Rhode Island Dental Association

What Rhode Island Dental Association does

The Rhode Island Dental Association (RIDA) is a private nonprofit professional society founded on July 2, 1878, in Providence, Rhode Island, by seven dentists. It serves as the state-level constituent society chartered by the American Dental Association (ADA) within a tripartite organizational structure that includes the ADA at the national level, RIDA at the state level, and three component dental societies (Northern, Central, and Southern districts) at the local level. RIDA represents more than 500 licensed dentists practicing in Rhode Island and provides member services including continuing education (as an ADA CERP-recognized provider), political advocacy at local, state, and federal levels via its Political Action Committee, a peer-reviewed Journal, a Find-a-Dentist public directory, and student/early-career resources. The Executive Office is located in Warwick, RI, and is currently staffed by a Chief of Staff (Elizabeth "Beth" Lamoureux) while the Executive Director position is vacant.

RIDA's revenue is generated primarily through recurring membership dues from Rhode Island dentists under a tripartite dues structure shared with the ADA and the component societies. Secondary revenue streams include continuing education course fees (a $25 fee is charged for non-member CE credit requests as of February 8, 2022), journal advertising, and minor earned income. Outbound, RIDA channels funds to the community through the Rhode Island Dental Foundation Fund, established in 2023 and administered by the Rhode Island Foundation, which issues $500–$5,000 grants to community organizations focused on oral health. The go-to-market motion is community-led: recruitment occurs through the three component societies, CE programs, and advocacy visibility, with no traditional sales force or technology platform revenue.

Operationally, RIDA functions as a lean trade association with 1–10 employees (effectively two active staff per recent data), a single headquarters, and no proprietary technology beyond a Salesforce-authenticated member portal. Its strategic agenda centers on Rhode Island-specific issues: Medicaid and commercial dental reimbursement rates that have been stagnant since 2008 and run 30–50% below neighboring Massachusetts and Connecticut, workforce shortages, dental loss ratio transparency (legislation passed July 2024), and member well-being. Endorsed partner programs (Davis & Towle for malpractice insurance, Laurel Road for mortgages) extend member benefits without revenue significance.

Name

Rhode Island Dental Association

Legal name

Rhode Island Dental Association

Website

https://ridental.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1878

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Rhode Island Dental Association is a 501(c)-style nonprofit professional society serving more than 500 licensed dentists in Rhode Island as the state constituent of the American Dental Association tripartite structure. It provides membership dues-funded continuing education, political advocacy via a PAC, a member journal, a public dentist directory, and a foundation grant program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

West Warwick

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: RIDA generates revenue primarily through membership dues from dentists in Rhode Island. Members pay dues to belong to the association which is part of the tripartite structure (ADA, RIDA, and component societies).
2. Continuing Education Programs: The association provides CE credit courses and charges fees - non-member requests for CE credits incur a $25 fee as of February 8, 2022.
3. Rhode Island Dental Foundation Fund: Grants program established in 2023 by Rhode Island Dental Foundation (an affiliate). Grants generally range between $500 and $5,000 for community organizations focused on oral health.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Rhode Island Dental Association is a nonprofit professional membership society that provides Rhode Island dentists with advocacy, continuing education, peer resources, and public-facing services such as a Find A Dentist directory. Members join through a tripartite structure with the American Dental Association and three component district societies (Northern, Central, Southern) and receive access to CE programs, the RIDA Journal, classifieds, endorsed partner discounts, and licensure/practice support.

Product overview

The Rhode Island Dental Association operates as a professional membership organization providing a unified suite of member services rather than a commercial product platform. Core offerings include a Find A Dentist directory for public access, Continuing Education programs (ADA CERP recognized), Member Center with benefits and resources, Student Early Career Resources, Journal of the Rhode Island Dental Association, RIDA Blog, Classifieds for practice transitions and employment, RIDA Political Action Committee for advocacy, Rhode Island Dental Foundation Fund for grants, Practice in Rhode Island resources, and Licensing Services guidance. The association also endorses partner programs including Davis & Towle Insurance for malpractice coverage and Laurel Road Mortgage for member financial benefits.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Membership (Member Center) Annual membership package giving Rhode Island licensed dentists access to advocacy, peer review, endorsed partner discounts, classifieds, the RIDA Journal, volunteer opportunities, and member-only resources through the tripartite (ADA/RIDA/component) structure.
• Continuing Education

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Delta Dental of Rhode IslandminorOthers · 15 August 2025Delta Dental launched a $5 million student loan repayment program administered by the Rhode Island Foundation. RIDA leaders (former and current) criticized the program as insufficient, arguing it fails to address stagnant reimbursement rates that have remained largely unchanged since 2008.
• RIte SmilesminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 February 2024RIte Smiles partners with RIDA for the Great Toothbrush Exchange event at Warwick Mall during National Children's Dental Health Month. RIte Smiles provides quality dental care for children and contracts with dental providers for Medicaid eligible children born on or after May 1, 2000.
• Rhode Island FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023The Rhode Island Foundation administers the Rhode Island Dental Foundation Fund grants program. Grants support community organizations focused on oral and dental health, ranging from $500 to $5,000.
• American Dental Association (ADA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRIDA is a constituent society chartered by the American Dental Association as part of a three-level professional dental organizational structure. ADA provides national resources, standards, advocacy, and CE programming that RIDA leverages for its Rhode Island members.
• Substance Use and Mental Health Leadership Council (SUMHLC) of RIminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRIDA is a proud associate member of SUMHLC of RI. The SUMHLC mission is to promote a collaborative, coordinated system of high quality, comprehensive community-based mental health and substance abuse prevention and treatment services.
• Davis & TowleminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEndorsed insurance company for RIDA members providing dental malpractice insurance. Contact provided through Kayla Greene and Candice Huestis. RIDA members receive access to this endorsed benefit.
• Laurel Road MortgageminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEndorsed mortgage company offering savings to RIDA members looking to purchase a new home or refinance existing mortgages. Part of ADA endorsed companies program.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Connecticut State Dental Association: Tripartite ADA constituent society for Connecticut dentists, providing advocacy, CE, and member benefits. Closely comparable to RIDA in mission and structure, and the other state whose higher reimbursement rates highlight RIDA's competitive disadvantage.
• Pennsylvania Dental Association: State dental society representing Pennsylvania dentists with advocacy, CE programs, and tripartite ADA affiliation. Functionally analogous to RIDA, with comparable offerings (journal, CE, PAC, member services) at larger scale.
• California Dental Association: Large state dental society serving California dentists with advocacy, CE, endorsed products, and member publications. Same tripartite ADA model as RIDA, but at materially larger scale, offering a relevant benchmark for dues, CE pricing, and member benefits strategy.
• New Jersey Dental Association: Tripartite ADA constituent society for New Jersey dentists offering advocacy, continuing education, and member benefits. Directly comparable to RIDA in membership-organization model and regional Northeastern operating context.
• Massachusetts Dental Society: State dental professional association serving Massachusetts dentists with advocacy, CE, and member services. Direct peer to RIDA in model, scale, and tripartite ADA affiliation; serves as the comparator for reimbursement rates RIDA is fighting to close the gap with.
• New York State Dental Association: State tripartite dental society providing advocacy, CE, and member services to New York dentists. Directly comparable to RIDA in governance structure and revenue model; a useful scale and program-mix reference point.
• Florida Dental Association: Large state tripartite dental association serving Florida dentists with advocacy, CE, and a foundation. Same constituent-society model as RIDA; useful for benchmarking dues structure, CE revenue, and PAC effectiveness.

Broad incumbents

• American Dental Association: National professional society for U.S. dentists and RIDA's parent/oversight organization within the tripartite structure. Operates a much broader portfolio (advocacy, CDT codes, JADA journal, CERP, HPI research) that RIDA leverages and partially competes with for member attention.

Others

• Dental Lifeline Network: National nonprofit coordinating donated dental services for vulnerable populations; RIDA is an active partner through its volunteer/donate program. Adjacent ecosystem player rather than a peer, but closely tied to RIDA's community-service mission.
• Ohio Dental Association:

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses3 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/eighthdistrictdentalsociety

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Rhode Island Dental Association