The GDA helps individual dentists to be collectively effective with issues that confront all dentists and serves as an advocate for advancing the profession. To apply for membership, print a PDF application. Can't open a form? Email yungk@gadental.org and request a form.
The membership application is for new members and those rejoining organized dentistry. The application asks for name and contact information, practice and home address information, dental education, licensing information, and student organized dentistry membership facts. Dentists should forward completed applications and dues payment to the GDA office. You will not automatically join the GDA upon submission of your application; a review and approval process must first be completed. Email questions regarding the application to Pam at yungk@gadental.org.
Dues help support the GDA, ADA, and the GDA district in which a member practices. ADA dues are established by the ADA but are payable through the GDA. District dues are established by the districts, but are payable through the GDA. Payment of ADA, GDA, and district dues are required for full membership.
• Full ADA dues are $498, • Full GDA dues are $360, and • District dues (Central $75; Eastern $75; Northern $145; Northwestern $90; Southeastern $75; Southwestern $45; or Western $80).
There are several voluntary items that a member may pay as well as the required ADA, GDA, and District dues. Here are some details on these voluntary items. Category II voluntary items are not mandated for GDA membership. Category III voluntary items are charitable in nature. In addition to Category I items, Category II items are included on the GDA dues statement for each member in all districts and are reviewed annually by the Finance Committee to determine relevance and amount of the voluntary contribution that will be attributed to each item. Districts must submit items in Category III to the Finance Committee at their annual June meeting for consideration. Each item in this category, which is deemed appropriate by the Finance Committee for inclusion on the dues statement, must receive the approval of the Board of Trustees. In addition, each district must opt in to include an approved item from Category III on their dues statement. An item can appear on one district dues statement, multiple district dues statements, or all seven district dues statements.
Category II: Voluntary Items
GADPAC Dues: The GDA Political Action Committee (GADPAC) is a non-profit, non-partisan organization. PAC funds donated by GDA and Alliance spouse members (Alliance PAC Dues) are distributed to support the campaigns of local, state, and national candidates friendly to dental and patient-related legislation. The American Dental Association’s ADPAC receives $40 of your GADPAC donation and uses those funds to support federal candidates. All funds contributed to GADPAC are given to Georgia candidates without regard to party affiliation.
GDA Alliance: The Alliance is an organization of male and female dental spouses who support the goals of organized dentistry, and work with the GDA to raise awareness of oral health issues. The group spearheads legislative awareness, oral health education, and community outreach projects. Dues are $70 and include district, state, and national dues.
Relief Fund: The primary purpose of the American Dental Association Foundation Relief Grant Program is to provide aid of an emergency and temporary character to dentists and, when individual circumstances demonstrate unusual need and the resources of the ADA Foundation Relief Grant Program permit, to deserving dependents of dentists. This GDA item goes to support the Relief Fund. The fund also supports the activities of the GDA Dental Recovery Network.
Georgia Dental Education Foundation (Now known as Fisher Foundation): The Foundation seeks to have a positive impact on the quality of dental services in Georgia by awarding financial scholarships to deserving dental and dental hygiene students.
Category III: Charitable Items
Ben Massell Dental Clinic (Northern District): This historic Atlanta clinic provides dental services, including a free denture program, to those unable to afford care, with the assistance of several volunteer dentists. Funds go to help the clinic offer these services.
Coastal Medical Access Project Dental Clinic (Southeastern District): CMAP dental clinic volunteers endeavor to deliver basic dental services to meet the needs of the uninsured residents in Coastal Georgia. DDD Foundation (Northwestern District): The DDD Foundation is a non-profit organization that offer accessible, comprehensive dental treatment to patients with developmental disabilities in metro Atlanta.
Good Samaritan Dental Clinic (Northwestern District): The mission of this not-for-profit health and wellness center is to provide the underserved in the community (Jasper area) with compassionate and individualized health care and related services in an atmosphere of respect and dignity.
Greater Atlanta Dental Foundation (Northern District): The GADF is a way to give something back to the community in the form of contributions to Atlanta area dental clinics that are treating underprivileged patients.
Macon Volunteer Clinic (Central District):The Macon Volunteer Clinic opened its doors in February 2003 to provide a medical home for the working, uninsured residents of Bibb County in Central District.
Savannah Volunteer Dental Clinic (Southeastern District): The clinic, housed in Savannah Technical College’s Dental Assisting Clinic and Laboratory, provides care to children ages 3 to 18 who do not have dental insurance and that meet certain eligibility guidelines are welcome.
Students On a one-time basis, the dentist, when awarded a DDS or DMD degree, shall be exempt from active member dues for the first full calendar year following their dental school graduation. Dues for the second full year of membership shall be 25% of active member dues. For the third full year of membership, dues shall be 50% of active member dues. For the fourth full year of membership, dues shall be 75% of active member dues. For the fifth year, and thereafter, dues shall be 100% of active member dues. Only those new graduates entering this reduced dues program in 2004 or thereafter are eligible.
If a dentist is awarded a DDS or DMD degree and does not join the GDA, ADA, and district immediately upon graduation, the dentist would owe full dues upon applying to the join the GDA, ADA, and district. In addition, if a student joined the GDA, ADA, and district immediately upon graduation, and then dropped their membership the next year, the dentist would owe full dues upon applying to re-join the GDA, ADA, and district. See the Active Members section below for details.
Active Members Dentists licensed to practice or teach in Georgia are eligible to become active GDA members upon the payment of full dues. (The graduated dues rates spelled out in the student section above would not apply to a dentist unless they joined the ADA, GDA, and district immediately upon graduation from dental school and maintained their membership in subsequent years.) Full dues for Active Members are payable January 1. Membership is forfeited if dues are not paid by January 31. New members who join after July 1 of any year shall pay one-half the current year’s ADA, GDA, and district dues.
Military Dentists Dentists serving full-time with any branch of the U.S. Armed Forces may become members of the GDA upon application to the GDA. Military members have the right to elect an exemption from GDA dues. Military members electing to pay dues to the GDA shall have all the rights and privileges of Active Members.
Life Members The ADA informs the GDA each year of members who turn 65 and have maintained ADA and GDA membership for 30 years. The GDA in turn informs so called Life Members of their honor. If a Life Member earns any dental related income; their dues will be 50 percent of the full dues of Active Members as listed above. Retired Life Members who have no dental related income and have submitted a GDA retirement form, are exempt from dues but retain the rights and privileges of Active Members.
Emeritus Members Any ethical member in good standing who retires from the practice of dentistry and has no dental related income as listed above, yet has not been designated as a Life Member may become an Emeritus Member upon application to the GDA. Emeritus members are exempt from dues but retain the rights and privileges of Active Members.
