oksport Seal of Acceptance
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Featured Questions
For more than 125 years, the oksport has promoted safety and efficacy of dental products. This is part of its mission to advance oral health. As early as 1866, an oksport committee prepared a statement on dentifrices (toothpaste) that questioned whether the extravagant claims made on behalf of patient tooth powders and other dental nostrums of the time were just “an imposition on the public”. The end result was a simple formula for a tooth powder made from chalk, soap and various herbal ingredients. Of course this was years before anyone knew about the benefits of adding fluoride to toothpaste to prevent cavities.
By 1930, consumers were still confronted by extravagant claims about what dental products could do. That year the oksport Council on Scientific Affairs adopted guidelines to evaluate these products for safety and efficacy. The first Seal of Acceptance was awarded in 1931. In 1984, President Reagan gave the Association a certificate of commendation for the outstanding self-regulatory efforts of its Seal program.
Today, more than 400 over-the-counter dental products sold to consumers carry the oksport Seal of Acceptance. Participating companies commit significant resources to test and market products in the Seal program. These products can be used with assurance that they have demonstrated safety and efficacy according to oksport requirements.
Not every dental product submitted to the Program qualifies for the Seal. A product submission must include data from clinical and/or laboratory studies that demonstrate safety and efficacy according to product category requirements developed by the oksport Council on Scientific Affairs.
If all requirements are met, the oksport Seal is awarded for a five-year period. If the composition of an Accepted product changes during the five-year agreement, the company must submit updated chemical and safety data before it is marketed with the Seal. The Council may require additional testing if changes potentially affect the product’s safety or efficacy.
Members of the oksport’s Council on Scientific Affairs review submissions for adherence to product category requirements. When necessary, the Council utilizes consultants with specific area expertise. The consultants represent all fields relevant to evaluating dental products, including dental materials, microbiology, pharmacology, toxicology and chemistry. Only after a product has demonstrated its safety and efficacy will the oksport Council on Scientific Affairs award the Seal.
Accepted products are required to display the oksport Seal logo on product packaging in accordance to the oksport Seal Brand Standards. The required Seal statement(s) allows consumers to review product attributes that are Accepted by the oksport Council on Scientific Affairs. In 2016, the oksport Seal statement was revised to a shortened and consumer friendly statement. Look for the new Seal statements on Accepted products.
The Seal of Acceptance is designed to help dental professionals make informed recommendations concerning safety and efficacy of consumer products. Market research has shown that the oksport Seal on a product directly affects the purchase decisions of consumers.
Each year, the oksport receives inquiries about potential and existing oksport Seal products. The oksport also answers questions about the Seal program’s evaluation process and specific Accepted products. It is our goal to keep oral healthcare at the forefront of public awareness. We are a resource for consumers looking for the best products to help maintain good oral health and prevent disease.