The ADA House of Delegates is the group that votes on American Dental Association policy. It is part of organized dentistry, the network of dental societies that speak for the profession. This post explains who sits in the House, when it meets, and what it decides. It uses only what the ADA publishes on its own pages.
What is the ADA House of Delegates?
The House of Delegates is the legislative body of the American Dental Association. The ADA calls it “the supreme authority guiding the American Dental Association.” It speaks for the ADA’s dentist members and for the dental profession across the United States. As of 2026, the ADA page says it speaks for more than 152,000 dentist members.
The House of Delegates is one of two governing bodies. The ADA’s governance page says the House is its legislative body and the Board of Trustees is its managing body. The ADA’s councils are policy recommending agencies in their areas of knowledge.
Who sits in the House of Delegates?
Delegates are chosen by groups, not by individual dentists. The ADA names three kinds of groups: the 53 constituent societies, the five federal dental services, and the American Student Dental Association. The glossary explains each constituent society and how it differs from a component dental society.
| Who | How it connects to the House |
|---|---|
| Constituent societies (53) | Choose members of the House |
| Federal dental services (5) | Choose members of the House |
| American Student Dental Association | Chooses members of the House |
| Executive Director of the ADA | Serves as Secretary of the House |
| Speaker of the House | An officer of the House |
Source for the table: ADA, House of Delegates page, read October 26, 2026.
When does the House meet?
The House meets once a year during the ADA Annual Meeting, which the ADA says is usually held in October. The ADA lists future meeting dates on its page. At the time of writing, it showed October 29 to November 1, 2027. Dates can change, so check the ADA page before you plan around them.
The ADA also posts House actions, reports, resolutions and supporting documents. The ADA says House delegates can use the governance area of ADA Connect. Candidate information for ADA-elected offices is on the ADA site as well.
What does the House decide?
The House adopts ADA policy, and the ADA says its official policies are the ones the House approves. It also adopts the rules of professional conduct. The ADA says that “all elements of the Code of Professional Conduct result from resolutions that are adopted by the ADA’s House of Delegates.” That makes the House the body behind the ADA Code of Ethics.
The ADA governance page also lists the rest of the structure around the House:
- Ten councils that recommend policy in areas such as dental practice, ethics, scientific affairs and government affairs.
- Two committees: the American Dental Political Action Committee and the New Dentist Committee.
- Four commissions, including the Commission on Dental Accreditation and the Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations.
- The ADA constitution and bylaws, which the ADA says were updated in 2026.
How do the councils and the Board fit around the House?
The House sets policy, and the councils and the Board carry out other jobs around it. The ADA says its councils are policy recommending agencies in their areas of knowledge. Most councils have one member from each of the 17 trustee districts, plus one new dentist member recommended by the New Dentist Committee and nominated by the Board of Trustees. All council members must be active, life or retired ADA members in good standing, and most councils meet twice a year.
The ADA governance page also points to the Board of Trustees. It offers action summaries, liaison appointments and meeting dates there. The two bodies have separate jobs: the House is legislative, and the Board is managing.
What can the public read?
The ADA posts much of the House record on its site. Its House page links to actions, reports, resolutions and supporting documents. It also links to annual reports from House councils, commissions and committees, and to videos and transcripts of officer addresses to the House. A dentist, a team leader or a study club that wants to follow a topic can read these pages without being a delegate.
How does a dentist take part?
Because societies choose the delegates, a dentist’s route to the House runs through a society. A dentist who wants a voice can ask their society how it picks delegates and what resolutions it plans to bring.
The ADA also says most of its councils include one new dentist member recommended by the New Dentist Committee. The same committee runs the ADA 10 Under 10 Award. For a wider view of how the ADA, state societies and local societies fit together, read the organized dentistry guide and what organized dentistry is.
What to remember
- The House of Delegates is the ADA’s legislative body. The Board of Trustees is its managing body.
- Societies, federal services and the student association choose the delegates.
- The House meets once a year, usually in October, at the ADA Annual Meeting.
- Its resolutions create the Code of Professional Conduct that binds ADA members.
This post is general education from public ADA pages. It is not legal advice about ADA bylaws or membership rules. Read the current ADA bylaws or ask your society for the exact rules.
Next step
Read the organized dentistry guide for the full picture of the ADA, state societies and local societies, and the dental leadership guide for context on leadership in the profession. Contact Dr. Copeland about consulting.
Frequently asked questions
Who chooses the members of the ADA House of Delegates?
The ADA says members of the House are chosen by the 53 constituent societies, the five federal dental services and the American Student Dental Association. The ADA page names groups, not individual dentists, as the source of delegates.
How often does the House of Delegates meet?
The ADA says the House meets once a year during the ADA Annual Meeting, usually held in October. The ADA lists the next future meeting dates as October 29 to November 1, 2027. Check the ADA page for dates that change.
What is the difference between the House of Delegates and the Board of Trustees?
The ADA describes the House of Delegates as its legislative body and the Board of Trustees as its managing body. The ten councils recommend policy in their areas. The House votes on policy, and the Board manages the Association between meetings.
Terms on this page
Sources
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.