If you’re browsing a dentist’s website and see a dental association name or logo, you might wonder what it means. You might also see an association logo on the bottom of a public ad about oral health. These logos represent a specific group of professional dentists. It means your dentist or the ad you see is backed by a large number of peers who help each other grow and further their mission for oral health.
Fort Worth Cosmetic & Family Dentistry explain more below about some of the major dental associations in Texas and how they benefit dentists, patients, and communities.
What is a Dental Association?
As with many professional careers and services, groups of dentists come together in associations to further their education, improve their practice, and spread public health information. These associations can be national (like the American Dental Association), or they can be at the state or city level. Some dental associations are specifically for specialists such as orthodontists or oral surgeons.
Dentists usually pay an annual fee to be official members of an association. This allows them to participate in association events and to have access to association resources. The association might also host an annual conference or special meetings to address critical issues in the dental world.
There are three main goals of dental associations:
- Continuing Education: Dentists are required to take a certain number of classes each year to maintain their license. This ensures they always provide the best service possible. Often, dentists can find the required classes through a local dental association. Some associations host their own classes, and some will direct dentists to classes already happening in the community.
- Professional Support: We’re all better together! Dentistry is serious work and seriously important. If your dentist ever has a question about the best way to treat someone, wouldn’t you like to know that they have support from hundreds or thousands of professional peers?
- Community Education and Advocacy: Who knows dentistry better than dentists? When it comes to public education about oral health, or creating regulations for dentistry, associations come together to think and agree on best practices. Associations can also raise money for charitable work and help people access health care who might otherwise struggle to afford dental care.
Top Dental Associations in Texas
In Texas, the statewide dental association connected to the American Dental Association is the Texas Dental Association (TDA). Approximately 9,000 dentists are registered members of the TDA.
Some other local dental associations in Texas include:
- Dallas County Dental Society
- Capital Area Dental Society
- Greater Houston Dental Society
- North Texas Dental Society
- Houston Hispanic Dental Association
Is My Dentist in an Association?
There are many benefits to patients when their dentist belongs to a professional dental association. If your dentist is a part of one or more associations, you know they take their job seriously.
Dentists are proud to learn and give back to their association communities so they often display association names or logos on their website or at the front desk in the office. If you’re looking for a dentist through a specific association, you can call the association directly to ask or search through the association’s website.
To find out what dental associations Dr. Green, Dr. Leedy, and Dr. Flosi belong to, you can find that information by reading their biography on the About Us page of our website.
If you’re looking for a professional dental provider in Fort Worth, look no further! Fort Worth Cosmetic & Family Dentistry is taking new patients, so contact us today.
The content of this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.
