Our Mission
To advance optimal oral health for all children by delivering outstanding service that meets and exceeds the needs and expectations of our members, partners and stakeholders.
About AAPD
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD), founded in 1947, is the not-for-profit professional membership association representing the specialty of pediatric dentistry. Its 10,800 members put children first in everything they do, and at the highest standards of ethics and patient safety. Pediatric dentists provide care to millions of our nation’s infants, children, adolescents, and persons with special health care needs, and are the primary contributors to professional education programs and publications on pediatric oral health.
The AAPD, in accordance with its vision and mission, advocates optimal oral health for all children. It is the leading national advocate dedicated exclusively to children’s oral health.
Vision
Optimal oral health for all children.
AAPD Culture
Our members put children first in everything they do, and at the highest standards of ethics and patient safety. As such, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry is THE leading national advocate dedicated exclusively to children’s oral health. We are the embodiment of our members’ expertise as the big authorities on little teeth.
Membership Statistics
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) continues to maintain strong loyalty and retention of members. For fiscal year 2022, the AAPD member retention rate was 92 percent. Total AAPD membership is now over 11,000! The AAPD membership statistics as of July 2022 are as follows:
| Membership by Category | |
| Active | 6978 |
| Life | 536 |
| Associate | 48 |
| Affiliate | 464 |
| International | 149 |
| Retired | 1331 |
| Predoctoral Student | 375 |
| Postdoctoral Student | 1036 |
| International Colleague | 27 |
| International Student | 83 |
| Honorary | 2 |
| Allied | 18 |
| Friends of Pediatric Dentistry | 7 |
| Total | 11,055 |
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) is the recognized authority on children’s oral health. As advocates for children’s oral health, the AAPD promotes evidence-based policies, best practices, and clinical guidelines; educates and informs policymakers, parents and guardians, and other health care professionals; fosters research; and provides continuing professional education for pediatric dentists and general dentists who treat children. Founded in 1947, the AAPD is a not-for-profit professional membership association representing the specialty of pediatric dentistry. Its 11,000 members provide primary care and comprehensive dental specialty treatments for infants, children, adolescents and individuals with special health care needs. For further information, please visit the AAPD website at http://www.aapd.org or the AAPD’s consumer website at http://www.mychildrensteeth.org.