About The SFDS

Mission: The San Francisco Dental Society promotes the oral health of the community and is the recognized resource for dental professionals in the city and county of San Francisco.

Vision: To be the voice of dentistry and advocate for the oral health of the community.

Core Values: Ethics, Integrity, Professionalism, Learning, Unity, Volunteerism/Service, Diversity, Excellence, Success

In 1869, a small group of dentists in San Francisco founded the San Francisco Dental Society.  It was the first component of what came to be the California Dental Association. The Society, founded as a professional membership organization, is the united voice of dentistry and oral healthcare in the community. Through its many committees, programs and activities, the Society meets the goals for which it was originally established.

The San Francisco Dental Society has grown into a successful dental society with 1200 plus members and forms the local component of the American Dental Association and the California Dental Association. The society represents approximately 75% of all the licensed dentists in the City and County of San Francisco and collectively exemplifies the SFDS mission of promoting the oral health of the community and is the recognized resource for dental professionals in the City and County of San Francisco.  The San Francisco Dental Society supports only the highest ethical practice of dentistry and works to improve the standard of dental care for the public.

Strategic Plan 2017-2019

Strategic Goal I: Foster a vibrant, engaged and informed member community

• Increase member engagement and investment in SFDS (i.e. programs, services, events)
• Develop and implement recruitment and retention strategies based on data

Strategic Goal II: Support advocacy efforts on behalf of our members

• Develop and maintain relationships with strategic dental and non-dental organizations in support of our organizational and advocacy efforts
• Leverage SFDS/SFDS PAC activities on behalf of SFDS members
• Publicize local issues and regulatory changes impacting dentistry and small business

Strategic Goal III: Foster new leaders within the SFDS Governance Structure

• Establish a Succession Plan/Leadership Pipeline
• Leadership selection ensures volunteer leaders have the skills and/or diverse perspectives to enable them to achieve organizational needs and goals
• Provide leadership orientations to all SFDS Committees

Strategic Goal IV: Enhance marketing communication to increase visibility of SFDS and its member dentists within the community

• Communicate the profession’s response to oral health issues
• Communicate SFDS volunteerism and community outreach activities
• Communicate/Leverage the 150 Year Anniversary of the SFDS (2019)

Strategic Goal V: Improve/Increase access to oral health across all sectors of the community

• Promote and advocate for oral health in our community
• Increase volunteer engagement in SFDS supported activities
• Collaborate with other organizations and agencies to provide diverse community volunteer opportunities for SFDS members