Louisiana Dental Association

What Louisiana Dental Association does

The Louisiana Dental Association (LDA) is a 501(c)(6)-style professional non-profit membership association established in 1878 and headquartered at 5637 Bankers Ave., Baton Rouge. It is the largest professional health organization for dentists in Louisiana, with nearly 1,900 members organized through nine geographic component societies that cover each major area of the state. LDA operates as a constituent society of the American Dental Association under the tripartite membership system, meaning a single application and dues payment confers membership in the ADA, the LDA, and the member's local component society simultaneously.

The organization's core offerings fall into four categories: (1) member services including professional advocacy and legislative representation, peer review and dispute resolution, mentorship, publications (LDA Journal quarterly magazine and bi-monthly LDA e-bytes newsletter), and access to endorsed financial and insurance products through Louisiana Dental Services, Inc. (LDS), a wholly-owned for-profit subsidiary; (2) a continuing education portfolio spanning conferences (New Orleans Dental Conference, Summer Education Conference, Winter C.E. & Ski, Sip & C.E. in Sonoma Valley, Last Chance Seminar, Kick-Off C.E.), clinical courses (Pediatric Sedation, Adult Sedation, EDDA Program, LDA Radiographics, Special Needs C.E.), and leadership training (Bowden Leadership Conference, LDA Leadership Academy); (3) community programs led through the LDA Foundation 501(c)(3), most notably the Louisiana Mission of Mercy (LaMOM) free dental clinic events; and (4) grassroots political engagement via LADPAC, DAP-PAC, Dentists' Day at the Legislature, and the Grassroots Action Center.

LDA generates revenue from membership dues (subscription/recurring), CE event registrations, raffle transactions (Split the Pot), and affiliate referral fees from LDS-endorsed companies each time a member uses an endorsed service. Distribution is concentrated in a single domestic market (Louisiana, USA), and the organization runs a lean 6-person staff under Executive Director Annette Droddy (appointed May 2020). LDA does not develop proprietary technology products, has no API, no mobile application, and no AI/ML capabilities.

Name

Louisiana Dental Association

Legal name

Louisiana Dental Association

Website

https://ladental.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1878

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Louisiana Dental Association (LDA), founded 1878, is the largest professional membership association for dentists in Louisiana with nearly 1,900 members. LDA operates a tripartite membership system with the ADA and nine local component societies, delivering advocacy, continuing education, peer review, and community programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Dental Association Services

NAICS

Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Community & Public Health Dentistry Clinics (FQHC/School-Based/Nonprofit) (HLABAAAF)

Keywords

• Professional dental association
• Dental continuing education
• Dentist membership services
• Dental advocacy organization
• Dental practice support

Headquarters

HQ city

Baton Rouge

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: LDA operates as a tripartite membership organization where dentists join through one application paying one dues amount covering ADA national, LDA state, and local component membership.
2. Louisiana Dental Services (LDS) Endorsed Companies: LDS is the for-profit subsidiary that endorses products and services, generating revenue each time a member uses endorsed company services.
3. Continuing Education Events: LDA generates revenue through C.E. events including conferences, seminars, and courses for dental professionals.
4. LDA Raffle: Split the Pot raffle with proceeds benefiting grassroots legislative efforts.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Louisiana Dental Association is a statewide nonprofit professional membership organization that serves licensed dentists in Louisiana through a tripartite membership system with the American Dental Association and nine local component societies. LDA delivers member benefits including advocacy and legislative representation, continuing education courses and conferences, the quarterly LDA Journal and e-bytes newsletter, peer review dispute resolution, endorsed products through its for-profit subsidiary LDS, and community programs such as the Louisiana Mission of Mercy free dental clinic.

Product overview

The Louisiana Dental Association (LDA) operates as a professional membership organization for dentists in Louisiana, established in 1878, with approximately 1,900 members. The LDA functions through a tripartite membership system affiliated with the American Dental Association (ADA) and local component societies. The organization provides member services including publications (LDA Journal and LDA e-bytes), continuing education programs (clinical courses, sedation training, radiographics certification, and special needs dentistry), annual events (conferences, fishing rodeo, legislative advocacy day), award programs (Distinguished Service Award, New Dentist Award, Humanitarian Award), and community programs (Louisiana Mission of Mercy free dental clinics). The LDA Foundation serves as the charitable arm supporting these initiatives. The LDA also offers endorsed financial products and maintains a peer review process for dispute resolution. The organization does not appear to offer a technology product with API integrations or AI capabilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Tripartite Professional Membership
• LDA Journal

Quantifiable outcome

• LDA Foundation (501(c)(3)) and LDA supported SB 463 passing in 2024 requiring dental insurance loss ratio transparency reporting
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered platinum, gold, silver, core, major, minor and premier.

• Delta DentalplatinumGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2023Platinum sponsor of LaMOM 2023 ($20,000+) providing major financial support for the Mission of Mercy program.
• Louisiana Healthcare ConnectionsplatinumGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2023Platinum sponsor of LaMOM 2023 ($20,000+) supporting access to dental care for underserved Louisiana residents.
• DentaQuestgoldGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2023Gold sponsor of LaMOM 2023 ($10,000-$19,999). One of two dental benefit management companies for Louisiana Medicaid managed care.
• MCNA DentalsilverGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2023Silver sponsor of LaMOM 2023 ($5,000-$9,999). One of two dental benefit management companies for Louisiana Medicaid managed care.
• AetnagoldGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2023Gold sponsor of LaMOM 2023 ($10,000-$19,999) supporting the Mission of Mercy free dental care event.
• United Concordia DentalgoldGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2023Gold sponsor of LaMOM 2023 ($10,000-$19,999) supporting access to dental care.
• American Dental Association (ADA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerADA is the national constituent society. LDA is a constituent society of ADA and LDA members automatically become ADA members through the tripartite membership system. ADA provides national-level advocacy, resources, and member benefits.
• Louisiana Dental Services, Inc. (LDS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLDS is the for-profit subsidiary of LDA. Through LDS, the LDA endorses many high-quality products and services that provide revenue to the association each time a member uses them.
• LDA FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLDA Foundation is the 501(c)(3) charitable arm of LDA. It supports the Louisiana Mission of Mercy (LaMOM) program, dental education, research, and community outreach.
• LSU Health Sciences Center School of Dentistry (LSUSD)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in hosting Mission of Mercy (MOM) programs and dental education initiatives. LaMOM events are held in partnership with LSU School of Dentistry and America's Dentists Care Foundation.
• America's Dentists Care FoundationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational organization that partners with state dental associations to host Mission of Mercy (MOM) programs providing free dental care.
• Dental Lifeline Network - LouisianaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDonated Dental Services (DDS) program provides free dental treatment for elderly and individuals with special needs. Since program inception in 1987, raised $500 million in donated treatment serving 165,000 patients nationally.
• DentaQuestpremierGTM or Marketing PartnerPremier Events Partner for LDA Foundation Big Bite Fishing Rodeo 2026.
• MCNA DentalpremierGTM or Marketing PartnerPremier Events Partner for LDA Foundation Big Bite Fishing Rodeo 2026.
• Campus FederalpremierGTM or Marketing PartnerPremier Events Partner and Fishing Rodeo 2026 sponsor.
• Fidelity BankpremierGTM or Marketing PartnerPremier Events Partner for LDA Foundation Big Bite Fishing Rodeo 2026.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• California Dental Association: State-level professional membership association for California dentists, also a tripartite constituent of ADA. Offers analogous services (advocacy, CE, peer review, endorsed products, member publications) to a much larger state membership base, making it a direct peer for benchmarking.
• Illinois State Dental Society: Constituent society of ADA for Illinois dentists, providing member advocacy, continuing education, publications, and peer review through component societies. Closely mirrors LDA's service mix and organizational design.
• Texas Dental Association: State-level professional membership association for Texas dentists and an ADA constituent society. Operates a similar tripartite membership model with component societies, CE programs, advocacy, and member benefits — closely aligned with LDA's structure and offerings.
• New York State Dental Association: Statewide professional association for New York dentists, an ADA constituent society offering advocacy, CE, publications, and component society structure. Comparable peer in mission, structure, and tripartite membership design.
• Florida Dental Association: Constituent society of ADA representing Florida dentists, providing advocacy, continuing education, publications, and member services through local component societies. Directly comparable as a state-level dental professional association.

Broad incumbents

• American Dental Association: The national professional association of dentists in the United States, of which LDA is a constituent society. ADA provides national-level advocacy, CE, and benefits, and operates the tripartite membership framework that LDA participates in. Directly comparable in mission and structure, but operates at a national scale.

Regional players

• Mississippi Dental Association: Neighboring state dental association and ADA constituent society serving Mississippi dentists. Same tripartite membership structure and comparable services, but operates in an adjacent rather than overlapping geography.
• Alabama Dental Association: State dental association for Alabama and ADA constituent society. Operates a similar tripartite model with advocacy, CE, and member benefits in an adjacent Gulf South geography to LDA.
• Arkansas State Dental Association: Statewide ADA constituent society for Arkansas dentists. Comparable structure and service offering, geographically adjacent to Louisiana but serving a different state.

Others

• Dental Lifeline Network: National nonprofit coordinating the Donated Dental Services (DDS) program; LDA is a partner. Not a competing association, but a closely aligned ecosystem organization enabling LDA's charitable dental access programming for elderly and special-needs patients.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/LADentalAssoc
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@louisianadentalassociation
• Facebookfacebook.com/LDA1878
• Instagraminstagram.com/louisianadentalassociation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/louisiana-dental-association

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries2 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 Louisiana Dental Association