The Angel City Dental Society (ACDS) was founded in 1932 as the Los Angeles Dental Study Club. The dental study club was renamed the Alva C. Garrot Dental Study Club after the first African-American dentist to be licensed in the State of California. Dr. Garrot was instrumental in organizing the society. In those days, African-American dentists were not welcome in the American Dental Association, t
he Angel City Dental Society study club served as the only opportunity for Southern California dentists of color to keep abreast of the scientific advances in the field of dentistry. These dedicated dentists were highly respected for their contributions to their community as well as for their professional skills. One member, Dr. Alva C. Garrot, was the first President and later President Emeritus of the Los Angeles Urban League. Another member, Dr. H. Claude Hudson, was one of the original founders of the NAACP. Over the years, the organization grew very rapidly in membership and in 1966, it was renamed the Angel City Dental Society. Today, ACDS is recognized as one of the strongest and most active component chapters in the National Dental Association. In addition to elevating the professional skills of their members by inviting the top experts in dentistry to lecture at their monthly continuing education seminars, ACDS has also been very instrumental in the training of dental and community leaders. Our members have served as Presidents to the National Dental Association, the Los Angeles Dental Society and the San Gabriel Dental Society. They have served as professors and department heads in various dental schools. They have entered politics and have served as Mayors, Congressman and Assemblymen. They have been appointed to such prestigious positions as President of the California Board of Dental Examiners. Realizing that the future of any organization is in it’s young, ACDS and it’s auxiliary has been instrumental in providing scholarships, annually, to deserving dental students. Since 2005 ACDS has awarded over 28 scholarships to Dental Students enrolled in Northern and Southern California Dental Schools. This year ACDS instituted an Oral Health Internship Program for University Graduates who are aspiring to become the dentists of tomorrow. ACDS served as the Coordinator of the Colgate Bright Smiles-Bright Futures Program and continues to serve the community through free dental screening programs and oral health education to children and adults located in the under served areas of Southern California. ACDS has, and will continue to have a positive influence on all of the Southern California communities. Taking oral health a step further, ACDS has extended its hands internationally by partnering on Medical/ Dental Missions to Haiti for the past three years and previously on Medical/Dental Missions to Jamaica. ACDS served as the host chapter for the 2004 National Dental Association Convention. The members simultaneously launched and sponsored the National Dental Museum’s traveling exhibit, The Future is Now! African Americans in Dentistry at the Los Angeles African American Museum. All of this while continuously participating in numerous Health Fairs, Career Days and Health Care Panels in the Greater Los Angeles Area.
