Prospective Member FAQs

Membership renewal information goes out in November, and members are encouraged to renew by the new year. However, there is a grace period that extends through March 31. If payment is not received, or a payment plan has not been started by March 31, members who have not renewed are transitioned to non-member status.

There are several payment options available:  automatic withdrawal from your bank account, credit card, and check. Pre-paying via monthly payments is also an option, and the LDA encourages members to utilize this payment method. If you are in your first 10 years out of dental school, or have encountered a financial hardship that makes it difficult to pay dues in full at one time, please call our office to discuss potential payment plans. The LDA now offers members the ability to auto-renew their membership when they pay online.

The ADA and LDA recognize that recent graduates need some time to get settled in the profession. Therefore, both the ADA and LDA offer reduced dues for the first two full years following graduation. You owe nothing the year you graduate or the first full year after you graduate. Dues are 50% at the state and national level during your second full year out. You won’t pay full dues until your third full year out of dental school (component dues rates differ, so those may still be prorated in the third and fourth full years following graduation, depending on where you are practicing). If you are in your first 10 years out of dental school, you are considered a “new dentist,” and payment plans are an option to help break up the dues into smaller, monthly amounts that can more easily fit your budget.

Yes. If you have attained life status (active membership for 30 consecutive years or 40 total), and you are an active life member upon retirement, then you would be considered a “retired life” member. Retired life members do not pay any dues, and automatically receive membership every year. If you retire prior to achieving life status, then your dues are heavily discounted, and the total amount depends on which component you are in. Retired dues for 2023 broke down as follows:

ADA - $150

LDA - $25

Component - $0-50

Retired membership does count toward years of membership, so if you retire with 28 consecutive years of membership, you would only need to maintain a paid retired membership for 2 years before transitioning to retired life status and receiving a free membership.

We know that work situations can change for a variety of reasons. If you encountered a situation that has significantly limited your ability to work and caused undue financial hardship, please contact us about a waiver of dues. These waivers are reviewed by the LDA and component on a case by case basis to determine if a discount makes sense.

Yes, anyone enrolled in a residency program is considered an active member of the ADA, LDA, and their local component free of charge while they are enrolled in their program of study. Residency programs that qualify:  general practice, endodontics, oral pathology, oral surgery, orthodontics, pediatric dentistry, periodontics, prosthodontics.

Yes! Our Director of Membership Development, Colin Zvosec, would be more than happy to discuss your membership with you. You can call him at (225) 408-3293 or email him at colin@ladental.org. To reach any of our other staff members, please call our main line:  (225) 926-1986.