American Dental Association history

1860 ADA adopts its first Constitution and Bylaws.

1866 ADA adopts its first Code of Ethics.

The first university-affiliated dental institution, the Harvard University Dental School, was founded in 1867.

By 1873, Colgate had mass produced the first toothpaste, and mass-produced toothbrushes followed a few years later.

1887-88 Doctor Frank Abbot, of New York City, was elected twenty­ seventh president of the Association at the 1887 meeting at Niagara Falls.

The first dental X-ray was used in 1896.

1897 ADA merges with the Southern Dental Association and changes name to the National Dental Association.

1899 ADA membership policies are revised to expand the organization and attract members.

The Fund originated with the San Francisco Dental Relief Committee, which formed to raise money to help dentists who were caught in the great San Francisco earthquake of 1906.

1907 The ADA Relief Fund is established for the use of dentists who may find themselves in need because of natural or man-made disaster.

1908 ADA publishes its first patient dental education pamphlet.

The Board of Trustees holds its first meeting in July 1913.

1922 The Association assumes its original name, the American Dental Association, and is incorporated.

1927 ADA establishes a Library at its central office to collect and make readily available all the published information of interest to the dental profession and its membership.

1928 ADA establishes a cooperative research program at the National Board of Standards.

As early as 1929, one-third of the ADA budget was designated for research purposes.

In 1934, for instance, the ADA joined the United States Public Health Service in providing dental examinations to 1.5 million children in 26 states.

1940 Under Roosevelt's "Good Neighbor" policy, the ADA extends Annual Session invitations to Latin America, Mexico, and Canada.

1943 ADA headquarters moves to a larger building at 222 Superior Street in Chicago.

1946 ADA Council on Dental Education has evaluated and accredited 38 dental schools.

1947 ADA officially recognizes the dental specialties of Oral Surgery and Periodontics, the first specialties to be recognized by the Association.

1948 ADA officially recognizes the dental specialties of Pediatric Dentistry and Prosthodontics.

The observance becomes a national observance under the auspices of the ADA in 1949.

The ADA endorsed the fluoridation of water in 1950.

1952 ADA establishes accreditation program for dental hygienists.

1955 ADA expands the National Children's Dental Health Day to a week and; develops TV advertisements and scripts.

1961 ADA first appropriates funds to assist in the re-training and licensing of Cuban dentists in exile.

1963 ADA lobbies in support of the Health Professions Education Assistance Act; one-third of the funds are reserved for dental education activities.

1969 Family sculpture, created by Minnesota artist, Joseph O’Connell, is installed in the west court of the ADA headquarters building.

1970 ADA News is first published.

1971 ADA’s Salable Materials program introduces Dudley the Dragon to teach children proper oral health care.

1977 Court battle with Federal Trade Commission leads the ADA to revise its Code of Conduct & Principles of Ethics relating to advertising.

ADA Council on Dental Materials and Devices is established (name changed in 1979 to the Council on Dental Materials, Instruments, and Equipment and later merged with other councils to become Council on Scientific Affairs).

1984 ADA Washington DC office purchase agreement is signed.

The unit is given the name Paffenbarger Research Center in 1985.

1986 ADA launches National Senior Smile Week to promote the importance of good oral hygiene and dental health to older adults.

1987 ADA Commission on the Young Professional is formed (later becomes the New Dentist Committee).

1990 Dudley the Dinosaur in the animated film Dudley Visits the Dentist, to teach children good oral health care.

1991 Doctor Geraldine Morrow is elected the first woman president of the ADA. Dues Equity Plan revises the membership dues structure.

1995 ADA Web site, ADA ONLINE is launched, later becomes ADA.org.

1999 ADA House of Delegates amends the Constitution and Bylaws to add the Treasurer as an elective officer of the Association.

2001 Full text version of the Journal of American Dental Association becomes available in electronic format.

2014 Doctor Maxine Feinberg is installed as ADA President and Doctor Carol Summerhays is chosen ADA President-Elect making this the first time both positions are held by women.

2017 The Journal of the American Dental Association introduces JADA+ Clinical Scans to make the latest scientific information more accessible to ADA members.

ADA Practice Transitions is unveiled by the ADA Business Innovation Group at ADA 2018, a service which manages pilot initiatives to foster relationships between dentists at key transition points in their careers.