Tennessee Dental Association (TDA)
Your guide to organized dentistry in Tennessee: membership, the annual meeting, local component societies, the state dental board, and CE/license-renewal requirements.
About the Tennessee Dental Association
The Tennessee Dental Association (TDA) was founded in 1867, making it one of the oldest state dental organizations in the United States. It is the constituent (state-level) society of the American Dental Association (ADA) for Tennessee; under the tripartite membership model, every TDA member simultaneously belongs to a local component society, the state TDA, and the national ADA.
The TDA is headquartered in Franklin, in the Nashville metro area. It serves over 2,400 member dentists and is organized into nine local/component dental societies that cover the state geographically. The association provides member benefits including continuing education, advocacy and legislative representation at the Tennessee General Assembly, practice-management resources, and peer review.
The TDA is governed by a House of Delegates and a Board of Trustees, with day-to-day operations led by Executive Director Andrea Hayes. The association's councils and committees handle areas such as governance, membership, dental benefits, and government affairs. The TDA actively engages on state legislation affecting dentistry — for example, Tennessee enacted the Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact (SB361, 2023-2024), an interstate licensure compact, an area where state associations typically advocate.
Annual Meeting: Music City Dental Conference (formerly/also branded "TDA Connect Annual Dental Conference")
Early May, Renaissance Nashville Hotel, downtown Nashville (2025 dates: May 1-3, 2025)
The TDA's annual meeting is held in downtown Nashville and serves as Tennessee's premier statewide dental gathering, offering continuing-education courses, an exhibit hall of dental products and services, and networking for dentists and their teams across the state.
Component & Local Dental Societies
Joining the TDA typically also enrolls a dentist in their local component society.Tennessee has 9 component societies:
First District Dental Society
Northeast Tennessee (Tri-Cities region)
Knoxville Area Dental Association
Knoxville / East Tennessee
Chattanooga Area Dental Society
Chattanooga / Southeast Tennessee
Fourth District Dental Society
Nashville Dental Society
Nashville / Middle Tennessee
www.tndental.org/about-us/component-societies/nashville-dental-societySixth District Dental Society
Seventh District Dental Society
Eighth District Dental Society
Memphis Dental Society
Memphis / West Tennessee
Licensing Board
Tennessee Board of Dentistry (within the Tennessee Department of Health)
The board licenses and regulates dentists — distinct from the TDA, which is a voluntary membership and advocacy body.
www.tn.gov/health/licensure/den.htmlCE & License Renewal
- Hours: 40 hours (dentists) per two-calendar-year cycle
- Cycle: Biennial — the cycle runs January 1 of an odd year through December 31 of an even year
- Mandatory topics: Minimum of 2 of the 40 hours must be in chemical dependency every two years; CPR certification required. CE Broker is the official CE tracking system of the Tennessee Board of Dentistry
Always verify current requirements with the Tennessee Board of Dentistry (within the Tennessee Department of Health) before renewal.
Dental Schools in Tennessee
Tennessee Dental Market Snapshot
- Over 4,000 dentists hold active Tennessee licenses (2024); statewide practice count not available
- Major metros: Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville, Chattanooga, Tri-Cities (Johnson City/Kingsport/Bristol), Clarksville, Murfreesboro
- DSO presence significant in major metros; English-dominant market with growing Spanish-speaking populations in Nashville and Memphis metros relevant to bilingual front-desk needs
AI Front Desk for Tennessee Practices
Tennessee's 4,000-plus licensed dentists — clustered in Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville, and Chattanooga — face the same front-desk staffing pressures as practices nationwide, and many are solo or small-group offices belonging to one of the TDA's nine component societies. An AI dental receptionist that answers calls, books appointments, and handles after-hours patient inquiries lets these practices capture more new-patient demand without adding headcount, complementing the practice-management resources TDA members already rely on.
Tennessee Dental Association FAQ
How many CE hours do Tennessee dentists need to renew a license?
Tennessee dentists must complete 40 hours (dentists) per two-calendar-year cycle, biennial — the cycle runs january 1 of an odd year through december 31 of an even year. Mandatory topics include Minimum of 2 of the 40 hours must be in chemical dependency every two years; CPR certification required. CE Broker is the official CE tracking system of the Tennessee Board of Dentistry. Always confirm current rules with the Tennessee Board of Dentistry (within the Tennessee Department of Health).
What is the difference between the TDA and the Tennessee Board of Dentistry (within the Tennessee Department of Health)?
The Tennessee Dental Association is a voluntary membership and advocacy organization for dentists. The Tennessee Board of Dentistry (within the Tennessee Department of Health) 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.tndental.org/ — founding (1867), 2,400+ members, executive director, president, ADA constituent status.
- www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/tennessee/Tenn-Comp-R-Regs-0460-01-.05 — CE hours, biennial cycle, chemical-dependency requirement, CE Broker.
- www.tn.gov/health/licensure/den.html — Tennessee Board of Dentistry; CE and licensing.
- www.tndental.org/about-us — headquarters address, founding year.
- www.tndental.org/about-us/component-societies — list of nine component societies.
- www.uthsc.edu/dentistry/ — UTHSC College of Dentistry.
- home.mmc.edu/school-of-dentistry/ — Meharry Medical College School of Dentistry.
- heartbeat.ai/resources/tennessee-board-of-dentistry/ — 4,000+ active licensed dentists (May 2024).
- www.netce.com/ce-requirements/dentist/tn/ — CE requirement details.
- trackbill.com/ — Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact (SB361).
- www.musiccitydentalconference.com — annual conference name, dates, location, exhibitors.
- www.tndental.org/meetings-events — annual conference details.
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