Delta Sigma Delta (ΔΣΔ) is an international professional dental fraternity. Founded in 1882, it is the oldest and largest of the professional dental fraternities.

History

Delta Sigma Delta's inception came when Lou Mitchell and Chas Howard, both dental students at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry in Ann Arbor, were invited to join the medical fraternity Nu Sigma Nu. They declined, instead opting to form the school's first professional dental fraternity. On 1882-11-15, these two and five others from the dental school met at "Mrs. Slattery's boarding house", located at #10 North State St., Ann Arbor, Michigan, and there established what they soon realized was to be the first dental fraternity in the world. Its founders were: • Ezra Lincoln Kern • Louis Manning "Jamie" James • Louis James "Lou" Mitchell • Charles William "Chilly" Howard • Lyndall Llewellyn "Lyn" Davis • Clarence James "Tex" Hand • Francis Eugene Cassidy Dr. L. L. Davis established the Beta chapter at the Chicago College of Dental Surgery after he established his dental practice in Chicago. Within a month of each other, Epsilon chapter was chartered at the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, followed by Gamma chapter at Harvard University. After graduation, the fraternity's founders took positions in multiple cities. This led to the formation of a Supreme (or Alumni) chapter, which was founded in Detroit, Michigan in 1895.

Symbols

The Greek letters ΔΣΔ represent the letters D.D.S. of the dental degree, although with a transposed sequence. Its colors are blue and garnet. Its motto is "Knowledge, Strength, Justice".

Governance

The Supreme Chapter is designated as the administrative or governing body of the fraternity. A Council of Graduate Chapters oversees the graduate chapters. The European Continental Chapter oversees the European graduate chapters and the Australia/New Zealand Chapter oversees the graduate chapters there.

Chapters

As of 2021, there were 44 active chapters. Undergraduate or collegiate chapters are located at dental schools, while graduate chapters are located in population centers throughout the United States and in Canada, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand.

Undergraduate chapters

Following is a list of the collegiate chapters of Delta Sigma Delta: Active chapters are indicated in bold; inactive chapters are in italics.

Graduate chapters

Following is a list of the international graduate chapters.