This collection holds the historical record of the ADA Code of Ethics from 1866 to 2023.
The ADA Code has three main components: The Principles of Ethics, the Code of Professional Conduct and the Advisory Opinions.
- The Principles of Ethics are the aspirational goals of the profession. They provide guidance and offer justification for the Code of Professional Conduct and the Advisory Opinions. There are five fundamental principles that form the foundation of the ADA Code: patient autonomy, nonmaleficence, beneficence, justice and veracity. Principles can overlap and compete with each other for priority. More than one principle can justify a given element of the Code of Professional Conduct. Principles may at times need to be balanced against each other, but, otherwise, they are the profession's firm guideposts.
- The Code of Professional Conduct is an expression of specific types of conduct that are either required or prohibited. The Code of Professional Conduct is a product of the ADA's legislative system. All elements of the Code of Professional Conduct result from resolutions that are adopted by the ADA's House of Delegates. The Code of Professional Conduct is binding on members of the ADA, and violations may result in disciplinary action.
- The Advisory Opinions are interpretations that apply the Code of Professional Conduct to specific fact situations. They are adopted by the ADA's Council on Ethics, Bylaws and Judicial Affairs to provide guidance to the membership on how the Council might interpret the Code of Professional Conduct in a disciplinary proceeding.
The Official Advisory Opinions, the ADA Principles of Ethics, and Code of Professional Conduct have been published together as one document since 1985.
As of 2005, annual publication has ceased and since then new issues/editions are published only when revisions are made to the document.
The most current issue is available on the ADA’s website.
Submissions from 2023
ADA Code of Ethics (March 2023), American Dental Association
Submissions from 2020
ADA Code of Ethics (November 2020), American Dental Association
Submissions from 2018
ADA Code of Ethics (November 2018), American Dental Association
Submissions from 2016
ADA Code of Ethics (November 2016), American Dental Association
ADA Code of Ethics (September 2016), American Dental Association
Submissions from 2012
ADA Code of Ethics (April 2012), American Dental Association
Submissions from 2011
ADA Code of Ethics (August 2011), American Dental Association
ADA Code of Ethics (January 2011), American Dental Association
Submissions from 2010
ADA Code of Ethics (January 2010), American Dental Association
Submissions from 2009
ADA Code of Ethics (January 2009), American Dental Association
Submissions from 2005
ADA Code of Ethics (January 2005), American Dental Association
Submissions from 2000
ADA Code of Ethics (January 2000), American Dental Association
Submissions from 1992
ADA Code of Ethics (May 1992), American Dental Association
Submissions from 1990
ADA Code of Ethics (January 1990), American Dental Association
Submissions from 1988
ADA Code of Ethics (July 1988), American Dental Association
Submissions from 1987
ADA Code of Ethics (January 1987), American Dental Association
ADA Code of Ethics (June 1987), American Dental Association
Submissions from 1986
ADA Code of Ethics (January 1986), American Dental Association
ADA Code of Ethics (May 1986), American Dental Association
Submissions from 1984
ADA Code of Ethics (May 1984), American Dental Association
Submissions from 1983
ADA Code of Ethics (January 1983), American Dental Association
Submissions from 1980
ADA Code of Ethics (January 1980), American Dental Association
ADA Code of Ethics (October 1980), American Dental Association
ADA Code of Ethics (October 1980) - Amendment Sheet, American Dental Association
Submissions from 1979
ADA Code of Ethics (October 1979), American Dental Association
Submissions from 1978
ADA Code of Ethics (October 1978), American Dental Association
Submissions from 1977
ADA Code of Ethics (October 1977), American Dental Association
Submissions from 1976
ADA Code of Ethics (January 1976), American Dental Association
ADA Code of Ethics (March 1976), American Dental Association
Submissions from 1975
ADA Code of Ethics (January 1975), American Dental Association
ADA Code of Ethics (May 1975), American Dental Association
Submissions from 1973
ADA Code of Ethics (November 1973), American Dental Association
ADA Code of Ethics (November 1973) - Amendments, American Dental Association
Submissions from 1971
ADA Code of Ethics (January 1971), American Dental Association
Submissions from 1969
ADA Code of Ethics (January 1969), American Dental Association
Submissions from 1967
ADA Code of Ethics (January 1967), American Dental Association
Submissions from 1964
ADA Code of Ethics (January 1964), American Dental Association
Submissions from 1958
ADA Code of Ethics (November 1958), American Dental Association
Submissions from 1955
ADA Code of Ethics (Ocober 1955), American Dental Association
Submissions from 1950
ADA Code of Ethics (November 1950), American Dental Association
ADA Code of Ethics (October 1950), American Dental Association
Submissions from 1946
ADA Code of Ethics (April 1946), American Dental Association
ADA Code of Ethics (circa 1946), American Dental Association
Submissions from 1945
ADA Code of Ethics (January 1945), American Dental Association
Submissions from 1944
ADA Code of Ethics (1944), American Dental Association
Submissions from 1939
ADA Code of Ethics (1939), American Dental Association
Submissions from 1936
ADA Code of Ethics (1936), American Dental Association
Submissions from 1934
ADA Code of Ethics (1934), American Dental Association
Submissions from 1931
ADA Code of Ethics (1931), American Dental Association
Submissions from 1929
ADA Code of Ethics (1929), American Dental Association
Submissions from 1928
ADA Code of Ethics (1928), American Dental Association
Submissions from 1927
ADA Code of Ethics (1927), American Dental Association
Submissions from 1926
ADA Code of Ethics (1926), American Dental Association
Submissions from 1925
ADA Code of Ethics (1925), American Dental Association
Submissions from 1924
ADA Code of Ethics (1924), American Dental Association
Submissions from 1922
ADA Code of Ethics (July 17 1922), American Dental Association
Submissions from 1906
ADA Code of Ethics (1906), American Dental Association
Submissions from 1900
ADA Code of Ethics (July 10 1900), American Dental Association
Submissions from 1884
ADA Code of Ethics (August 7 1884), American Dental Association
Submissions from 1881
ADA Code of Ethics (July 11 1881), American Dental Association
Submissions from 1874
ADA Code of Ethics (August 4 1874), American Dental Association
Submissions from 1873
ADA Code of Ethics (August 5 1873), American Dental Association
Submissions from 1866
ADA Code of Ethics (July 31 1866), American Dental Association