Georgia Dental Association (GDA)
Your guide to organized dentistry in Georgia: membership, the annual meeting, local component societies, the state dental board, and CE/license-renewal requirements.
About the Georgia Dental Association
The Georgia Dental Association (GDA) is the ADA constituent society for Georgia and one of the oldest in the United States: in 1859, a group of dentists met in Macon, Georgia and formed the first state organization for dentistry. The GDA has since grown to more than 3,500 member dentists. It established a permanent professional office in Atlanta in 1975 and today is headquartered in suburban Marietta.
The GDA operates on the ADA tripartite model — membership simultaneously enrolls a dentist in the national ADA, the state GDA, and one of seven geographic districts. Its mission centers on advancing dentistry through education, advocacy, and professionalism, and improving oral health across Georgia. The association is a notably active advocacy organization at the Georgia General Assembly, lobbying on scope-of-practice, dental insurance reform (assignment of benefits, network leasing, non-covered services), and Medicaid dental issues, and it operates GDA-affiliated entities including a foundation (philanthropy/charitable care) and member-services/insurance programs.
Governance runs through a House of Delegates and a Board of Trustees, with district officers feeding into statewide committees and the House. Each of the seven districts elects its own officers, hosts local CE and meetings, and provides representation in the GDA House of Delegates. In the ADA's national structure, Georgia is part of the Fifth Trustee District.
Annual Meeting: GDA Annual Convention & Expo
Summer (June). The 2025 Convention ran June 19–22, 2025; a 2026 GDA Annual Convention & Expo is scheduled. The GDA has historically held the convention at resort destinations (including out-of-state coastal venues such as Amelia Island, FL) as well as in-state
The convention combines continuing education, a products/innovations expo, and the association's governance meetings, drawing dentists from all seven districts.
Component & Local Dental Societies
Joining the GDA typically also enrolls a dentist in their local component society.Georgia has 7 component societies:
Northwestern District Dental Society (NWDDS)
northwest Georgia (incl. Rome/Dalton area)
www.gadental.org/nwddsEastern District Dental Society
eastern Georgia (Augusta region)
Central District Dental Society
central Georgia (Macon region)
Southeastern District Dental Society (SEDDS)
southeast Georgia (Savannah/coastal region)
www.sedds.org/Southwestern District Dental Society
southwest Georgia (Albany/Valdosta region)
Western District Dental Society
west-central Georgia (Columbus region)
Licensing Board
Georgia Board of Dentistry (administered under the Georgia Secretary of State / Professional Licensing Boards Division)
The board licenses and regulates dentists — distinct from the GDA, which is a voluntary membership and advocacy body.
gbd.georgia.govCE & License Renewal
- Hours: 40 hours per two-year renewal period; at least 30 of the 40 must be in clinical science (dental hygienists: 22 hours per two-year renewal, at least 15 in clinical science)
- Cycle: Biennial
- Mandatory topics: Governed by Board Rule 150-3-.09 (dentists) and 150-5-.05 (hygienists). All hours must be earned within the two-year renewal period. CPR/BLS and controlled-substance/opioid components apply per board rule and DEA federal requirements.
Always verify current requirements with the Georgia Board of Dentistry (administered under the Georgia Secretary of State / Professional Licensing Boards Division) before renewal.
Dental Schools in Georgia
Georgia Dental Market Snapshot
- 3,500+ GDA-member dentists, concentrated heavily in metro Atlanta (Northern District), with additional clusters in Augusta (Eastern), Savannah/coastal (Southeastern), Macon (Central), Columbus (Western), Albany/Valdosta (Southwestern), and Rome/Dalton (Northwestern).
- Georgia sits below the national dentist-per-capita average (~47 per 100,000), meaning many practices are busy and capacity-constrained.
- Atlanta is a major DSO and group-practice market.
- Front-desk language needs predominantly English with substantial Spanish-speaking demand in metro Atlanta and Dalton; some Korean and Vietnamese communities in north metro Atlanta.
AI Front Desk for Georgia Practices
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Georgia Dental Association FAQ
How many CE hours do Georgia dentists need to renew a license?
Georgia dentists must complete 40 hours per two-year renewal period; at least 30 of the 40 must be in clinical science (dental hygienists: 22 hours per two-year renewal, at least 15 in clinical science), biennial. Mandatory topics include Governed by Board Rule 150-3-.09 (dentists) and 150-5-.05 (hygienists). All hours must be earned within the two-year renewal period. CPR/BLS and controlled-substance/opioid components apply per board rule and DEA federal requirements.. Always confirm current rules with the Georgia Board of Dentistry (administered under the Georgia Secretary of State / Professional Licensing Boards Division).
What is the difference between the GDA and the Georgia Board of Dentistry (administered under the Georgia Secretary of State / Professional Licensing Boards Division)?
The Georgia Dental Association is a voluntary membership and advocacy organization for dentists. The Georgia Board of Dentistry (administered under the Georgia Secretary of State / Professional Licensing Boards Division) 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.gadental.org/about-us — 1859 Macon founding, 3,500+ members, 1975 Atlanta office
- leadiq.com/c/georgia-dental-association/ — HQ address (Marietta), Kristen Morgan ED
- www.gadental.org/districts — seven-district structure, NWDDS/NDDS/SEDDS links
- www.gadental.org/news/installation-of-2025-state-and-district-officers — names of all seven districts (Central, Eastern, Northern, Northwestern, Southeastern, Southwestern, Western)
- www.ndds.org/ — district society sites
- www.sedds.org/ — district society sites
- www.gadental.org/events/2026-gda-annual-convention-and-expo — Annual Convention & Expo (June dates)
- www.gadental.org/event-details/2025/06/19/gda/annual-convention-and-expo-2025 — 2025 Annual Convention & Expo
- gbd.georgia.gov/ — Georgia Board of Dentistry (licensing)
- gbd.georgia.gov/document/laws-policies-rules/rule-150-3-09-amended/download — CE: 40 hrs/2 yrs (30 clinical), Rule 150-3-.09
- www.gadental.org/events-ce/renewing-your-license — CE Requirements / Renewing Your License
- healthcareworkforce.georgia.gov/document/document/2025-dentist-workforce-report/download — Georgia dentist workforce report
- www.asdanet.org/index/get-into-dental-school/predental-resources/u-s-dental-schools — Dental College of Georgia at Augusta University
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