Cite this article as:
J Can Dent Assoc 2014;80:e20
Look for the Seal
T
he clinical activities of the
dental profession fall into 2
categories: prevention and intervention. Dentists and members of
our oral health care teams have long
stressed the benefits of oral disease
prevention through proper oral
hygiene. We have promoted the idea
that good oral hygiene reduces the
need for interventions to maintain
good oral health in the face of disease.
All dental practitioners spend a
considerable amount of their practice
time communicating with patients
about preventive measures. These
discussions invariably lead to questions about products and methods
to ensure good oral hygiene: “Which
toothpaste should I use?”, “Will whitening toothpaste really whiten my
“
From
the President
Dr. Peter Doig
of their therapeutic claims is a tough
task.
Throughout my career, my response
to patients with questions about oral
health care products has always been,
“Look for the Seal.” I have been confident advising my patients that if the
product carried the CDA Seal,
they could be assured that
the product would live
up to its claim. I simply
wouldn’t have the confidence to say the same
about products without
the Seal. Understanding
what the Seal represents for
consumers reassures not only my
patients, but also me as a dentist, that
it’s possible to make informed choices
about oral hygiene products.
This realization prompted CDA to revise the Seal Program to
ensure it is useful, relevant and retains its value and visibility.
teeth?” or “Does mouthwash actually
do what the manufacturers claim?”
Patients are often confused and
concerned about which products to
use as the advertising industry can
be full of suspicious claims. How are
consumers supposed to know which
claims to believe? Patients turn to
their dentists for advice, looking for
credible, science-based guidance. But
for dentists, staying up to date on the
vast number of oral health products
in the marketplace and the validity
jcda
ca | 2014 | Vol. 80, No. 1 |
”
The CDA Seal Program started
close to 40 years ago as the Consumer
Product Recognition program.
Originally, the program recognised
only dentifrices but it has since
expanded to include 14 different
product categories and almost 100
products. Its purpose—to provide
independent validation of the health
benefit claims for oral care products—
establishes the Seal as a valuable public
education tool and a reliable resource
for oral health care providers.
Recently there has been a decline
in the perceived value of the Seal
within the dental marketplace. For
manufacturers, the program requirements were cumbersome and the fee
structure did not fit with modern
product development and promotion practices. This realization
prompted CDA to revise the
Seal Program to ensure
it is useful, relevant and
retains its value and visibility. For example, the
administrative burden
associated with applying
for the Seal has been reduced
by better aligning the requirements
with those of Health Canada. CDA has
also modified the Seal logo and its
accompanying statement now reads,
“Oral health benefits validated by CDA.”
CDA will be vigorously promoting the revised Seal Program to the
dental industry, emphasizing the
value of independent validation. It’s
also important for dentists to recognize the benefits of the Seal for their
patients and themselves. For decades,
consumers have looked to the Seal to
make product choices they can trust,
backed by the credibility of a trusted
symbol. I hope that Canadian dentists will continue to direct patients to
“Look for the Seal” for years to come.
Peter Doig, DMD
[email protected]
• 13 •
ESSENTIAL DENTAL KNOWLEDGE
Published by
The Canadian Dental Association
jcdaf
ca
DES CONNAISSANCES
DENTAIRES INDISPENSABLES
Publié par
l’Association dentarie canadienne
2014_issue_1_January english.indd 13
2/4/2014 8:56:14 AM