The Southern Association of Institutional Dentists is an organization that was begun by Dr. Gerald Bensberg, who at that time was the Director of the Attendant Training Project (a five year NIMH supported project sponsored by the Southern Region Education Board). Dr. Bensberg invited dentists, dental hygienists, dental assistants and other interested professionals who served in facilities for the mentally retarded throughout the fifteen (15) southern states to participate in a seminar to consider ways of delivering better dental care to the institutionalized mentally retarded population. This seminar was held in April 1966 in Houston, Texas and was entitled "Meeting the Needs of the Mentally Retarded". The original seminar was attended by twenty three (23) institutional dentists, one (1) dental hygienist, two (2) nurses, and a pediatrician. These attendees represented twenty six (26) institutions in thirteen (13) southern states.

Since 1966, SAID has grown in scope and membership, and today boasts an active membership of over 300 persons representing twenty nine (29) states, including California, Colorado, Delaware, Illinois, Kansas, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Canada. Over sixty three (63) institutions and three (3) dental schools, who provide services to institutionalized and community based clients, are represented by this organization. The scope of SAID has changed to include not only the developmentally disabled client, but also the mentally ill client. SAID is the only organization in the United States that deals solely with the dental needs of the institutionalized client. Its membership is comprised of dental professionals working full time in institutions or professionals who devote a large portion of their time treating the developmentally disabled, mental ill and/or otherwise medically compromised client. Members of this organization represent institutional dentistry on local, state, and national committees that write legislation which regulates the practice of dentistry at all levels, including the US Surgeon General's Conference on Health Disparities and Mental Retardation.

PAST TO PRESENT OFFICERS & ANNUAL MEETING LOCATIONS

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Year	Location	President	Vice President	Secretary	Treasurer
1966	Houston, TX	Jerry Bensberg
1967	Birmingham, AL	Jerry Bensberg
1968	Chapel Hill, NC	Jerry Bensberg
1969	Dallas, TX	Jerry Bensberg
1970	Atlanta, GA	Bill Sellingsloh	Jack Menius	Pearson White
1971	Atlanta, GA	Jack Menius	Bill Cole	George Johnson
1972	Charleston, SC	Bill Cole	Pearson White	Fred Smith
1973	Birmingham, AL	Pearson White	George Johnson	Fred Smith
1974	New Orleans, LA	George Johnson	Joe Dicks	Fred Smith
1975	Atlanta, GA	Joe Dicks	Wyatt Reid	Tom McIver
1976	Orlando, FL	Wyatt Reid	Ron Markette	Tom McIver
1977	Williamsburg, VA	Ron Markette	William Morrow	Tom McIver
1978	Nashville, TN	William Morrow	George Johnson	Tom McIver
1979	New Orleans, LA	George Johnson	Mike Noblit	Tom McIver
1980	Atlanta, GA	Mike Noblit	Don Myers	Tom McIver
1981	Charleston, SC	Ike Lawson	Bob Hagaman	Tom McIver
1982	Orlando, FL	Bob Hagaman	Paul Townsen	Tom McIver
1983	Nashville, TN	Paul Townsend	Jerry Griffin	Tom McIver
1984	Alexandria, VA	Jerry Griffin	Don Myers	Tom McIver
1985	Charleston, SC	Don Myers	Kate Wilson	Tom McIver
1986	Chapel Hill, NC	Kate Wilson	Al Steinberg	Tom McIver
1987	Savannah, GA	Al Steinberg	David Epstein	Tom McIver
1988	Louisville, KY	David Epstein	Gil Watson	Tom McIver
1989	Williamsburg, VA	Gil Watson	Berman Maxey	Tom McIver
1990	Asheville, NC	Berman Maxey	Phil DiStanislao	Tom McIver
1991	Charleston, SC	Phil DiStanislao	Paul Burtner	Tom McIver
1992	Savannah, GA	Paul Burtner	Donna Spears	Tom McIver
1993	Alexandria, VA	Donna Spears	John Howard	Tom McIver
1994	Atlanta, GA	John Howard	Bobby Turner	Tom McIver
1995	Wilmington, NC	Bobby Turner	Doug Veazey	Tom McIver
1996	Asheville, NC	Doug Veazey	Mary Tepper	Tom McIver
1997	Cape May, NJ	Mary Tepper	Bob Ealy	Tom McIver
1998	Myrtle Beach, SC	Bob Ealy	Carlton Horbelt	Tom McIver
1999	Savannah, GA	Carlton Horbelt	Harrison Williams	Tom McIver
2000	Atlanta, GA	Harrison Williams	Bob Leonetti	Donna Spears
2001	Williamsburg, VA	Bob Leonetti	Howard Blair	Donna Spears
2002	Chattanooga, TN	Howard Blair	Annette Mehren	Donna Spears
2003	Savannah, GA	Bob Ealy	David Itzkoff	Donna Spears
2004	Asheville, NC	David Itzkoff	Tom Butler	Donna Spears
2005	Charlotte, NC	Tom Butler	Larry McDonough	Donna Spears	Charles Brooks
2006	Charlotte, NC	Larry McDonough	Jerry Kleponis	Tom Butler	Charles Brooks
2007	Myrtle Beach, SC	Jerry Kleponis	Scott Monroe	Carlton Horbelt	Charles Brooks
2008	Myrtle Beach, SC	Scott Monroe	Carolyn Fetter	Bobby Turner	Charles Brooks
2009	Charlotte, NC	Carolyn Fetter	Robert Henry	Bobby Turner	Charles Brooks
2010	Charlotte, NC	Robert Henry	David Itzkoff	Bobby Turner	Charles Brooks
2011	Louisville,KY	David Itzkoff	Bill Milner	Bobby Turner	Francis McClure
2012	Charlotte,NC	Bill Milner	Bill Milner	Bobby Turner	Francis McClure