Dentsply Sirona partners with National Dental Association

A renowned provider of dental technology, Dentsply Sirona, has joined forces with the National Dental Association (NDA) to support opportunities to expand access to high-quality dental education for underserved areas.

Supports dentists of colour

The cooperation is in accordance with the diversity and inclusion objectives of Dentsply Sirona as well as its BEYOND sustainability strategy, which intends to create a pipeline for dental professionals of colour through initiatives like those offered by the NDA.

The NDA is dedicated to provide education, support, and programmes at every stage of a professional career in dentistry, with a focus on encouraging young people from marginalised communities to do the same. The NDA supports a network of more than 7,000 minority dentists.

In order to close the gap between institutions, the organisation also assists academies with limited resources in providing their students with access to top-notch dental education. Only 3% of dentists in the US are black as of right now.

“We are thrilled to enter a new era of partnership with Dentsply Sirona as we advance our shared mission to promote diversity and inclusion within the dental industry,” said Dr Marlon D. Henderson, President of the NDA. 

“It is fantastic to have the support of an industry leader as we look to increase our reach and impact within minority communities. With Dentsply Sirona’s innovative solutions and significant experience in dental education, we can ensure that minority communities have access to excellent dental education and care.”

Funding NDA-HEALTH NOW

The new partnership was driven by Dentsply Sirona’s BOLD (Black Organization for Leadership & Development) employee resource group (ERG).

Dentsply Sirona is a founding member of the NDA Corporate Round Table, an advisory body made up of leading businesses in the dentistry sector that aims to support the growth and development of the organisation. Dentsply Sirona’s representative at the Corporate Round Table will be Jennifer Landgren, founder and chairperson of the BOLD ERG, through the BOLD partnerships workstream.

Dentsply Sirona will fund NDA-HEALTH NOW, a cornerstone initiative that offers service, education, and access across the lifespan in underserved communities, from schoolchildren to older residents, in addition to its involvement in the NDA Corporate Roundtable.

The business will also use the pool of NDA members to identify participants for focus groups, grow its network of black dentistry specialists, and obtain knowledge for product development.