Exploring ADA Commons: Discover another great resource as PDA joins new digital repository
In some cases, you may get too many results. Advanced searching gives you the ability to narrow your search by date, author, title, etc. As always, ADA members are invited to contact the ADA Library and Archives for additional assistance when searching for clinical research.
Materials in ADA Commons are also indexed by Google, Google Scholar, Bing and other popular search engines so the same results outlined above can be found via anyone’ s favorite internet search tool. As a result, PDJ authors enjoy a much larger, worldwide audience and can track their readership with metrics delivered monthly by ADA Commons. Items in ADA Commons have been downloaded by readers in more than 206 countries!
Exhibits
With the growing depth of archival and research materials in ADA Commons, the ADA new hosts digital exhibits to highlight the archival collections of the ADA and the tripartite. Most recently, the ADA released a new exhibit showcasing the history of National Children’ s Dental Health Month. Navigate to the digital exhibits by clicking“ ADA Commons” at the top of any page, and then click on“ Digital Exhibits” from the ADA Commons landing page.
Districts Led the Way
Prior to ADA Commons, digital publications of state dental societies could not be indexed by search engines or securely archived for the future. The vital clinical and historical content included in every issue could not be easily found, shared or archived and was at risk of being lost. The ADA membership recognized the need for a repository for state dental societies that would allow societies to publish and preserve their journals for current and future generations. The ADA 9th District, co-sponsored by the 2nd and 13th districts, authored the resolution to the ADA House of Delegates to create the ADA Commons repository. This was resolved and approved by the House in 2022. Participating in ADA Commons is free for all state and local societies.
About the Author
Alisun DeKock is the Digital Archivist and Publishing Librarian with the ADA Library & Archives. The ADA Library & Archives provides ADA members with access to dental and oral health resources and research, as well as records and publications from the ADA’ s archives. Part of that research is available through ADA Commons, an open digital repository that collects, preserves and disseminates state and local dental association publications and research.
Uploading Your Own Scholarly Work
ADA Commons now gives you the option of uploading your published, scholarly works as allowed by your publication agreement. Like a university institutional repository, authors may deposit a pre-print version of their published works. This provides a secure, archival, long-term link to your work in an open access, sharable database that is indexed by all major search engines, such as Google. Authors receive monthly metrics reports and have access to a personal dashboard displaying readership data.
ADA Commons will continue to grow, so visit often to explore what’ s new!
20 MARCH / APRIL 2026 | PENNSYLVANIA DENTAL JOURNAL