The iADH is an international association whose council is made up of representatives of many national organizations from around the world. Any country that has a national society that advocates for the disabled may join the iADH and appoint a member to sit on the council as a representative of that country. Countries who have more than 60 members in their national association are allowed to have 2 members to represent them on council.

In 1971 a group of individuals with shared ideals, met in Atlantic City, New Jersey for the first “International Congress on Dentistry for the Handicapped” under sponsorship of the Academy of Dentistry for the Handicapped to discuss the possibility of forming an international society for the dental care of the handicapped. Representatives of different groups in various countries agreed to form the International Association of Dentistry for the Handicapped with the goal of educating and disseminating information and fostering the formation of strong national organizations.   More detail...