Indiana Dental Association (IDA)
Your guide to organized dentistry in Indiana: membership, the annual meeting, local component societies, the state dental board, and CE/license-renewal requirements.
About the Indiana Dental Association
The Indiana Dental Association was organized in September 1858, when an Indianapolis dentist invited a small group of colleagues to his office to form the Indiana State Dental Association — often cited as the first state dental association of its kind. A year later, in 1859, several of those same dentists were instrumental in founding the American Dental Association, giving Indiana a notable place in organized dentistry's origin story.
The IDA's mission centers on advocacy, professional development/continuing education, and serving the dental profession in Indiana. It represents more than 3,000 member dentists — roughly 83% of the state's practicing dentists — and operates within the ADA tripartite structure (national ADA, state IDA, and a local component district society). The association runs the IDA Foundation for Dental Health and publishes the Journal of the Indiana Dental Association.
Governance: the House of Delegates is the policy-making body; a Board of Trustees handles operations. The Board comprises 13 trustees (one from each district), plus the President-elect and Vice President as additional voting members, for 15 voting members; the President, Treasurer and Executive Director sit ex officio. The Board traditionally meets quarterly.
The IDA is active on state advocacy including dental insurance reform (e.g., assignment-of-benefits legislation), Medicaid, scope of practice, and licensure/regulatory matters before the Indiana State Board of Dentistry.
Annual Meeting: Midwest Dental Assembly (the IDA's annual session)
Indianapolis (annual).
The Midwest Dental Assembly brings nationally known instructors to deliver continuing education to Indiana member dentists, combined with an exhibit hall and professional/networking programming.
Component & Local Dental Societies
Joining the IDA typically also enrolls a dentist in their local component society.Indiana has 13 component societies:
Indianapolis District Dental Society (IDDS)
Indianapolis metro; ~1,300 member dentists
www.indydentalsociety.org/North Central Dental Society
Western Indiana Dental Society
South Central Dental Society
First District Dental Society
Ben Hur Dental Society
Eastern Indiana Dental Society
Greene District Dental Society
Southeastern Indiana Dental Society
East Central Dental Society
American Student Dental Association — IU School of Dentistry Chapter
Licensing Board
Indiana State Board of Dentistry (administered under the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency, PLA)
The board licenses and regulates dentists — distinct from the IDA, which is a voluntary membership and advocacy body.
www.in.gov/pla/professions/indiana-state-board-of-dentistryCE & License Renewal
- Hours: 20 hours
- Cycle: Biennial (every 2 years), by March 1 of even-numbered years
- Mandatory topics: A 2-hour program covering ethics, professional responsibility, and Indiana statutes/administrative rules (jurisprudence) is required each renewal period. At least half of the required hours must be live (in-person/live workshop) presentations. DEA-registered prescribers are subject to the federal MATE Act's 8-hour opioid/substance-use-disorder training. OSHA/infection control and HIPAA training can count toward CE.
Always verify current requirements with the Indiana State Board of Dentistry (administered under the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency, PLA) before renewal.
Dental Schools in Indiana
Indiana Dental Market Snapshot
- ~3,600+ practicing dentists statewide (derived from 3,000 members = ~83%).
- Major metros: Indianapolis (by far the largest, home to ~1,300-member IDDS), Fort Wayne (Isaac Knapp), South Bend/Elkhart, Evansville, Gary/NW Indiana.
- Indianapolis dominates the market; Indiana University School of Dentistry feeds the local dentist pipeline.
- Growing Spanish-speaking populations in Indianapolis, Elkhart and NW Indiana drive demand for bilingual front-desk handling.
AI Front Desk for Indiana Practices
Indiana's dentist base is concentrated around Indianapolis and a handful of mid-size metros, with most practices being independent or small-group members of one of the 13 IDA district societies. A TensorLinks AI dental receptionist fits these solo and small-group practices well — covering missed and after-hours calls, scheduling, and bilingual patient intake — letting front-desk-constrained offices in the IDDS, Isaac Knapp, and other districts capture more appointments without adding staff.
Indiana Dental Association FAQ
How many CE hours do Indiana dentists need to renew a license?
Indiana dentists must complete 20 hours, biennial (every 2 years), by march 1 of even-numbered years. Mandatory topics include A 2-hour program covering ethics, professional responsibility, and Indiana statutes/administrative rules (jurisprudence) is required each renewal period. At least half of the required hours must be live (in-person/live workshop) presentations. DEA-registered prescribers are subject to the federal MATE Act's 8-hour opioid/substance-use-disorder training. OSHA/infection control and HIPAA training can count toward CE.. Always confirm current rules with the Indiana State Board of Dentistry (administered under the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency, PLA).
What is the difference between the IDA and the Indiana State Board of Dentistry (administered under the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency, PLA)?
The Indiana Dental Association is a voluntary membership and advocacy organization for dentists. The Indiana State Board of Dentistry (administered under the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency, PLA) 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
- indental.org/about/ — HQ address, governance bodies, foundation, annual meeting reference
- indental.org/about/leadership/board-of-trustees/ — membership 3,000+/83%; board structure; full list of 13 district societies + board composition
- www.indydentalsociety.org/ — IDDS ~1,300 members
- ikdds.org/ — Isaac Knapp 300+
- indental.org/ida-history/ — founding 1858, first state dental association, IU School of Dentistry
- indental.org/about/leadership/officers/ — current officers / President Dr. Lorraine Celis
- www.linkedin.com/in/doug-bush-83934510 — Executive Director Doug Bush
- www.in.gov/pla/professions/dentistry-home/dentistry-licensing-information/ — Indiana State Board of Dentistry licensing
- indental.org/professional-resources/continuing-education-requirements/ — 20 hrs biennial, 2-hr ethics/jurisprudence, live-hour rule
Explore dental associations in all 50 states, or see how the TensorLinks AI dental receptionist works.