The Hispanic Dental Association
Our Mission Statement
"To Optimize the Oral Health of the Hispanic Community"
The Hispanic Dental Association, formed in 1990, is the only national organization of dental professionals dedicated to promoting and improving the oral health of the Hispanic community and providing advocacy for Hispanic oral health professionals across the United States. Comprised of members that include practicing dentists, dental educators, allied dental educators and allied dental professionals as well as students, the Association works with a wide spectrum of individuals to improve education, foster research and communicate to Hispanic and non-Hispanic dental professionals and the community at large about oral health issues specific to the Hispanic community.
The Association is supported through membership dues and a Corporate Roundtable Sponsorship Program that is comprised of corporate entities who support the Association's mission. A Board of Trustees whose leadership is its Executive Committee: the President, Immediate Past President, President-Elect, Vice President and Treasurer, governs HDA. The Association also has a Foundation, the Hispanic Dental Association Foundation, which is the conduit for scholarship funds. Both the Hispanic Dental Association and the Hispanic Dental Association Foundation are 501(c)3 non-profit organizations.
Working through its members at large, its six Professional Chapters and thirty-plus Student Chapters, the Association also strives to encourage interest in oral health careers among Hispanics and provide tools and support to those already serving the Hispanic population.
Latino Oral Health: A Research Agenda Toward Eliminating Oral Health Disparities 
Latino Oral Health
Headlines and Updates
2009 HDA 17th Annual Meeting
SAVE THE DATE! Plans are underway for another fabulous Annual Meeting. Mark your calendars for October 22-24, 2009 at the Hilton Americas in Houston, Texas. More information will be coming soon!
NATIONAL SMILE MONTH
HDA Joins Oral Health America in Encouraging Americans to Brush for Health!!
The importance of brushing, good nutrition and regular dental visits is the focus of National Smile Month, the largest independent international dental campaign aimed at consumers of all ages. During June, Oral Health America and participating sponsors, dental offices, community care providers, schools, camps, and oral health coalitions will be celebrating summertime by encouraging children and adults not to forget their toothbrushes on vacation.
Click Here to Learn How You Can Get Involved
HDA and Colgate Partner for Oral Health Month
Colgate-Palmolive and the Hispanic Dental Association officially declared April El Mes de la Salud Bucal: Un Mundo de Sonrisas Saludables (Oral Health Month: A World of Healthy SmilesŪ) as part of an ongoing commitment to quality oral care among the Hispanic community.
Colgate-Palmolive and volunteers of the HDA used this program to promote oral health fundamentals among Hispanics. The official kick off took place in Miami, Florida on April 2nd and three other sites held events during the month of April - Houston, Texas, Los Angeles, California, and multiple sites in New Jersey.
Many HDA professional members and several HDA Student Chapter members (Nova Southeastern University, University of Texas - Houston Dental Branch, University of Medicine & Dentistry of New Jersey, and University of California, Los Angeles, University of Southern California, and Loma Linda University) took part in the program.
General oral health screenings and patient education were offered at these events. Hundreds of people - both young and old - were given an opportunity for this free service who might otherwise have gone without.
A big THANK YOU goes out to our founding corporate sponsor, COLGATE-PALMOLIVE and all of our fabulous volunteers!