Oklahoma Dental Association (ODA)
Your guide to organized dentistry in Oklahoma: membership, the annual meeting, local component societies, the state dental board, and CE/license-renewal requirements.
About the Oklahoma Dental Association
The Oklahoma Dental Association is the ADA constituent (state) society for Oklahoma, a statewide professional membership organization representing Oklahoma-licensed dentists and dental students. It was founded in 1907 — the year Oklahoma became a state — and is headquartered in Oklahoma City at 317 NE 13th Street, in the state's health-sciences district near the University of Oklahoma.
The ODA is supported by its 1,600+ Oklahoma dentist members and is led by Executive Director Lynn Means, who has run the association since 2006. As an ADA tripartite organization, ODA membership includes the American Dental Association and the dentist's local component society. The ODA's work spans legislative advocacy at the Oklahoma Legislature, continuing education (anchored by the Annual Meeting), member directories and practice resources, and charitable work through the affiliated Oklahoma Dental Foundation.
Governance follows the standard ADA structure with a House of Delegates and a Board of Trustees drawn from the component societies, and the ODA's CE programming is designed to meet the standards set by the Oklahoma Board of Dentistry so members can satisfy state requirements through association courses.
Annual Meeting: ODA Annual Meeting
Each spring, over roughly two days; recent meetings held in Oklahoma City and Tulsa
The Annual Meeting combines the ODA's governance meetings and awards with continuing-education lectures, hands-on workshops, and social events — the association's flagship gathering. Every course provides certified CE that meets Oklahoma Board of Dentistry standards.
Component & Local Dental Societies
Joining the ODA typically also enrolls a dentist in their local component society.Oklahoma has 7 component societies:
Central
central Oklahoma
Eastern
eastern Oklahoma
Northern
northern Oklahoma
Northwest
northwest Oklahoma
Oklahoma County
Oklahoma City metro (admin via Mustang, OK; PO Box 1197, Mustang 73064)
Southwest
southwest Oklahoma
Licensing Board
Oklahoma Board of Dentistry (a constitutional agency created at statehood in 1907)
The board licenses and regulates dentists — distinct from the ODA, which is a voluntary membership and advocacy body.
oklahoma.gov/dentistry.htmlCE & License Renewal
- Hours: 40 hours for dentists per two-year period (no more than 20 hours online); 20 hours for dental hygienists (max 10 online)
- Cycle: Biennial CE requirement; license renewals are due December 31 each year
- Mandatory topics: Dental assistants — infection control hours required (1 hour for oral-maxillofacial expanded-duty permit holders, 2 hours for other assistants); CPR/BLS expected. As of July 1, 2025, all CE is logged through CE Broker (cebroker.com) rather than submitted with the renewal application
Always verify current requirements with the Oklahoma Board of Dentistry (a constitutional agency created at statehood in 1907) before renewal.
Dental Schools in Oklahoma
Oklahoma Dental Market Snapshot
- Major metros: Oklahoma City (with the Oklahoma County society) and Tulsa (with the Tulsa County society) anchor the market; the remaining five regional components cover largely rural Oklahoma
- National DSOs operate across OKC and Tulsa metros
- Oklahoma has significant Hispanic and Native American populations (the state has the second-largest Native American population in the US), shaping multilingual and culturally aware front-desk needs
AI Front Desk for Oklahoma Practices
Oklahoma's dental market splits between the OKC and Tulsa metros and a broad rural spread covered by five regional ODA components. An AI dental receptionist helps ODA-member practices answer every call, fill last-minute openings, and serve Spanish-speaking and tribal-community patients — keeping front desks covered while practices track CE through CE Broker and meet the Oklahoma Board of Dentistry's 40-hour biennial requirement.
Oklahoma Dental Association FAQ
How many CE hours do Oklahoma dentists need to renew a license?
Oklahoma dentists must complete 40 hours for dentists per two-year period (no more than 20 hours online); 20 hours for dental hygienists (max 10 online), biennial ce requirement; license renewals are due december 31 each year. Mandatory topics include Dental assistants — infection control hours required (1 hour for oral-maxillofacial expanded-duty permit holders, 2 hours for other assistants); CPR/BLS expected. As of July 1, 2025, all CE is logged through CE Broker (cebroker.com) rather than submitted with the renewal application. Always confirm current rules with the Oklahoma Board of Dentistry (a constitutional agency created at statehood in 1907).
What is the difference between the ODA and the Oklahoma Board of Dentistry (a constitutional agency created at statehood in 1907)?
The Oklahoma Dental Association is a voluntary membership and advocacy organization for dentists. The Oklahoma Board of Dentistry (a constitutional agency created at statehood in 1907) 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.okda.org/ — ODA main site, HQ, mission.
- www.okda.org/membership/programs/education/annual-meeting/ — ODA Annual Meeting (spring, two days, CE meeting board standards).
- m.eventsinamerica.com/events/2025-oda-annual-meeting-oklahoma-dental-association-2023-2024-2025/ — 2025 Annual Meeting (Tulsa/OKC).
- www.okda.org/membership/component-dental-societies/ — seven component societies (Central, Eastern, Northern, Northwest, Oklahoma County, Southwest, Tulsa County) + staff.
- www.okda.org/about-the-oda/staff/lynn-means/ — Executive Director Lynn Means (since 2006), 1,600+ members, founded 1907.
- www.zoominfo.com/c/oklahoma-dental-association/28721391 — HQ address 317 NE 13th St, Oklahoma City.
- theorg.com/org/oklahoma-dental-association/org-chart/lynn-means — Lynn Means as ED.
- oklahoma.gov/dentistry/about.html — Oklahoma Board of Dentistry (constitutional agency, 1907; licensing/oversight).
- oklahoma.gov/dentistry/continuing-education.html — Oklahoma CE rules (40 hrs dentists/biennium, CE Broker since July 2025, Dec 31 renewals).
- coda.ada.org/find-a-program — CODA accreditation (University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry).
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