Pennsylvania Dental Association (PDA)
Your guide to organized dentistry in Pennsylvania: membership, the annual meeting, local component societies, the state dental board, and CE/license-renewal requirements.
About the Pennsylvania Dental Association
The Pennsylvania Dental Association (PDA), organized in 1868 and headquartered in Harrisburg, is the ADA constituent (state) society for Pennsylvania. It is a voluntary professional membership organization of approximately 5,200 member dentists, governed by a Board of ~13 members (two non-voting) and supported by a central-office staff of about 18.
PDA uses the tripartite ADA membership structure (national/state/local) and is organized into 10 district (trustee) regions and roughly 45 local dental societies covering all of Pennsylvania's counties. The Board of Trustees seats district trustees who represent each region; for example, President Dr. Theodore Rockwell previously served two terms representing the Eighth District (eight counties in northwestern PA).
PDA advocates for dentists at the Commonwealth level on licensure, dental benefits/insurance reform, Medicaid, and scope-of-practice issues, and it provides continuing education, practice resources, and a Component Resource Center to support its local societies. Leadership is provided by an elected President (Dr. Theodore J. Rockwell, 2025-26) and CEO Camille Kostelac-Cherry.
Annual Meeting: PDA Annual Session / Pennsylvania Dental Meeting (and Annual Business Meeting / House of Delegates)
Spring; recent Annual Business Meeting held April 26, 2025 at The Desmond Hotel, Malvern, PA. PDA also runs a "PA Dental Meeting" CE event.
The PDA Annual Session combines governance (the Annual Business Meeting where officers are installed) with continuing-education programming.
Component & Local Dental Societies
Joining the PDA typically also enrolls a dentist in their local component society.Pennsylvania has 5 component societies:
Second District - Valley Forge Dental Society (VFDA)
Combined membership of three local societies (Chester/Delaware, Lehigh Valley, Montgomery/Bucks) covering a six-county area: Chester, Delaware, Bucks, Montgomery, Lehigh, Northampton (~1,500 member dentists; runs the Greater Philadelphia Valley Forge Dental Conference)
Eighth District
Eight counties in northwestern PA (region President Rockwell represented as trustee)
Ninth District Dental Society
Crawford, Erie, Lawrence, Mercer, Venango counties (northwestern PA / Erie region)
www.nddspa.org/PDA is comprised of 10 district (trustee) components and approximately 45 local dental societies; the Third, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, and Tenth Districts and their remaining local societies are catalogued on PDA's interactive Districts & Local Societies map.
Licensing Board
Pennsylvania State Board of Dentistry, within the PA Department of State, Bureau of Professional & Occupational Affairs (BPOA)
The board licenses and regulates dentists — distinct from the PDA, which is a voluntary membership and advocacy body.
www.pa.gov/agencies/dos/department-and-offices/bpoa/boards-commissions/dentistryCE & License Renewal
- Hours: 30 hours
- Cycle: Biennial - PA dental licenses renew April 1 of each odd-numbered year; the two-year earning period runs April 1 (odd year) through March 31 (next odd year)
- Mandatory topics: 2 hours Board-approved Child Abuse Recognition and Reporting (counts toward the 30; verified electronically by the approved provider). For licensees with a current DEA registration / who prescribe controlled substances: at least 2 hours in pain management, identification of addiction, or prescribing/dispensing of opioids each renewal.
Always verify current requirements with the Pennsylvania State Board of Dentistry, within the PA Department of State, Bureau of Professional & Occupational Affairs (BPOA) before renewal.
Dental Schools in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Dental Market Snapshot
- ~5,200 PDA members across 10 districts / ~45 local societies; large geographically diverse state.
- Major metros: Philadelphia (largest), Pittsburgh, Allentown/Lehigh Valley, Harrisburg, Erie, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Reading.
- Strong urban Spanish-speaking populations (Philadelphia, Allentown/Reading), plus large rural and Appalachian regions in central/northern PA where practices are spread thin and front-desk coverage is a challenge.
AI Front Desk for Pennsylvania Practices
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Pennsylvania Dental Association FAQ
How many CE hours do Pennsylvania dentists need to renew a license?
Pennsylvania dentists must complete 30 hours, biennial - pa dental licenses renew april 1 of each odd-numbered year; the two-year earning period runs april 1 (odd year) through march 31 (next odd year). Mandatory topics include 2 hours Board-approved Child Abuse Recognition and Reporting (counts toward the 30; verified electronically by the approved provider). For licensees with a current DEA registration / who prescribe controlled substances: at least 2 hours in pain management, identification of addiction, or prescribing/dispensing of opioids each renewal.. Always confirm current rules with the Pennsylvania State Board of Dentistry, within the PA Department of State, Bureau of Professional & Occupational Affairs (BPOA).
What is the difference between the PDA and the Pennsylvania State Board of Dentistry, within the PA Department of State, Bureau of Professional & Occupational Affairs (BPOA)?
The Pennsylvania Dental Association is a voluntary membership and advocacy organization for dentists. The Pennsylvania State Board of Dentistry, within the PA Department of State, Bureau of Professional & Occupational Affairs (BPOA) 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.padental.org/ — PDA overview, founded 1868, ~5,200 members, Harrisburg HQ, CEO Camille Kostelac-Cherry, board/staff structure
- vfdental.org/about.html — Second District / Valley Forge Dental Society six-county coverage, ~1,500 members
- www.padental.org/membership/districts-and-local-societies/ — 10 districts / ~45 local societies structure
- www.einpresswire.com/article/808928559/pennsylvania-dental-association-installs-dr-theodore-rockwell-as-president — President Dr. Theodore J. Rockwell, installed April 26, 2025, Malvern; Eighth District background
- www.chesdeldentalsoc.org/District.html — Second District local societies (Chester/Delaware, Lehigh Valley, Montgomery/Bucks)
- www.pa.gov/agencies/dos/department-and-offices/bpoa/boards-commissions/dentistry/dentist-licensure-snapshot — PA State Board of Dentistry / licensure snapshot
- www.philcodent.org/ — Philadelphia County Dental Society (First District)
- www.nddspa.org/ — Ninth District Dental Society (Crawford, Erie, Lawrence, Mercer, Venango)
- dswp.org/ — Dental Society of Western Pennsylvania (Pittsburgh / western PA)
- www.padental.org/continuing-education/licensure-requirements/ — 30 hrs biennial, child abuse + opioid requirements
- www.pa.gov/content/dam/copapwp-pagov/en/dos/department-and-offices/bpoa/dental/Dental-Renewal-Guide.pdf — PA State Board renewal guide / CE rules
- www.dental.upenn.edu/admissions-academics/accreditation/ — PA CODA-accredited dental schools (Penn; Temple Kornberg; Pitt)
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