Learn About The American Dental Association
Dentists who are members of the ADA keep raising the bar for their entire profession. From getting regulatory burdens placed on dentists relaxed to developing brand new science, the American Dental Associations tremendous community of over a hundred and fifty thousand dentists is unparalleled in its strength.
Governance And Membership
At the time of writing, the ADA had in excess of 161,000 individual members who hailed from every one of the 50 states, as well as Puerto Rico and Washington DC. These members actually run the organization of the ADA through electing both 480 members of a House of Delegates and a Board of Trustees.
The overall organization seeks the advancement of dentists across the local, state, and national levels. National organization membership brings with it membership into one of the 545 local and 53 state dental organizations. Like the Florida Dental Association and the Jacksonville Dental Society.
The American Dental Association’s Seal Of Acceptance Program
Over three hundred oral health merchandise, including chewing gum, denture adherents, mouth rinses, toothbrushes, dental floss, and of course toothpaste, feature the Seal of Acceptance of the ADA, which consumers universally recognize as a trusted symbol indicating effectiveness and safety.
The ADA Foundation
The ADA has a philanthropic arm which offers scholarship funds for aspiring dental students, supplies needed during disaster relief, and advocates for the dental health of children. If you want to learn how you might apply for a fellowship, award, scholarship, or grant, visit the website of the American Dental Association Foundation.
ADA Presidents And History
William Atkinson, who lived from 1815 to 1891, was the American Dental Association’s first president. His two terms of service for the ADA happened between 1860 and 1862. Atkinson was originally instructed as a physician, but he later got more curious about dentistry, in particular, the possibilities it could afford a man looking to start a practice at the time.
Since the ADA was founded in 1859, the association has had 150 presidents serve. Every one of these distinguished individuals represented the best the profession has to offer. In fact, a list of American Dental Association presidents can read much like a celebrity list of American dental history. Thomas Hinman and G. V. Black are two such names.
The Code Of Conduct And Ethical Principles Of The ADA
The profession of dentistry holds a unique position that society trusts. As a result, society often allows members of the profession particular privileges that a normal person aren’t afforded. As such, members of this profession commit back to the society that their membership will accord themselves to only the highest of ethical standards and conduct.
The Code of the ADA has a trio of main components.
- The Principles of Ethics
- The Code of Professional Conduct
- The Advisory Opinions
Principles
The profession’s aspirational goals are known as the Principle of Ethics. They give guidance, as well as justification, for both the Advisory Opinions and the Code of Professional Conduct.
Five principles, in particular, form the fundamentals of the larger ADA Code. They include :
- Veracity
- Justice
- Beneficence
- Nonmaleficence
- Patient Autonomy
There is often overlap among the principles, and sometimes they even compete with one another in terms of prioritization. At times, multiple principles might justify a particular element in the code of conduct. The principles might have to be weighed against one another, but for the most part, these principles are the guideposts of the profession.
Code Of Professional Conduct
The Code of Professional Conduct serves as an illustration of particular kinds of conduct which may be prohibited or required. The ADA legislative system created the product that is the modern Code of Professional Conduct. Every element of the code comes from resolutions which were adopted from within the delegates of the ADA. This code for professional conduct among ADA members is enforced on them all. As such, violations of the code can result in consequences.
Advisory Opinions
The Advisory Opinions serve as interpretations which apply the written Code of Professional Conduct to actual fact scenarios and circumstances. The ADA has a Council on Ethics, Bylaws, and Judicial Affairs that adopt these to offer members guidance on how the Council could interpret the Code in an actual disciplinary process.
The American Dental Association’s code is certainly a growing document. As such, it is never at one time a total or comprehensive articulation of every possible ethical obligation. Continuing dialogue between society and dental professionals, subject to ongoing review, results in the ADA Code.
Even though laws and ethics are related closely to one another, they aren’t exactly the same. Obligations coming from ethical concerns might, and sometimes do surpass legal duties alone. If a dentist must resolve an ethical issue that the American Dental Association’s code doesn’t explicitly cover, he or she needs to take into consideration applicable ethical principles, interests, and needs of the patient, and any laws that might apply.
American Dental Association Information
Address: 211 E Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60611
Phone: 312-440-2500
Website: https://www.ada.org/
Farnham Dentistry is a general dentistry and cosmetic dentistry practice serving the Jacksonville, Florida area. Dr. Mack and his caring staff look forward to helping you achieve a beautiful smile! We are proud members of the American Dental Association.