Dr. Elmer S. Best | download Organizational Chart

The Pierre Fauchard Academy is an honorary dental service organization that was organized in 1936. Its founder was Dr. Elmer S. Best, a Minnesota dentist. Troubled by the proprietary nature of many dental publications, he wanted to help the profession gain control of its own literature and assure its independence from commercial interests. His passionate concern for the search for knowledge and the raising of professional standards guided the beginnings of the Academy, attracted outstanding dental researchers and teachers to its ranks, and led to a continuing role in fostering dental science.

Early on, the Constitution of the Pierre Fauchard Academy laid out a series of objectives intended to foster Best's aims. These included a constant emphasis on professional is integrity, and ethics. One of the means adopted by the Academy was to award medals and other honors to persons who had distinguished themselves by their contributions to dentistry and who were recognized as worthy role models for others in the profession.

Fellowship in the Academy is by nomination by professional leaders and was designed to be itself an accolade to past accomplishment and an encouragement to future productivity. Contributions to dental literature, service to the profession of dentistry, and service to the general community, thereby bringing credit to dentistry, were among the criteria sought in recruiting new members. The Academy has itself had a publication program, notably through Dental World, and has always encouraged its fellow members to contribute to dental education and dental literature. Through its Foundation, it offers financial support to various dental projects and monetary grants to dental students.

The Pierre Fauchard Academy is currently comprised of over 120 sections, 55 in the United States and another 65 in many parts of the world, including South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. Worldwide, the membership is over 8,000.

It is an international organization that is comprised of over 8,000 Fellows and is divided into over 120 Sections that are found in 65 countries. Over 6000 fellows are in the United States, which is divided into 55 Sections.

The membership is made of dentists who have been judged to be among the most outstanding leaders in various fields of dentistry. Recommendations for Fellowship are by invitation only and must have the approval of the Chairperson of that Section in which the candidate resides or practices.

The Academy is a non profit corporation that is named after the "Father of Modern Dentistry", Pierre Fauchard of France (1678-1761), who was credited with raising dentistry to a profession. He wrote a book named le Chirurgien Dentiste ou Traite des Dents which was the first true textbook of dentistry.

The role of the Academy includes honoring outstanding leaders with Fellowship, conferring various awards, mentoring, conducting a Hall of Fame and a large variety of voluntary service projects in dentistry.

The Academy's Foundation is the world’s largest international dental philanthropic organization. It funds scholarships to financially disadvantaged dental students and provides grants to service organizations that in turn, provide dental services to the poor, continuing education, faculty development and research. The Foundation is supported by donations and bequests. In fact, the main bulk of its assets are the result of the awarding of a very large bequest from a Fellow in Costa Rica. The Foundation Board now has a substantial record of successful administration with very low overhead. It is available to accept other donations from those who wish to have their funds directed toward dental philanthropy.

The Academy is administered by a Board of Trustees consisting of five Officers and ten Trustees from around the world. Section organization includes a Chairperson and such other officers or committee members as the Section may elect. The administrative office of the Academy is located in Las Vegas Nevada, U.S.A.