The ADA 10 Under 10 Award is a recognition program for new dentists. The ADA New Dentist Committee runs it. This post explains what the ADA says about who can be nominated, who can nominate, and what recipients receive. It uses the ADA’s own pages, read on October 26, 2026.
What is the ADA 10 Under 10 Award?
It is an ADA award for new dentists who show excellence and inspire others. The ADA says the New Dentist Committee developed it in 2017. The program name is “10 Under 10”: ten recipients each year. Use the full name, ADA 10 Under 10 Award, when you cite it.
The ADA page says the award shines a light on ten new dentists who show excellence in science, research and education, practice excellence, philanthropy, leadership and advocacy. The same page introduces the recipients for 2026.
| Fact | What the ADA says |
|---|---|
| Run by | ADA New Dentist Committee |
| Began | 2017 |
| Recipients each year | Ten |
| Areas of excellence | Science, research and education, practice excellence, philanthropy, leadership, advocacy |
| Honor | Commemorative plaque, ADA event, ADA channels |
Who runs it: the New Dentist Committee?
The New Dentist Committee is a standing committee of the ADA Board of Trustees. The ADA says it has 17 members, one from each ADA district. It advises the Board on issues that affect new dentists.
The ADA lists the 10 Under 10 Award as one of the Committee’s jobs. The other jobs it lists are conveying new dentists’ needs to ADA leadership and connecting with students through the ADA Success Program and other student events. For how this fits in the ADA’s structure, see what the House of Delegates does.
Who can be nominated?
The ADA sets three points for nominees. Its 2026 page lists them as follows:
- The nominee is an active member of the American Dental Association.
- The nominee graduated from a U.S. accredited dental school between 2016 and 2025. International ADA members must fall in the same graduation window.
- The nominee has shown excellence in areas such as science, research and education, practice excellence, philanthropy, leadership and advocacy.
The graduation window moves each year. Read the current ADA page before you plan a nomination.
Who can submit a nomination?
The ADA says nominations may be submitted by active ADA members and by dental associations on behalf of the society. A dental society can therefore nominate one of its members. The ADA page does not say a nominee may nominate themselves, so read the current instructions.
The ADA asks the nominator for two short statements:
- A brief personal statement that highlights the nominee’s achievements.
- A brief statement of why the nominee deserves recognition in science, research and education, practice excellence, philanthropy, leadership or advocacy.
The nomination form is available only during the open nomination period.
What does the ADA ask a nominator to prepare?
The ADA lists what a nominator needs before opening the form. Two short statements are required, as described above. The nominator should also confirm the nominee’s ADA membership and graduation year against the stated window. The ADA says nominees are carefully considered, so a complete and accurate form matters. Because the nomination form appears only in the open period, a nominator can read the instructions in advance.
A society or study club that plans to nominate someone can keep a short file during the year. The file can hold dates of service, leadership roles and community work in the six areas the ADA names. The ADA does not require this file; it is only one way to be ready when the period opens.
What do recipients receive?
The ADA says each recipient is honored with a commemorative plaque. Recipients are featured at an ADA event and across ADA channels. The ADA page names only these. A recipient can cite the award by its exact name and year.
What can a reader see on the ADA past winners page?
The ADA keeps a past winners page. It lists each year’s ten recipients by name and by city and state, starting with the most recent year. The page lets a reader see how recipients are spread across the country. This post does not name individual recipients. Read the ADA page for the full lists.
What else does the New Dentist Committee do?
The Committee does more than run the award. The ADA says it conveys new dentists’ needs to ADA leadership and builds connections with students through the ADA Success Program and other student events. Its page also links to a form that lets a dentist ask the Committee to contact them about leadership opportunities. A second link invites dentists to make their voice heard in Washington, D.C., by advocating for their patients and profession.
The Committee also says it wants to increase new dentist leadership roles and build a supportive community within organized dentistry. These programs are separate from the award.
How does the award fit organized dentistry?
The award is one part of organized dentistry, where professional societies recognize members for service. The ADA 10 Under 10 Award glossary entry gives the short definition. The ADA also publishes a Code of Ethics that sets its standard of conduct. If you lead a society or study club and want to recognize a new dentist, the ADA page is the place to read the current rules.
The organized dentistry guide covers how the ADA, state societies and local societies connect.
Next step
Read the organized dentistry guide for how the ADA, state societies and local societies work together. Dr. Jon Copeland, DDS, a general dentist in Wildwood, Missouri, received the ADA 10 Under 10 Award in 2018. Contact Dr. Copeland about consulting.
Frequently asked questions
Who can be nominated for the ADA 10 Under 10 Award?
For the 2026 cycle, the ADA lists three points: active ADA membership, graduation from a U.S. accredited dental school between 2016 and 2025 (or the same graduation window for international members), and excellence in areas such as science, practice, philanthropy, leadership and advocacy.
Who can submit a nomination?
The ADA says nominations may be submitted by active ADA members and by dental associations on behalf of the society. The nomination form is on the ADA page only during the open nomination period. Check the page for the current dates.
What do recipients receive?
The ADA says each recipient is honored with a commemorative plaque and featured at an ADA event and across ADA channels.
Terms on this page
Sources
- ADA: ADA 10 Under 10 Award
- ADA: ADA 10 Under 10 Award (nominations)
- ADA: ADA 10 Under 10 Award (recipients)
- ADA: New Dentist Committee
- ADA: 10 Under 10 Award past winners
Written by Copeland Consulting Services and checked against the sources above on October 26, 2026. Rules, data and guidance change, so check the linked page before you act on it.