ADA Seal of Acceptance helps consumers make informed decisions about dental products

For more than 125 years, the American Dental Association (ADA) has been evaluating dental products for safety and effectiveness. The ADA Seal of Acceptance, which is a registered certification mark, is awarded after a product is tested and meets ADA guidelines and standards. The Pennsylvania Dental Association encourages you to shop wisely and purchase dental care products with the ADA Seal.

Dr. Joseph Ross, a general dentist from New Castle, says the ADA Seal of Acceptance is designed to help consumers make informed decisions about safe and effective consumer products.

"Consumers recognize the ADA Seal of Acceptance as the gold standard when it comes to evaluating the safety and efficacy of dental products. Consumers look for the Seal when buying toothpaste, toothbrushes, mouthwash, and even chewing gum. Families trust the ADA to research and test the scientific claims of consumer dental products," Dr. Ross said.

There are more than 300 dental products with the ADA Seal of Acceptance that are sold to consumers. Products that display the Seal include floss/interdental cleaners, mouth rinse, toothpaste, manual and electric toothbrushes, tooth whitening bleaches, denture products and sugar-free chewing gum that reduces cavities.

While the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates oral care products and clears the products to be marketed directly to consumers, the ADA Council on Scientific Affairs objectively examines the safety and effectiveness. The council is an independent body of scientific experts, consisting of more than 125 consultants. Dental materials experts, microbiologists, pharmacologists, toxicologists and chemists review and decide if a product is worthy of the ADA Seal. Products are evaluated on their safety, efficacy, composition, labeling, package inserts, advertising and other promotional materials.

Although the ADA program is strictly voluntary, manufactures submit their products for evaluation because they know that seven out of 10 consumers recognize the ADA Seal, according to the ADA. The Seal assures them that the product has been tested, the manufacture's claims are true and the product produces the intended result.

Not every oral care product qualifies for the Seal of Acceptance.

"Although a product may be safe and effective, the consumer may not know and cannot be sure. With more than 300 dental products sold to consumers carrying the ADA Seal of Acceptance, why not choose one and be sure," Dr Ross said.

According to ADA's website, companies must provide the following when applying for the seal:

• ingredient lists and other pertinent product information
• objective data from clinical and/or laboratory studies
• evidence that manufacturing and labeling facilities are properly supervised and adequate to assure purity and uniformity of the product
• product packaging and labeling to review for accuracy and truthfulness in advertising

The ADA Seal of Acceptance is awarded after a product is tested and demonstrates its safety and effectiveness. The manufacturer is required to display a Seal Statement on the product label and in advertising. The statement explains to the consumer why the product was accepted by the ADA.