Membership FAQs

Your membership provides you with access to solutions to your practice, personal, and professional needs. In addition, it is vital to maintaining the effectiveness of organized dentistry as the profession faces challenges in the marketplace, government, and regulatory areas.

These questions and answers cover some of the most-asked topics about MDA, ADA, and local district dues. As you’ll see, there are many different membership categories, as well as payment options.

If you have other questions, please email the MDA membership staff or call 800-589-2632.

When will my membership lapse?

Members are encouraged to renew by the end of the year, but are given a grace period through March 31. Payment plans are available and may extend after March 31.

What are my payment options?

There are several options available: automatic withdrawal from your bank account or credit card, one-time payment, payment plans, and more.

For credit card payments, the MDA accepts VISA, MasterCard and American Express. You can use your credit card three ways: online, payment slip or by phone.

To pay online, simply log into the MDA website. It’s fast, convenient and safe with our secure website.

For payment slip renewals, simply provide a voided check for direct bank account debit or write your credit card information on the appropriate lines of your statement and mail it in.

Set up auto-renew so you don’ forget to renew in the future.

Please see the back of your statement for complete details.

When do I pay full dues as a recent graduate?

The ADA and MDA recognize that recent graduates need some time to get settled in the profession. Therefore, both the ADA and MDA offer a couple years of reduced dues with continuous membership.

You owe nothing the year you graduate. You then enjoy two years of reduced dues. You won’t pay 100 percent until your third full-year out of dental school. If you attended an extended education program continuously with a dental school, your reduced dues begin after you complete your extended program, as long as you maintained continuous membership.

What does each line-item on my statement mean?

The MDA breaks down your statement into individual sections. They are:

American Dental Association. This item represents your ADA membership. (The ADA may add special assessments to the statement to fund particular projects.)

Local District/Component. This represents your local dental society membership. Remember, membership is tripartite. That means you belong to your local dental society, the Michigan Dental Association and the American Dental Association.

MDA. This represents your MDA membership.

MDA Special Assessment. Assessments are used to fund specific projects or services. These mandatory payments are used to fund the MDA’s Public Education Campaign. These are broken out to show you how much of your money is used for these purposes.

MDA Dental PAC. This optional payment is used to fund the MDA’s Political Action Committee, and is critical to the MDA and the success of our legislative programs in the state Legislature. Contributions to Dental PAC maintain your voice in the Legislature. Without a strong Dental PAC in Lansing, legislative decisions that affect your dental practice will be made without organized dentistry’s influence.

ADPAC. This optional payment is used to fund the ADA’s Political Action Committee, which helps support the ADA’s legislative program. These contributions are used to support elected officials in the United States House of Representatives and Congress.

Michigan Dental Association Foundation. This optional tax-deductible contribution supports the Michigan Dental Association Foundation, a 501(c)(3) philanthropic organization aligned with the Michigan Dental Association. Its mission is to provide financial support to individuals and programs whose focus is to enhance, educate and improve the dental profession and the oral health environment within Michigan.

I’m retired. Do I get a discount?

To be eligible for ADA and MDA retired status (which means a 75 percent ADA discount and an 85 percent MDA discount), you must be fully retired (not earning any income from the knowledge of dentistry).

Three local districts charge for retired membership (Detroit, Macomb, and Oakland County). The remaining local societies do not charge any retired dues.

I only work part-time. Do I qualify for a discount?

If you are earning a net income less than $50,000 a year from your practice or knowledge of dentistry, you qualify for the MDA limited time practice/professional leave category, with a discount of 85 percent off of MDA membership. To obtain limited time practice/professional leave status at the MDA and local district levels, you must sign an affidavit stating that your net earnings are less than $50,000 from your practice or knowledge of dentistry. The affidavit must be approved by your local district.

My spouse and I are about to have a baby and I’m planning on taking the year off. Can I qualify for reduced dues?

If you are earning a net income less than $50,000 a year from your practice or knowledge of dentistry, you qualify for the MDA limited time practice/professional leave category, with an 85 percent MDA membership discount. You may also qualify for a partial or full dues waiver. For waiver information, email the membership department or call 800-589-2632.

I’m in an extended education program. Can I still be a member of organized dentistry?

You are eligible for MDA and ADA graduate student membership if you are enrolled in an educational program of not less than one academic year in an accredited dental school, or in an internship or residency program approved by the Commission on Dental Accreditation. ADA and MDA graduate student membership is free.

I’m in an extended education program. Can I still be a member of organized dentistry?

At the MDA, ADA, and local levels, life membership is awarded to members who have 30 consecutive years of membership or 40 total years of membership.

There are two categories of ADA and MDA life membership: active (working) and retired. Active life members are recognized for their continued membership and commitment to organized dentistry. Fully retired life members do not pay dues. For questions on life membership, email the membership department or call 800-589-2632.

Is there someone I can talk with about my membership?

Yes. Call the MDA toll-free at 800-589-2632 and ask for the accounting department for billing questions or the membership department for membership questions. MDA office hours are 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.