Connecticut State Dental Association (CSDA)
Your guide to organized dentistry in Connecticut: membership, the annual meeting, local component societies, the state dental board, and CE/license-renewal requirements.
About the Connecticut State Dental Association
The Connecticut State Dental Association (CSDA) is the ADA constituent (state) society for Connecticut, founded in 1864 - making it one of the older state dental societies in the country. It is a statewide professional membership organization representing Connecticut's licensed dentists, with roughly 2,200 members covering close to 63% of the state's licensed dentists.
CSDA's mission centers on ensuring patients receive the highest quality of dental care, supporting member dentists through professional development, and advocating on behalf of the profession at the state legislature in Hartford. Its Executive Director, Kathlene Gerrity, regularly submits testimony to the Connecticut General Assembly on dental-related bills, reflecting the association's active legislative advocacy role.
Structurally, CSDA operates through a House of Delegates and a Board of Governors (its governing leadership body), and it maintains an affiliated charitable arm, the Connecticut State Dental Foundation (CSDF). The association tiers membership across the national (ADA), state (CSDA), and local (component society) levels - the standard tripartite ADA membership structure.
Annual Meeting: CSDA Annual Charter Oak Dental Meeting
Mid-May, at Mohegan Sun, Uncasville, CT. The 159th Annual Charter Oak Dental Meeting is scheduled for mid-May 2026 (around May 13, 2026).
The CSDA's flagship event. The 158th meeting was held May 14-16, 2025 at Mohegan Sun in Uncasville. It combines CE courses, an exhibit hall, and CSDA governance/House of Delegates activities.
Component & Local Dental Societies
Joining the CSDA typically also enrolls a dentist in their local component society.Connecticut has 22 component societies:
Bridgeport Dental Association
Bridgeport, Fairfield, Easton, Monroe, Stratford, Trumbull, etc.
Bristol Dental Society
Bristol, Burlington, Plymouth, Terryville, etc.
Greater Danbury Dental Society
Danbury, Bethel, Brookfield, New Milford, Newtown, Ridgefield, etc.
Greenwich Dental Society
Greenwich, Cos Cob, Glenville, Riverside
Hartford Dental Society
Hartford, Avon, Bloomfield, Canton + surrounding towns
Litchfield County Dental Society
Litchfield-area towns (Canaan, Bethlehem, etc.)
Manchester Dental Society
Manchester, Bolton
Meriden-Wallingford-Cheshire Dental Society
Meriden, Wallingford, Cheshire
Middlesex County Dental Society
Middletown, Cromwell, Durham, Portland, etc.
Milford Dental Society
Milford
Naugatuck Valley Dental Society
Ansonia, Derby, Seymour, Shelton, Southbury, etc.
New Britain Dental Society
New Britain, Berlin, Plainville, Kensington
New Canaan Dental Society
New Canaan
New Haven Dental Association
New Haven, Hamden, North Haven, West Haven, Woodbridge, etc.
New London Dental Society
southeastern CT (27 towns)
Northeastern Dental Society
Ashford, Brooklyn, Canterbury + NE CT towns
Greater Norwalk Dental Society
Norwalk, Wilton, Weston, Westport, Rowayton
Shoreline Dental Society
Branford, Guilford, Madison, Old Saybrook, Clinton, etc.
Dental Society of Greater Southington
Southington, Plantsville
Stamford Dental Society
Stamford, Darien
Tolland Dental Society
Tolland-area towns (Coventry, Ellington, Hebron, etc.)
Dental Society of Greater Waterbury
Waterbury, Watertown, Middlebury, Wolcott, etc.
Licensing Board
Connecticut State Dental Commission (operating under the Connecticut Department of Public Health, Practitioner Licensing & Investigations)
The board licenses and regulates dentists — distinct from the CSDA, which is a voluntary membership and advocacy body.
portal.ct.gov/dph/practitioner-licensing--investigations/dentistCE & License Renewal
- Hours: Minimum 25 contact hours (one contact hour = at least 50 minutes)
- Cycle: Biennial (every 2 years)
- Mandatory topics: Must include at least 1 contact hour in any 3 of the 10 Commissioner-prescribed topics, PLUS infection control in a dental setting, AND prescribing controlled substances / pain management. The 10 prescribed topics: controlled substances & pain management; record keeping/risk management; infection control; access to care; HIPAA compliance; medical emergencies in the dental office (including current CPR training); sexual assault and domestic abuse; cultural competence; mental health conditions common to veterans; and diagnostic technology. Records must be retained at least 3 years.
Always verify current requirements with the Connecticut State Dental Commission (operating under the Connecticut Department of Public Health, Practitioner Licensing & Investigations) before renewal.
Dental Schools in Connecticut
Connecticut Dental Market Snapshot
- Estimated ~3,500 licensed dentists statewide; CSDA membership ~2,200 (~63%).
- Major metros: Hartford (capital), New Haven, Bridgeport, Stamford, Waterbury, Norwalk, Danbury.
- The Fairfield County corridor (Stamford/Greenwich/Norwalk/Danbury) is a high-income, NYC-adjacent market; Spanish-language patient demand is significant in Bridgeport, New Haven, Hartford, and Waterbury. Multilingual front-desk handling is relevant in these urban cores.
AI Front Desk for Connecticut Practices
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Connecticut Dental Association FAQ
How many CE hours do Connecticut dentists need to renew a license?
Connecticut dentists must complete Minimum 25 contact hours (one contact hour = at least 50 minutes), biennial (every 2 years). Mandatory topics include Must include at least 1 contact hour in any 3 of the 10 Commissioner-prescribed topics, PLUS infection control in a dental setting, AND prescribing controlled substances / pain management. The 10 prescribed topics: controlled substances & pain management; record keeping/risk management; infection control; access to care; HIPAA compliance; medical emergencies in the dental office (including current CPR training); sexual assault and domestic abuse; cultural competence; mental health conditions common to veterans; and diagnostic technology. Records must be retained at least 3 years.. Always confirm current rules with the Connecticut State Dental Commission (operating under the Connecticut Department of Public Health, Practitioner Licensing & Investigations).
What is the difference between the CSDA and the Connecticut State Dental Commission (operating under the Connecticut Department of Public Health, Practitioner Licensing & Investigations)?
The Connecticut State Dental Association is a voluntary membership and advocacy organization for dentists. The Connecticut State Dental Commission (operating under the Connecticut Department of Public Health, Practitioner Licensing & Investigations) is the government body that licenses dentists and enforces regulations. Membership in the association is optional; licensure through the board is mandatory to practice.
Sources
- www.csda.com/about-us/contact-us — HQ address, Executive Director
- www.csda.com/about-us — founding 1864, ~2,200 members / ~63% of licensed dentists
- www.csda.com/about-us/governance/bog — Board of Governors / leadership; Executive Director Kathlene Gerrity
- portal.ct.gov/dph/practitioner-licensing--investigations/plis/licensing-statistics — CT DPH licensing statistics (authoritative dentist count)
- www.cga.ct.gov/2025/phdata/TMY/2025SB-01331-R000226-Gerrity,%20Kathlene,%20Executive%20Director-CSDA-Supports-TMY.PDF — CSDA legislative testimony (Gerrity, Exec Director)
- www.csda.com/professional-development/ce-requirements-tracking — CSDA CE requirements/tracking; CSDF reference
- csdadentalmeeting.com/ — CSDA Annual Charter Oak Dental Meeting 2026
- www.emedevents.com/c/medical-conferences-2025/connecticut-state-dental-association-csda-158th-annual-charter-oak-dental-meeting — 158th meeting May 14-16, 2025, Mohegan Sun
- www.csda.com/member-center/component-societies — list of 22 component societies
- portal.ct.gov/dph/practitioner-licensing--investigations/dentist — CT State Dental Commission / DPH licensing
- portal.ct.gov/dph/practitioner-licensing--investigations/dentist/dentist-continuing-education-information — CE hours, cycle, mandatory topics
- dentalmedicine.uconn.edu/ — UConn School of Dental Medicine (CODA-accredited, Farmington)
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