Tripartite Organized Dentistry

"Tripartite" describes dentistry's three-tiered structure of membership, and is also used to describe the organizational tiers collectively. To be an active tripartite member, dentists must join their local (component) society, state (constituent) society, and the ADA. Each level within the tripartite sets its own dues, elects its own officers and directors, and makes decisions on the services and benefits it offers to members.

It is mutually supportive, promotes unity in the dental profession, facilitates consistency, and encourages a unified voice on issues involving the improvement of the health of the public and the art and science of dentistry. Association members are impacted by issues and regulations at the local, state and national levels, and tripartite organized dentistry encourages advocacy at each level.

About 155,000 dentists. This is a little more than 70% of all the dentists nationwide eligible for tripartite membership.