Washington Academy of General Dentistry

What Washington Academy of General Dentistry does

The Charles H. Tweed International Foundation for Orthodontic Research is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational organization founded in 1941 as a study club by Dr. Charles H. Tweed and formally proposed as a foundation in 1947. The organization provides continuing education to orthodontists and orthodontic graduate students worldwide, anchored by the Tweed Study Course™ — recognized as the oldest continuing education course in dentistry. Headquartered at the Tweed Memorial Center in Tucson, Arizona, the Foundation serves an international community spanning the United States, Canada, Japan, China, Korea, Italy, the United Kingdom, and Australia.

The Foundation's core curriculum centers on the Tweed/Merrifield force system, standard edgewise appliance techniques, and differential diagnosis. The flagship Tweed Study Course is a seven-day intensive offering 63 continuing education credits through 12.55 hours of lecture and 50.35 hours of laboratory procedures with typodonts, delivered through individualized daily instruction. The Foundation supplements this with biennial international meetings featuring scientific lectures and hands-on workshops, the exclusive online Orthodontic Forum for member case discussions, a Fellowship Program requiring evaluated clinical case presentations, and the member newsletter The Tweed Loop. Approximately 100 instructors support the curriculum, with 95% of U.S. instructors certified by the American Board of Orthodontics. ADA CERP Recognized Provider status underwrites the credentialing quality of the educational offering.

Revenue is generated through four streams: course tuition ($2,200 per orthodontist and $1,900 per resident, rising to $2,400 and $2,100 respectively in 2026), annual membership dues ($100 for Regular/Fellow members, $250 for instructors), biennial meeting registration ($800 per doctor), and tax-deductible donations. The Foundation has disclosed that dues revenue does not cover operating expenses, relying on contributions as a meaningful funding source. Six Tweed Study Courses are sponsored annually, and the organization is governed by a Board of Directors with Dr. James L. Vaden serving as Director of Education since 1980.

Name

Washington Academy of General Dentistry

Legal name

The Charles H. Tweed International Foundation for Orthodontic Research and Education

Website

https://tweedortho.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1941

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Charles H. Tweed International Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational organization operating the Tweed Study Course™, the oldest continuing education program in dentistry, serving orthodontists and graduate students globally through intensive courses, membership, biennial meetings, and an online forum.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Orthodontic Continuing Education

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Orthopedic, Prosthetic & Surgical Appliances & Supplies (3842)

akta.pro primary industry

Dental Schools (EDAHAGAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Clear Aligner Orthodontics (HLABABAD)

Keywords

• Orthodontic continuing education
• Dental professional training
• Orthodontic clinical courses
• Dental fellowship programs
• Professional dental development

Headquarters

HQ city

Seabeck

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership dues provide recurring revenue. Regular/Fellow members pay $100/year, instructors pay $250/year. Retired members are exempt from dues.
2. Tweed Study Course Tuition: Seven-day intensive course in advanced edgewise mechanics. Tuition is $2,200 for orthodontists and $1,900 for residents. Increasing to $2,400 and $2,100 respectively in 2026.
3. Biennial Meeting Registration: Registration fees for the 35th Biennial Meeting: Doctor $800 USD, Spouse/Guest $300 USD, Workshop $200 USD
4. Tax-Deductible Contributions: As a 501(c)(3) non-profit, the Foundation accepts tax-deductible donations from members and supporters to supplement operating costs

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Foundation provides the Tweed Study Course™, a seven-day intensive continuing education program in advanced edgewise mechanics, differential diagnosis, and the Tweed/Merrifield force system for orthodontists and orthodontic graduate students. It supplements this flagship offering with annual membership, biennial international meetings featuring scientific lectures and hands-on workshops, an exclusive member-only Orthodontic Forum for collaborative case discussion, and a Fellowship Program requiring evaluated clinical case presentations.

Product overview

The Charles H. Tweed International Foundation is an educational nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting excellence in orthodontic treatment consistent with Dr. Charles H. Tweed's traditions, ethics, and philosophy. The Foundation operates as a single integrated educational platform centered around the Tweed Study Course™ — a seven-day intensive in advanced edgewise mechanics, differential diagnosis, and the Tweed/Merrifield force system. This flagship course, established in 1941 and recognized as the oldest continuing education program in dentistry, is supplemented by Tweed Foundation Membership for qualified orthodontists, biennial international meetings featuring scientific sessions and workshops, an exclusive Orthodontic Forum for member collaboration, and a Fellowship Program requiring evaluated clinical case presentations. The Foundation also publishes The Tweed Loop newsletter for member communication. The organization is headquartered in Tucson, Arizona.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Tweed Study Course™

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• American Association of Orthodontists (AAO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe AAO is listed as a useful link on the Tweed Foundation membership page. The AAO represents 18K+ orthodontists throughout the United States, Canada, and abroad. The Foundation requires members to be part of or eligible for their country's W.F.O. recognized orthodontic association.
• American Board of Orthodontics (ABO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe ABO is listed as a useful link on the Tweed Foundation membership page. ABO is the global leader in orthodontic board certification. Ninety-five percent of U.S. Tweed Study Course instructors are certified by The American Board of Orthodontics.
• World Federation of Orthodontists (W.F.O.)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Foundation requires all members and course applicants to be members of or eligible for membership in their country's W.F.O. recognized orthodontic association. This ensures international standards and recognition.
• University of MichiganminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe 35th Biennial Meeting will be held at Palmer Commons, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. The Foundation collaborates with universities for hosting educational events.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Edward H. Angle Society of Orthodontists: Invitation-only orthodontic education society offering advanced CE in diagnosis and treatment mechanics. Closely parallel to the Tweed Foundation in mission, exclusivity, and focus on heritage orthodontic philosophy and clinical excellence.
• Roth-Williams International Society of Orthodontists: International society dedicated to teaching Roth/Williams philosophy of orthodontic finishing and occlusion. Directly comparable to the Tweed Foundation as a philosophy-driven, course-and-membership orthodontic education organization.
• The Pankey Institute: Premium dental continuing education provider offering multi-day hands-on courses at a fixed training facility in Florida. Comparable business model (in-person intensive CE, membership community, philosophy-based curriculum) to the Tweed Foundation, though broader in dental scope.
• Kois Center: Premium dental CE provider offering intensive courses at a dedicated training facility, with a proprietary curriculum and instructor network. Operates the same model as the Tweed Foundation (fixed-location intensive CE with membership community), serving general dentists and specialists.
• The Dawson Academy: Dental continuing education organization founded on a specific clinical philosophy, offering multi-day hands-on courses and a member community. Directly parallel to the Tweed Foundation in structure and philosophy-driven CE approach.

Broad incumbents

• Spear Education: One of the largest dental CE and practice management education platforms in the U.S., offering seminars, workshops, and online learning. Comparable as a multi-channel dental CE organization serving practicing dentists/specialists, but broader in scope than Tweed's orthodontic-only focus.
• Align Technology (Invisalign Training): Provider of clear-aligner orthodontic treatment and the dominant player in aligner-based orthodontic education and certification. Competes for orthodontic CE mindshare and represents the alternative treatment paradigm to the edgewise mechanics taught by Tweed.

Others

• American Association of Orthodontists (AAO): Primary U.S. professional association for orthodontists with 18K+ members. Functions as both a referral channel and ecosystem partner for the Tweed Foundation, while also offering its own CE programming and meetings.
• World Federation of Orthodontists (WFO): International orthodontic professional body whose membership is a prerequisite for Tweed Foundation membership. Comparable as a global orthodontic governance and educational organization that sets standards and hosts international events.

Regional players

• European Orthodontic Society (EOS): European professional orthodontic society offering annual congresses and CE programming. Comparable as an international orthodontic CE provider, though operating primarily in Europe with a different structural model (professional society vs. private foundation).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/p/Tweed-Charles-H-International-Foundation-for-Orthodontic-Research-100057352814118
• Instagraminstagram.com/tweedstudycourse
• Xx.com/AGDWashington

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Washington Academy of General Dentistry