Georgia Dental Association

What Georgia Dental Association does

The Georgia Dental Association (GDA) is a nonprofit professional membership organization headquartered in Marietta, Georgia, operating since the mid-19th century as the state's primary association for dentists. It serves licensed Georgia dentists through a tripartite membership model linking five local district chapters (NDDS, NWDDS, SEDDS, WDDS, EDDS), the state GDA, and the American Dental Association. Member tiers include Full Active, Early Career (1st and 2nd Year, discounted), Student, and Resident (both free), with faculty receiving a 50% dues discount; pricing is set annually by district.

GDA's core products and services span continuing education (free Friday CE webinars, in-person and on-demand courses, expanded-duties training, the annual Convention & Expo, and the Fall CE Conference), state legislative advocacy through a Government Affairs team and Contact Dentist Network, and member benefits delivered through wholly-owned subsidiaries and affiliates — insurance products via GDIS, discounted supplies via GDA Plus / Source One Dental, scholarships via the Emile T. Fisher Foundation, disaster relief via the Member Relief Fund, and mentorship via the GDA Mentor Program. Its technology foundation is Novi AMS, a commodity association management platform handling membership records, event registration, CE delivery, and e-commerce; the GDA Foundation for Oral Health operates the Georgia Mission of Mercy (GMOM) charitable care program, which has delivered over $6.1 million in free dental services to 7,347 patients since 2011.

Revenue is generated through five streams: recurring tripartite membership dues (subscription model), event registration fees ($75–$275 depending on membership status and event), corporate sponsorships ($750 per CE webinar, $500–$7,500 per event), sale of merchandise and foundation products, and voluntary GDAPAC contributions at $210–$600 tiers. GDA also operates a political action committee (GDAPAC and ADPAC). As of January 1, 2026, Dr. Peter Shatz assumed the presidency with stated priorities of long-term sustainability, membership growth, and innovation.

Name

Georgia Dental Association

Legal name

Georgia Dental Association

Website

https://gadental.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1859

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Georgia Dental Association is a nonprofit professional membership organization serving Georgia dentists through tripartite membership, continuing education, state legislative advocacy, insurance and dental supply subsidiaries, and the Georgia Mission of Mercy charitable dental care program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Dental Association Services

NAICS

Professional Organizations (813920)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Geriatric & Special Needs General Dentistry (HLABAAAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

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

Keywords

• Professional dental association
• Continuing education
• Dental advocacy
• Membership services
• Dentist networking

Headquarters

HQ city

Atlanta

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Tripartite membership dues collected from licensed dentists, with dues based on district and membership category. Full members pay full dues, early career dentists receive discounted rates for two years post-graduation, students and residents join free, and faculty receive 50% off.
2. Event Registration Fees: Revenue from CE courses, district events, annual convention, and specialty events. Pricing varies by event and membership status, ranging from free for members to $275 for non-members.
3. Sponsorships: Corporate sponsors pay for webinar sponsorships, event sponsorships, classroom naming rights, and advertising in e-newsletters. Sponsors include Bank of America, UBS, Practice Quotient, Fortune Law Firm, and others.
4. Products and Services: Sale of PAC donations, foundation donations, CE products, and merchandise through the GDA website store.
5. GDAPAC Contributions: Voluntary political action committee contributions from member dentists at various giving levels (Franklin Club $210, Capitol Column Society $410, Gold Dome Society $600).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Georgia Dental Association is a nonprofit professional membership organization that provides tripartite membership (local chapter, state, and national ADA) for licensed dentists in Georgia. It delivers continuing education programs, state-level legislative advocacy, professional networking, and member resources including insurance (GDIS), dental supplies (GDA Plus), and charitable programs (GMOM, GDA Foundation). The association operates through district chapters across Georgia and hosts an annual convention, conferences, and webinars to support the dental profession.

Product overview

The Georgia Dental Association operates as a professional membership organization offering a platform of interconnected services for Georgia dentists. The core offering is tripartite membership (Full Member, Early Career, Student, Resident tiers) providing access to advocacy, networking, and professional resources. Related offerings include the GDA Foundation for Oral Health and Georgia Mission of Mercy for charitable care; GDIS for insurance products; GDA Plus Supplies for dental supplies; and the Emile T. Fisher Foundation for dental education scholarships. The association also delivers Continuing Education programs including webinars, in-person courses, and the Annual Convention & Expo, along with member resources like the Find a Dentist directory, Member Relief Fund, Mentor Program, and Contact Dentist Network for advocacy engagement.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Georgia Dental Association Membership Tripartite professional membership (local chapter, state society, national ADA) for licensed Georgia dentists. Categories include Full Member, Early Career 1st and 2nd Year, Student, Resident, and Faculty tiers with differentiated dues and benefits.
• Continuing Education Programs Professional development offerings including Friday CE Webinars, In-Person CE, On-Demand courses, Expanded Duties training, Radiation Safety, Phlebotomy Training, MATE Act Training, and District/Study Club CE, designed for licensed Georgia dentists and dental teams seeking license renewal credits.

Quantifiable outcome

• 50% increase in Smile Kit distribution in 2026 for children's dental health outreach
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Bank of AmericacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerBank of America is a GDA Endorsed Partner providing customized financing for dental practices at every stage. Sponsors CE webinars on practice finance topics including 'Finance 101 for Dentists' and 'Saving on Payments in the Practice'. Provides practice financing guidance for starting, expanding, renovating, and relocating dental practices in Georgia and Alabama.
• UBScoreGTM or Marketing PartnerUBS (Trillium Partners of UBS) is a GDA Endorsed Partner providing wealth management and investment guidance to dental professionals. Sponsors free CE webinars on economic and market forces impacting investment decisions.
• Practice QuotientcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPractice Quotient is a GDA Endorsed Partner and national dental PPO contract negotiation firm. Has recovered over $100 million in negotiated revenue for dental practices. Provides CE on dental insurance landscape, PPO strategies, and contract renegotiation. Holds AAOMS Advantage Approved Partner designation for 10 consecutive years.
• DDSMatchcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerDDSMatch is a GDA Endorsed Partner specializing in dental practice transitions, sales, and acquisitions. Sponsors webinars on navigating dental transitions, DSO trends, and practice sales. Serves Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, and Florida.
• TaaSpakcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerTaaSpak is a GDA Endorsed Partner providing IT and data backup services for dental practices. Sponsors webinars on HIPAA-compliant data backup, disaster recovery, and cybersecurity requirements for dental offices.
• Fortune Law FirmminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFortune Law Firm sponsors district CE events and webinars on tax strategies and wealth protection for dental practices. Presents courses on avoiding overpaying taxes and legal trends for dentists.
• NU Real Estate AdvisorsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNU Real Estate Advisors, led by founder Ed Pease, sponsors webinars on dental real estate including site selection, lease negotiation, and practice ownership. Specializes in medical and dental office development.
• Best CardminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBest Card sponsors the CE webinar 'Saving on Payments in the Practice' helping dentists understand credit card processing fees and payment cost reduction strategies.
• GDIS (Georgia Dental Insurance Services)coreOthersGDIS is a GDA subsidiary offering insurance coverage for every stage of a dentist's career and every part of their life, including products for family, personal assets, and dental teams. Located at same address as GDA headquarters.
• GDA Foundation for Oral HealthcoreOthersGDA Foundation is the philanthropic arm of GDA, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit advancing oral health in Georgia. Provides charitable dental care and oral health education programs. Manages GMOM, Pull For Smiles, and scholarship programs including the Emile T. Fisher Foundation.
• GDA Plus Supplies (Source One Dental)minorOthersGDA Plus Supplies is a GDA subsidiary dental supply company providing discounted supplies to member dentists. Located in Tampa, Arizona.
• Hinman Dental SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Hinman Dental Society organizes the annual Thomas P. Hinman Dental Meeting in March at Georgia World Congress Center. Excess revenue funds scholarships for dental education. GDA promotes this signature event to members.
• JF&CS / Ben Massell Dental CliniccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJewish Family & Career Services (JF&CS) partners with GDA Foundation to operate the Ben Massell Dental Clinic, hosting Georgia Mission of Mercy events and providing free dental care to underserved populations.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Illinois State Dental Society: State dental society with tripartite membership model, advocacy, and continuing education programs for Illinois dentists — directly comparable mission and operating approach to GDA.
• Pennsylvania Dental Association: State dental association offering membership services, advocacy, and continuing education to Pennsylvania dentists — operates with similar value proposition and structure as GDA.
• California Dental Association: Largest state dental association in the U.S. with a tripartite membership model, advocacy, CE, and similar subsidiary structure serving California dentists — directly comparable operating model to GDA.
• Texas Dental Association: State dental association serving Texas dentists with comparable membership tiers, advocacy representation, and continuing education programs — operates on the same tripartite framework as GDA.
• Academy of General Dentistry: National professional association for general dentists offering continuing education, Fellowship credentials, and advocacy — directly comparable value proposition to GDA, though serving dentists nationwide rather than state-specific.
• Florida Dental Association: State dental association with a similar structure serving Florida dentists through tripartite membership, CE offerings, advocacy, and member benefits parallel to GDA's portfolio.
• New York State Dental Association: State dental association offering membership services, advocacy, and continuing education to New York dentists under the tripartite model — directly comparable organizational structure to GDA.

Broad incumbents

• American Dental Association: National professional association for U.S. dentists; GDA operates as a state constituent society within ADA's tripartite framework, making ADA the broader umbrella incumbent with overlapping membership and mission.

Regional players

• North Carolina Dental Society: Neighboring Southeastern state dental association serving North Carolina dentists with comparable tripartite membership, advocacy, and CE focus — adjacent geographic peer to GDA.
• Tennessee Dental Association: Neighboring Southeastern state dental association serving Tennessee dentists with comparable tripartite membership, advocacy, and CE programs — adjacent regional peer sharing the Southeast U.S. footprint with GDA.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/GADentalAssn
• Xx.com/gadentalassn
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/georgia-dental-association

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries7 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 Georgia Dental Association