Missouri Dental Association (MDA)
Your guide to organized dentistry in Missouri: membership, the annual meeting, local component societies, the state dental board, and CE/license-renewal requirements.
About the Missouri Dental Association
The Missouri Dental Association is the ADA constituent (state) society for Missouri — a non-profit professional organization with more than 2,000 members representing all areas of dentistry. It is the state tier of the ADA tripartite association, so members belong simultaneously to the MDA, the ADA, and a local component (district) society.
The MDA is governed by a Board of Trustees composed of officers plus trustees drawn from each component society, along with additional members (the editor, immediate past president, legislative chair, and a new-dentist representative). The executive office, led by Executive Director Vicki Wilbers (ED since 2006), runs day-to-day operations, advocacy, member services, and the affiliated MDA Foundation, MDA Well-Being Foundation, and MDA Political Action Committee.
Core functions include state legislative and regulatory advocacy, continuing education, practice resources, and dental-student engagement supporting Missouri's two dental schools.
Annual Meeting: Connect4Success (the MDA's annual session)
Summer at the Lake of the Ozarks. Connect4Success 2026 is June 25-27, 2026 at Margaritaville Lake Resort, 494 Tan Tar A Drive, Osage Beach, MO 65065.
Component societies also each meet at least annually for business and CE. Separately, the St. Louis area hosts the long-running Mid-Continent Dental Congress (mcdcstl.org), a major regional CE meeting tied to the Greater St. Louis Dental Society.
Component & Local Dental Societies
Joining the MDA typically also enrolls a dentist in their local component society.Missouri has 8 component societies:
Greater St. Louis Dental Society
greaterstlouisdentalsociety.orgGreater Kansas City Dental Society
Greater Springfield Dental Society
Central Dental Society
Northeast Dental Society
Northwest Dental Society
Southeast Dental Society
Southwest Dental Society
Licensing Board
Missouri Dental Board (within the Missouri Division of Professional Registration)
The board licenses and regulates dentists — distinct from the MDA, which is a voluntary membership and advocacy body.
pr.mo.gov/dental.aspCE & License Renewal
- Hours: 50 hours in the two-year period immediately preceding renewal for dentists (up to 10 may be in management; not fewer than 40 must directly relate to the treatment, health, and safety of the individual dental patient)
- Cycle: Biennial — the two-year period runs December 1 to November 30; licenses expire November 30 of each even-numbered year
- Mandatory topics: Renewal is contingent on a current BLS or ACLS certification (or equivalent). Excess hours may carry forward up to 25 hours for dentists.
Always verify current requirements with the Missouri Dental Board (within the Missouri Division of Professional Registration) before renewal.
Dental Schools in Missouri
Missouri Dental Market Snapshot
- Major metros: St. Louis, Kansas City, Springfield, Columbia, Jefferson City.
- 2,000+ MDA-member dentists; two metros (St. Louis, Kansas City) anchor the largest concentrations of practices, with the Greater St. Louis and Greater Kansas City societies as the biggest components.
- Mix of independent and group practices with growing DSO footprint in the St. Louis and KC metros.
- Spanish-speaking patient populations are notable in the larger metros.
AI Front Desk for Missouri Practices
Missouri spans two large metros (St. Louis, Kansas City) plus a broad rural middle served by eight MDA component societies and two dental schools, creating a wide range of practice sizes and front-desk needs. An AI dental receptionist can capture missed calls and after-hours scheduling for both metro group practices and rural solo offices, supporting recall and intake while staff focus on patient care. Aligning messaging with the Greater St. Louis and Greater Kansas City societies grounds TensorLinks in Missouri's dental ecosystem.
Missouri Dental Association FAQ
How many CE hours do Missouri dentists need to renew a license?
Missouri dentists must complete 50 hours in the two-year period immediately preceding renewal for dentists (up to 10 may be in management; not fewer than 40 must directly relate to the treatment, health, and safety of the individual dental patient), biennial — the two-year period runs december 1 to november 30; licenses expire november 30 of each even-numbered year. Mandatory topics include Renewal is contingent on a current BLS or ACLS certification (or equivalent). Excess hours may carry forward up to 25 hours for dentists.. Always confirm current rules with the Missouri Dental Board (within the Missouri Division of Professional Registration).
What is the difference between the MDA and the Missouri Dental Board (within the Missouri Division of Professional Registration)?
The Missouri Dental Association is a voluntary membership and advocacy organization for dentists. The Missouri Dental Board (within the Missouri Division of Professional Registration) 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.modental.org/about-us — membership >2,000, tripartite structure
- www.modental.org/about-us/mda-governance/component-societies — eight components
- www.modental.org/meetings-events/connect4success — Connect4Success 2026
- www.oralhealthmissouri.org/vicki-wilbers — Executive Director Vicki Wilbers
- www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/missouri/20-CSR-2110-2-071 — CE rule (50 hrs, biennial, BLS/ACLS)
- www.greaterstlouisdentalsociety.org/member-center/practicing-dentists/license-renewal — renewal summary
- pr.mo.gov/dental.asp — Missouri Dental Board
- dentistry.umkc.edu/ — UMKC School of Dentistry
- www.atsu.edu/missouri-school-of-dentistry-and-oral-health — A.T. Still MOSDOH
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