ADA Seal Consumer Products
The American Dental Association (ADA) is a membership organization of dentists, not a regulatory agency like the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) or the
Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). The ADA has no legal authority to enforce safety or effectiveness. Enforcement is the job of government agencies. However,
for over 125, years the ADA has sought to ensure the safety and the effectiveness of dental products through the voluntary Seal of Acceptance Program.
Hundreds of companies go beyond the basic legal requirements of safety and wish to gain the favor of the dental profession and the public by
voluntarily committing significant resources to evaluate, to test and to market dental products in the ADA Seal Program. Since the Seal of Acceptance
Program usually takes a few years of independent testing prior to acceptance by the ADA, very new products frequently will not have the Seal initially.
If you have a question about a new product which does not have a Seal of Acceptance, ask your Colorado Springs Dental Society dentist for his or her
recommendations.
Not every dental product qualifies for the ADA Seal. There are certain requirements that must be met (ADA, 1998, Publication W135). For example, a manufacturer who applies for the Seal must
- Supply objective data from clinical and/or laboratory studies that support the product's safety, effectiveness, and promotional claims. They must conduct clinical trials, as needed, in strict compliance with ADA guidelines and procedures.
- Provide evidence that manufacturing and laboratory facilities are properly supervised and adequate to ensure purity and uniformity of the product, and that the product is manufactured in compliance with good manufacturing practices.
- Submit all advertising, promotional claims and patient education materials for review and approval by the ADA, and be in compliance with the ADA's standards for accuracy and truthfulness in advertising.
- Submit ingredient lists and other pertinent product information for review and approval.
The ADA Seal of Acceptance for consumer products can be found on fluoride toothpastes, toothbrushes, mouth rinses, floss, interdental cleaners,
and oral irrigators.
FAQ's
Frequently Asked Questions about Consumer Dental Products and the ADA Seal
Q. I have read the list of ingredients on toothpastes which are ADA accepted and the generic brands. They look the same. Why can't I just
use a generic brand?
A. The ingredients may basically be the same. But, the concentrations may vary from batch to batch in a generic brand. Also the conditions
under which the product was manufactured may not be optimum, as compared to the manufacturing conditions of an accepted brand. Since some store brands
now are becoming accepted, check for the ADA Seal of Acceptance on the package. (For example: Albertson's Fresh Mint Toothpaste and Walgreens Sodium
Fluoride Toothpaste are ADA accepted.)
Q. I like to use "natural" products. Why aren't natural products accepted?
A. Some of the natural products are now being accepted because the manufacturers are voluntarily submitting the required objective data, evidence
of proper manufacturing, and submitting advertising to scrutiny by the ADA. Many natural-product manufacturers are small companies and may not have the
financial resources to undergo the extensive research required by the ADA. This does not mean that the products are not good or a quality product;
however, without proper testing, there is no way of knowing; and ADA acceptance can not be granted.
Q. Do all these "whitening" products do what they claim? And does the ADA approve of these products?
A. Most toothpastes are considered as "cosmetics" and evaluated under more lenient standards for advertising than a product which makes a
therapeutic claim. Whitening toothpastes will lighten teeth a little and are most effective on superficial staining caused by smoking or food/drink
staining. Some whitening toothpastes are ADA accepted.
Q. Is there a list I can access of the ADA accepted products?
A. If you have questions about a specific product and its acceptance into the ADA Seal Program, you may link from this site to the ADA Seal
of Acceptance Program site. Enter the keywords (such as, "toothpaste") to search for the product you are interested in.
Click here to go to the ADA Seal of Acceptance web site.
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