This year marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Korean Dental Association (KDA). To commemorate this milestone, various events, including an international academic conference, are being held.

Though there is controversy regarding the origins of the KDA, the first organization composed solely of Korean dentists was the Hansung Dental Society, established in 1925. Though its continuity was briefly interrupted, it was reassembled in December 1945 after Korea’s liberation as the Joseon Dental Association. In May 1949, it was renamed the Korean Dental Association (KDA), and in 1959, the Korean name was officially changed to its current form¹. Today, the KDA consists of dentists who have been trained at one of the 11 dental schools in South Korea currently producing dental professionals.

In 1989, the KDA hosted the 14th Asia Pacific Dental Congress in Seoul, and in 1997, it organized the 85th FDI Annual World Dental Congress in Seoul. A long-held aspiration among Korean dentists was the establishment of the dental specialist system, which was officially introduced in 2008 with the first Dental Specialist Examination, leading to the certification of numerous specialists.

Even before the introduction of the dental specialist system, the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (KAOMS) had begun specialized training in this field. In 1959, the first academic conference was held, and the Korean Academy of Oral Surgery was founded with 36 members. The first president was Professor Choon Gun Rhee from Seoul National University School of Dentistry.

In 1984, the society was renamed the Korean Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. Two years later, in 1986, a sisterhood was established with the Japanese Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. In 1994, the organization was renamed to its current official title, the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (KAOMS). In 2024, the association was officially recognized as a legal entity².

Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons was first published in 1975 in Korean. However, to collaborate with oral and maxillofacial surgeons worldwide, it transitioned to English in 2012, solidifying its status as the official journal of the KAOMS. Today, all or part of the journal is indexed and covered in PubMed, PubMed Central, Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI), Scopus, KoreaMed, KoreaMed Synapse, KoMCI, Korean Citation Index (KCI), DOI/Crossref, and Google Scholar.

Dentistry has developed based on a strong foundation in surgical techniques, as indicated by the academic title “Degree of Dental Surgeon.” Over time, it has evolved into a multidisciplinary field, integrating biomedical sciences, biomaterials, and mechanical engineering. Throughout this evolution, oral and maxillofacial surgeons have played a central role, expanding the scope of oral surgery and extending its reach to the maxillofacial region.

As the KDA celebrates its 100th anniversary, we express our hopes for its continued growth and success. Moreover, through the relentless dedication of oral and maxillofacial surgeons, we anticipate that the KAOMS will further advance, making significant contributions to the development of dentistry in Korea and ultimately becoming a globally recognized association in the field of oral and maxillofacial surgery.

No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.