---
title: "What Is Organized dentistry? Dental Practice Glossary"
description: "The network of professional dental associations, built on a tripartite structure of the national ADA, state dental associations and local component societies..."
url: https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/organized-dentistry
publisher: Copeland Consulting Services
email: drcopeland@joncopelanddds.com
contact: https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/contact
---

Organized dentistry

# Organized dentistry

The network of professional dental associations, built on a tripartite structure of the national ADA, state dental associations and local component societies that work together.

Organized dentistry is the network of dental associations. The ADA describes a unique tripartite structure that fosters coordinated efforts on behalf of dentistry. The three levels are the national ADA, state associations and local societies.

These groups work on advocacy, education, ethics and member services. Members often belong at all three levels. Examples are the [American Dental Association](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/american-dental-association), the [Missouri Dental Association](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/missouri-dental-association) and local groups called [component dental societies](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/component-dental-society).

Membership is voluntary, and each group sets its own rules. This entry is a general definition and does not argue for or against joining.

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## Related terms

-   [American Dental Association](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/american-dental-association)
-   [Missouri Dental Association](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/missouri-dental-association)
-   [Component dental society](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/component-dental-society)
-   [Dental society membership](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/dental-society-membership)
-   [Constituent society](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/constituent-society)

## Sources

1.  [ADA, National, state and local dental societies](https://www.ada.org/about/volunteer-and-get-involved-with-the-ada/national-state-local-dental-societies)
2.  [ADA, About the ADA](https://www.ada.org/about)

## Talk with Dr. Copeland

[Contact Dr. Copeland](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/contact)[Email](mailto:drcopeland@joncopelanddds.com)