; annual convention
ADA CERP Role	Recognizes CE providers, not individual courses
Third-Party Vendors	Can issue CE credits via ADA CERP recognition
Concerns	Potential for diluted oversight through subcontracting

The ADA CERP program has helped define CE quality for decades—but it continues to face scrutiny as the dental CE landscape evolves.

Financial Stewardship

Reserves: $163 million (as of April 2025)
Expenses vs. Revenue: $157M vs. $141M
Strategy: Multi-year cost-cutting and innovation investment

Research, Innovation, and Investments

Recent ADA investments include:

Pearl: AI diagnostics platform
Oral Genome: Saliva testing technology
Overjet: AI-driven dental analytics
ADA Corporate Ventures: Commercial investment arm of the ADA
ADA Forsyth Institute: Flagship oral health research center

Advocacy and Policy

Supports the Action for Dental Health Act
Promotes water fluoridation and access to care
Opposes dental coverage in Medicare
Historically resistant to expanding hygienist and therapist roles
Files FTC complaints to defend dentists from unfair online review policies

Product Evaluation and Certification

The ADA Seal of Acceptance certifies over-the-counter dental products as safe and effective, ranging from toothpaste to mouthwash and anesthetics. This program is managed by two specialized ADA councils.

Ethics and Professional Standards

The ADA Code of Ethics includes five key principles:

Autonomy
Nonmaleficence
Beneficence
Justice
Veracity

Controversies and Criticisms

Antitrust Allegations

In 2024, the ADA was accused of colluding with Align Technology and the AAO to eliminate SmileDirectClub, stifling competition in the teledentistry space.

Restrictive Practices

Criticized for opposing dental therapists, new dental schools, and Medicare dental coverage—moves seen as protecting legacy systems over public access.

Corporate Prioritization

Recent investments suggest a shift toward corporate alignment, raising concerns among general dentists and smaller practices about representation.

Quick Summary

American Dental Association At-a-Glance
Founded	1859, Niagara Falls, NY
Headquarters	Chicago, IL
Members	159,000+
Key Activities	Accreditation, CE recognition, advocacy, ethics, innovation
Major Investments	Pearl, Oral Genome, Overjet, ADA Corporate Ventures
Publications	JADA, JADA Foundational Science
Controversies	Antitrust, restrictive CE practices, corporate leanings