The Diverse Dental Society is a 501 (c)(3), nonprofit organization that believes in collaborating and assisting its member partners in the pursuit of their institutional missions, in the areas of service, education, leadership and advocacy especially in the underserved arenas. We are one organization made up of three (3) national minority organizations; the Hispanic Dental Association (HDA), National Dental Association (NDA) and the Society of American Indian Dentists (SAID) that support minority oral health professionals.
Hispanic Dental Association
The Hispanic Dental Association (HDA) is a national, non-profit organization comprised of oral health professionals and students dedicated to promoting and improving the oral health of the Hispanic community and providing advocacy for Hispanic oral health professionals across the United States. The Association works with a wide spectrum of individuals and organizations to communicate to Hispanic and non-Hispanic dental professionals, students, and the public. As the leading voice for Hispanic oral health we provide Service, Education, Advocacy, and Leadership for the elimination of oral health disparities in the Hispanic community.
National Dental Association
Established in 1913, the NDA is the world’s first and largest organization of ethnic minority oral health professionals. It represents more than 10,000 African American dentists in the U.S. and abroad. The mission of the National Dental Association (NDA) is to promote oral health equity among people of color by harnessing the collective powers of its members, advocating for the needs of and mentoring dental students of color, and raising the profile of the profession in our communities. The NDA’s signature outreach program is NDA-HEALTH NOW®. This initiative provides resources and services to underserved communities and works to 1) increase health care access; 2) eliminate disparities; 3) increase health literacy and 4) promote prevention. NDA-HEALTH NOW® also features and promotes the interests of inter- professional health teams.
Society of American Indian Dentists
The purpose of the Society of American Indian Dentists (SAID) is to: promote dental health in the American Indian community; encourage American Indian youth to pursue a career in the profession of dentistry; serve as a resource for assistance to American Indian students interested in the profession of dentistry; provide role-model leadership; promote American Indian heritage and traditional values; and promote and support the unique concerns of American Indian dentists. The Society’s membership comprises approximately 65 American Indian dentists representing 41 different tribes.
