Our History

100 years of the BDIA helping the dental industry succeed

Since its inception, the BDIA has played a significant and vital role in the UK dental industry; as the ‘third arm’ of the dentist and technician, our members have always provided high quality products and services.

Caesar de Trey, owner of the Claudius Ash group, which later became The Amalgamated Dental Co., the most powerful dental company in Europe, called a meeting of the leaders of some of the major dental companies.

Present were Joseph Ash; son of the jeweller Claudius Ash, C. W Shortt; S.S. White Co. (SSW), H Edwards of DMCo, Jimmy Caldwell of Glasgow Dental, John Thorn of Western Dental, E A Drury of Drury & Co,and Jack Cottrell (father of Hutchison). There, the British Dental Trade Association, now known as the British Dental Industry Association, came into being and has remained a significant contributor to the UK dental industry ever since.