Minnesota Dental Association

What Minnesota Dental Association does

The Minnesota Dental Association (MDA) is a non-profit professional membership association, founded in 1883 (with the modern corporate entity traced to 1993), headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It serves licensed dentists and dental students across the state through a tripartite membership structure that joins them with the American Dental Association and eight local district dental societies (Northwestern, Northeastern, West Central, Minneapolis, Saint Paul, Southern, Southeastern, and Student). Its core activities include advocacy representation before the Minnesota legislature and regulatory bodies, delivery of continuing education, operation of the annual Star of the North Meeting (the Midwest's premier dental conference, drawing 6,030 attendees and 220 exhibitors in 2025), publication of the bimonthly Northwest Dentistry journal (3,000+ circulation), and member services spanning practice management, group insurance, wellness programs, and the Find a Dentist referral platform.

The association funds itself through a mix of membership dues (tripartite renewal), event registration and CE program fees (event tickets ranging from $45 to $250, plus conference registration), advertising on mndental.org and in Northwest Dentistry, and sponsorships. It is supported by a separately incorporated 501(c)(3) arm, the Minnesota Dental Foundation, which administers charitable dental programs. Major community programs include Give Kids a Smile (serving over 92,000 children and delivering $30.5M+ in free services since 2003) and Mission of Mercy (50,850 procedures, $6.8M+ in donated services since 2012). Public-facing trademarks include "Sip All Day, Get Decay" and "The Power of Sour on Your Teeth."

The organization does not operate a software product; its technology footprint is a membership website, event registration system, and CE delivery platform. Revenue is not publicly disclosed. The 2025-2026 leadership is led by President Dr. Scott Wagnild and Executive Director Carmelo Cinqueonce, with strategic priorities centered on advocacy (including the 2023 restoration of comprehensive adult dental Medicaid benefits for 800,000 Minnesotans and the current SF4155/HF4375 workforce funding push), workforce pipeline expansion, and continued growth of the Star of the North Meeting and community benefit programs.

Name

Minnesota Dental Association

Legal name

Minnesota Dental Association

Website

https://mndental.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1883

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Minnesota Dental Association is a non-profit professional membership association serving licensed dentists and dental students in Minnesota through tripartite membership with the ADA and eight district societies, delivering advocacy, continuing education, the Star of the North annual conference, and community dental care programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Dental Association

NAICS

Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Mobile/School-Based Pediatric Dental Clinics (HLABAGAK), Medicaid/CHIP Dental & Vision Benefits Administration (FSAIAHAK)

Keywords

• Professional dental association
• Dental continuing education
• Dental advocacy services
• Community dental outreach
• Dentist membership benefits

Headquarters

HQ city

Minneapolis

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: MDA operates as a membership-based professional association. Dentists join through a tripartite system, joining ADA, MDA, and local district dental societies. Annual membership dues fund operations and member services.
2. Event Registration and CE Programs: The association generates revenue through continuing education programs and the annual Star of the North Meeting conference. Fees for CE courses, vendor registrations, and event participation.
3. Journal and Publications: The Northwest Dentistry journal is published bimonthly with circulation exceeding 3,000, including member dentists, students, libraries, and subscribers worldwide.
4. Advertising: Online advertising opportunities on mndental.org and in Northwest Dentistry journal. Sponsorships of programs and events.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

The Minnesota Dental Association (MDA) is a nonprofit professional membership organization that represents and supports licensed dentists and dental students practicing in Minnesota. It operates through a tripartite system connecting members to the American Dental Association and eight local district dental societies, delivering advocacy at the state legislature, continuing education, the annual Star of the North Meeting conference, the bimonthly Northwest Dentistry journal, and community benefit programs including Give Kids a Smile and Mission of Mercy (MnMOM).

Product overview

The Minnesota Dental Association operates a professional membership organization rather than a unified software product. Its portfolio consists of community benefit programs (Give Kids a Smile, Mission of Mercy), the annual Star of the North Meeting conference, the Northwest Dentistry journal, continuing education programs, membership services, public resources, advocacy events, and patient education initiatives. These offerings serve member dentists and the public through the association's website, event coordination, and advocacy activities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Star of the North: The premier dental conference of the Midwest, held annually in April. The annual Scientific Session of the Minnesota Dental Association, first started in 1883. Features 94+ continuing education sessions, networking opportunities, and 220+ exhibiting companies.

Products and services

• Give Kids a Smile Annual charitable program providing free dental care to children 18 and younger, coordinated across Minnesota clinics with volunteer dentists, hygienists, and students. Includes cleanings, exams, X-rays, fluoride varnish, and simple extractions and fillings.
• Mission of Mercy (MnMOM) Large-scale free dental clinic events providing comprehensive care to underserved adults and children across Minnesota, supported by volunteer dentists and community sponsors.
• Star of the North Meeting Annual Scientific Session and conference of the Minnesota Dental Association, first held in 1883. Premier dental conference of the Midwest offering 94+ continuing education sessions, exhibit hall with 220+ companies, and networking opportunities attracting 6,000+ attendees.
• Northwest Dentistry Bimonthly official journal of the Minnesota Dental Association featuring scientific and clinical research, practice management content, professional guidelines, and association news with circulation exceeding 3,000 readers.
• Continuing Education Programs Continuing education opportunities including Total CE Virtual Boot Camps, CPR/BLS training, live courses, on-demand programs, and archived webinars to satisfy professional licensing requirements for member dentists.
• Member Center and Benefits Exclusive member resources including practice management support, endorsed products and services, wellness programs such as Dentists Concerned for Dentists, patient education materials, member directory, and student member resources.
• Public Resources and Find a Dentist Public-facing resources including low-cost dental care information, oral health education, and access to the ADA's Find a Dentist directory connecting patients with MDA member dentists.
• Dental Day at the Capitol Annual advocacy event bringing dental professionals together to meet with legislators and address oral health care issues at the Minnesota State Capitol.
• Tobacco Cessation Resources Educational materials and programs helping dental professionals assist patients with tobacco cessation, including assessment forms, Minnesota Quitlines referral program, and webinar series.
• Advocacy and Legislative Services Representation of practicing dentists in Minnesota through legislative advocacy, policy development, and engagement with state policymakers on oral health issues.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 92,000 children served and $30.5 million in free dental care provided since 2003 through Give Kids a Smile
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Dental Lifeline NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for the Donated Dental Services (DDS) program that provides comprehensive dental care to those who are disabled, elderly, or medically fragile and cannot afford care. Has provided $15 million in free dental care in Minnesota since 2003.
• Minnesota Oral Health CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partner hosting the annual Oral Health Showcase at the Minnesota State Capitol, bringing together nearly twenty oral health organizations and clinics.
• North Dakota Dental AssociationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Mission of Mercy events in border regions. Collaborated for the 2016 Moorhead-Fargo area event at Concordia College.
• Minnesota Department of HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides X-ray unit and other resources for Mission of Mercy events. Partner in tobacco cessation webinar series.
• District Dental Societies (all 8)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEight district societies (Northwestern, Northeastern, West Central, Minneapolis, Saint Paul, Southern, Southeastern, and Student) collaborate on programs and events.
• Minnesota Educators of Dental AssistingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partner in legislation (SF4155/HF4375) seeking $20 million in state funding for dental assisting and hygiene education programs.
• Minnesota Dental Hygiene Educators AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partner in legislation (SF4155/HF4375) seeking $20 million in state funding for dental assisting and hygiene education programs.
• Minnesota Department of HealthcoreTechnology or IntegrationProvides X-ray unit for Mission of Mercy events. Partner in tobacco cessation initiatives through Statewide Health Improvement Partnership.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Wisconsin Dental Association: Immediately adjacent state dental society sharing regional CE markets and Medicaid policy context. Operates the same tripartite-membership, advocacy, journal (WDJ), and convention model as MDA.
• New York State Dental Association: Northeast counterpart dental society with parallel tripartite membership, advocacy at the state capitol, CE events, and member-benefit economics. Strong functional analog to MDA.
• Texas Dental Association: State dental association with comparable membership, legislative advocacy, CE programming, and charitable program structure. Closest peer in terms of operating cadence and revenue mix.
• California Dental Association: Large state-level dental society operating an analogous tripartite membership, advocacy, journal (CDA Journal), and continuing-education model. Most direct functional peer to MDA in scale and scope.
• Florida Dental Association: State-level dental association with similar membership, advocacy, CE conventions, and community benefit programs. Comparable member-services revenue mix to MDA.
• Michigan Dental Association: Neighboring Midwest state dental association with parallel tripartite membership, advocacy, CE, and journal operations. Highly comparable to MDA in member base profile and programs.
• Illinois State Dental Society: Midwest state dental society running the same tripartite membership, advocacy, CE, and journal (Illinois Dental News) structure. Comparable scale and member services to MDA.

Broad incumbents

• American Dental Association: National parent organization in MDA's tripartite membership system. ADA sets national advocacy, CE, and practice standards; MDA is a constituent society with a similar membership, advocacy, and journal business model.
• American Dental Hygienists' Association: National professional association for dental hygienists with advocacy, CE, and membership dues. Comparable association business model and stakeholder overlap with MDA's hygienist and dental-assisting workforce.

Others

• Dental Lifeline Network: National nonprofit operating the Donated Dental Services (DDS) program in partnership with state dental associations including MDA. Closely intertwined with MDA's charitable care mission via the $15M donated-care pipeline in Minnesota.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/MNDentalAssn
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCj-X6RmZSp8yadtlfJUECZg
• Facebookfacebook.com/mndental
• Instagraminstagram.com/mndentalassoc/?hl=en
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mn-dental-assn

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Minnesota Dental Association