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.

After 1985, the Official Advisory Opinions and the ADA Principles of Ethics and Code of Professional Conduct are always published together as one document.

As of 2005, annual publication has ceased and since then new issues/editions are published only when revisions are made to the document. There were no revisions to the ADA Code 2006-2008 so no printed copies were issued during those years.

The most current issue is available on the ADA’s website.

Follow


Submissions from 2023

PDF

ADA Code of Ethics (March 2023), American Dental Association

Submissions from 2020

PDF

ADA Code of Ethics (November 2020), American Dental Association

Submissions from 2018

PDF

ADA Code of Ethics (November 2018), American Dental Association

Submissions from 2016

PDF

ADA Code of Ethics (November 2016), American Dental Association

PDF

ADA Code of Ethics (September 2016), American Dental Association

Submissions from 2012

PDF

ADA Code of Ethics (April 2012), American Dental Association

Submissions from 2011

PDF

ADA Code of Ethics (August 2011), American Dental Association

PDF

ADA Code of Ethics (January 2011), American Dental Association

Submissions from 2010

PDF

ADA Code of Ethics (January 2010), American Dental Association

Submissions from 2009

PDF

ADA Code of Ethics (January 2009), American Dental Association

Submissions from 2005

PDF

ADA Code of Ethics (January 2005), American Dental Association

Submissions from 2000

PDF

ADA Code of Ethics (January 2000), American Dental Association

Submissions from 1992

PDF

ADA Code of Ethics (May 1992), American Dental Association

Submissions from 1990

PDF

ADA Code of Ethics (January 1990), American Dental Association

Submissions from 1988

PDF

ADA Code of Ethics (July 1988), American Dental Association

Submissions from 1987

PDF

ADA Code of Ethics (January 1987), American Dental Association

PDF

ADA Code of Ethics (June 1987), American Dental Association

Submissions from 1986

PDF

ADA Code of Ethics (January 1986), American Dental Association

PDF

ADA Code of Ethics (May 1986), American Dental Association

Submissions from 1984

PDF

ADA Code of Ethics (May 1984), American Dental Association

Submissions from 1983

PDF

ADA Code of Ethics (January 1983), American Dental Association

Submissions from 1980

PDF

ADA Code of Ethics (January 1980), American Dental Association

PDF

ADA Code of Ethics (October 1980), American Dental Association

PDF

ADA Code of Ethics (October 1980) - Amendment Sheet, American Dental Association

Submissions from 1979

PDF

ADA Code of Ethics (October 1979), American Dental Association

Submissions from 1978

PDF

ADA Code of Ethics (October 1978), American Dental Association

Submissions from 1977

PDF

ADA Code of Ethics (October 1977), American Dental Association

Submissions from 1976

PDF

ADA Code of Ethics (January 1976), American Dental Association

PDF

ADA Code of Ethics (March 1976), American Dental Association

Submissions from 1975

PDF

ADA Code of Ethics (January 1975), American Dental Association

PDF

ADA Code of Ethics (May 1975), American Dental Association

Submissions from 1973

PDF

ADA Code of Ethics (November 1973), American Dental Association

PDF

ADA Code of Ethics (November 1973) - Amendments, American Dental Association

Submissions from 1971

PDF

ADA Code of Ethics (January 1971), American Dental Association

Submissions from 1969

PDF

ADA Code of Ethics (January 1969), American Dental Association

Submissions from 1967

PDF

ADA Code of Ethics (January 1967), American Dental Association

Submissions from 1964

PDF

ADA Code of Ethics (January 1964), American Dental Association

Submissions from 1958

PDF

ADA Code of Ethics (November 1958), American Dental Association

Submissions from 1955

PDF

ADA Code of Ethics (Ocober 1955), American Dental Association

Submissions from 1950

PDF

ADA Code of Ethics (November 1950), American Dental Association

PDF

ADA Code of Ethics (October 1950), American Dental Association

Submissions from 1946

PDF

ADA Code of Ethics (April 1946), American Dental Association

PDF

ADA Code of Ethics (circa 1946), American Dental Association

Submissions from 1945

PDF

ADA Code of Ethics (January 1945), American Dental Association

Submissions from 1944

PDF

ADA Code of Ethics (1944), American Dental Association

Submissions from 1939

PDF

ADA Code of Ethics (1939), American Dental Association

Submissions from 1936

PDF

ADA Code of Ethics (1936), American Dental Association

Submissions from 1934

PDF

ADA Code of Ethics (1934), American Dental Association

Submissions from 1931

PDF

ADA Code of Ethics (1931), American Dental Association

Submissions from 1929

PDF

ADA Code of Ethics (1929), American Dental Association

Submissions from 1928

PDF

ADA Code of Ethics (1928), American Dental Association

Submissions from 1927

PDF

ADA Code of Ethics (1927), American Dental Association

Submissions from 1926

PDF

ADA Code of Ethics (1926), American Dental Association

Submissions from 1925

PDF

ADA Code of Ethics (1925), American Dental Association

Submissions from 1924

PDF

ADA Code of Ethics (1924), American Dental Association

Submissions from 1922

PDF

ADA Code of Ethics (July 17 1922), American Dental Association

Submissions from 1906

PDF

ADA Code of Ethics (1906), American Dental Association

Submissions from 1900

PDF

ADA Code of Ethics (July 10 1900), American Dental Association

Submissions from 1884

PDF

ADA Code of Ethics (August 7 1884), American Dental Association

Submissions from 1881

PDF

ADA Code of Ethics (July 11 1881), American Dental Association

Submissions from 1874

PDF

ADA Code of Ethics (August 4 1874), American Dental Association

Submissions from 1873

PDF

ADA Code of Ethics (August 5 1873), American Dental Association

Submissions from 1866

PDF

ADA Code of Ethics (July 31 1866), American Dental Association