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About Association for Dental Safety (ADS)

ADS | ADS Foundation | Vision | Mission | Values | Strategic Plan

Founded in 1984, the Association for Dental Safety (ADS), formerly known as the Organization for Safety, Asepsis and Prevention (OSAP), is the only dental membership association for oral health care professionals that focuses exclusively on dental infection prevention and patient and provider safety.

ADS helps operationalize dental infection control and safety laws, regulations, guidelines, standards, and best practices to ensure every dental visit is a safe visit. 

We support our members and the oral health care community by offering evidence-based education, an extensive collection of online resources, and by collaborating with individuals, agencies, and organizations to assure the safe and infection-free delivery of oral healthcare to all.

Our membership community is comprised of individual clinicians, group practices, educators, researchers, consultants, trainers, compliance directors, policymakers, and industry representatives who advocate for the safe and infection-free delivery of oral healthcare.

Learn more about the Association Board of Directors. 

ADS Foundation

ADS also maintains the ADS Foundation, a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt educational foundation (Tax ID 52-1963109).  Founded in 1996, the purpose of the foundation is to augment and expand upon the association's ability to provide information and education by raising funds from the healthcare industry, private sector businesses, foundations, and the government. The foundation is dedicated to education, research, service, and policy development to promote safety and the control of infectious diseases in dental healthcare settings worldwide. 

Learn more about the Foundation Board of Directors. 

Vision

Every dental visit is a safe visit.

Mission

To be the leading provider of infection prevention and control education, training, and credentialing that supports safe dental visits.

Values

Patient & Provider Safety

We believe that all patients deserve access to oral healthcare that is delivered safely and that the people who are involved in delivering such care are protected from occupational injury or illness.

Science-Based Learning

We value lessons learned from the application of scientific principles. We believe the work we do should be grounded in data, research, and rigorous evaluation. When appropriate, we also welcome expert consensus to help inform the development of practical guidance.

Integrity

We are not influenced by nor do we endorse any corporate entity or product. We hold ourselves accountable and act consistently to communicate and uphold the scientific principles of infection prevention and patient and provider safety.

Competent Community

We value a knowledgeable and skilled community of individuals, organizations, and corporate entities who deliver safe and infection-free care and/or products that facilitate such delivery. We believe that achieving a highly competent community of members and non-members requires formal education, continuous learning, mentoring, leadership development, and networking independent of geographic location, as well as policies, programs, and resources that promote and support increased competency.

Collaborative Leadership

We value collaboration with individuals, agencies, and organizations to assure the safe and infection-free delivery of oral healthcare to all. We believe that together we can successfully carry out our unique missions and achieve our shared vision.

Strategic Plan

ADS's strategic plan charts the course for the future direction of the association and foundation. Below are the three major goals for 2024 - 2026:

  • Goal One: Convening and Presence
Increase ADS’s visibility, continue to grow ADS’s credibility as a trusted resource, and nurture partnerships that extend ADS’s reach and increase access to resources.

  • Goal Two: Continuing Education & Credentialing
Expand education and training opportunities in ways that are responsive to member expectations and reflective of contemporary trends.

  • Goal Three: Supporting Culture Change
Explore how ADS might mobilize existing resources to promote culture change that recognizes that IPC is essential to patient, staff, and provider safety, while encouraging and valuing collegial reflection around adverse incidents as a learning opportunity.