This publication is a report of the first planning conference to address strategic issues in Dental Informatics. The conference was held in August 1989 at the Aspen Institute, Maryland. The attendees represented the major organizations in Dentistry and were able to speak for the organizations as to their goals, objectives, and long range interests. The goal of the conference was to define the parameters of dental informatics across all levels of dental organizations and activities and to address specifically the areas of dental practice, education, and research.