The American Dental Association has been highly influential in the world of dental hygiene and to the public at large since 1859. Specifically, it is an association of professional dentists dedicated to the health and well-being of America’s mouths. The ADA is primarily involved in product testing and laboratory research, making their seal of approval a much sought-after hallmark in the dental and orthodontic worlds. This stamp, known as the ADA Seal of Acceptance, indicates that the manufacturers of the product – be this a toothbrush, dental floss, mouthwash, etc. – volunteered to subject the item to the ADA’s screening process, which it passed, thus earning the Seal. More than 300 companies nationwide are active participants in the Seal program, bringing the total number of products carrying the Seal to well over 1,000. Dental health professionals use about 60 percent of these ADA-approved products; the rest are designated for consumer or public use, such as toothbrushes or mouthwashes.
In terms of dental insurance, the ADA offers its members five different plans or programs for business, family, or personal needs. But other than its internal plans, the ADA neither endorses nor criticizes dental insurance plans. Because the ADA specializes in product assessment and technical innovation for oral health and safety, you won’t find an ADA Seal of Acceptance on any dental plan sign-up forms. Instead, things to look for in a dental plan or in dental insurance are the support of dental practices that use ADA-approved equipment and supplies, and perhaps that of a dentist who is a member of the ADA.
You may be able to do this online by shopping around for dental insurance or plans; websites like DentalInsurance.com provide a variety of quotes and attributes from different dental insurance companies so you can pick between them for the best plan to fit your needs. DentalPlans.com operates along similar lines, promoting its own dental plan along with others available in your area that you can enroll with online. The America Dental Care web site (tricityinc.com) also provides online enrollment for its dental plan, which is available for both single-person and household coverage.
The websites for dental plans do not typically inform the viewer as to whether or not the dentists participating in given plans strictly adhere to ADA standards in equipment; so if this is important to you, you will have to make the appropriate inquiries yourself. However, the websites make this fairly simple to do. The sites described here, and others like them, allow you to view a list of local care providers that subscribe to a particular plan. An address and phone number is provided for each practitioner, allowing you to inquire ahead of time as to his or her level of ADA involvement if you so choose. In the meantime, and in between check-ups, you can purchase your own ADA-approved oral care products for your personal, everyday use. These are readily available at your local supermarket or drugstore, and clearly marked with the American Dental Association Seal of Acceptance.
By Rachel Campbell