Association For Dental Safety

What Association For Dental Safety does

The Association for Dental Safety (ADS), founded in 1984 (originally as the Organization for Safety, Asepsis and Prevention, or OSAP) and headquartered in Atlanta, is a U.S. nonprofit membership organization dedicated exclusively to dental infection prevention and safety for patients and providers. It is professionally managed by Etherio, an association management company. ADS operates as the only single-purpose credentialing and education body in the dental infection prevention niche, offering two certifications (CDIPC and DISIPC) co-developed with the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB), an Annual Conference, a Dental Infection Control Boot Camp, a CE Center learning management system, and an expanding portfolio of toolkits and guidance documents including The Safest Dental Visit, an Emergency Preparedness and Recovery Toolkit, and an Infection Prevention & Control Guide for School Sealant Programs. Its underlying technology stack comprises the myads.org membership platform, the myads.mclms.net learning management system, and the Ask ADS AI-powered multilingual knowledge assistant.

ADS monetizes through a tiered subscription membership model (Student membership free; Basic, Global, and Corporate tiers), recurring certification and renewal fees administered via DANB, one-time workbook and textbook sales (the OSHA & CDC Guidelines: ADS Interact Training System at $120-$190, and the Infection Control and Management of Hazardous Materials textbook at $70-$75), conference and boot camp registration, and annual corporate Super Sponsorships from dental industry companies. The customer base spans oral health professionals (dental assistants, hygienists, dentists, office managers), dental educators and consultants, dental industry representatives, dental inspectors, and dental students — a highly distributed audience concentrated in North America with a global membership tier. Distribution occurs directly through the website, the self-serve CE platform, and the Pheedloop event registration system, with print workbook distribution limited to the U.S. and Canada and certification exams delivered through the DANB channel.

In October 2025, ADS launched the ADS Institute for Dental Safety and Science to fill the guidance gap created by the April 2025 elimination of the CDC Division of Oral Health, positioning the organization as a quasi-public resource for evidence-based dental infection prevention guidance. ADS holds ADA CERP, AGD Accepted Program Provider, California Dental Board, and New York State Education Department continuing education provider recognitions through 2027-2030. The organization supplements its operating revenue with a $125,000 Dental Assistant Scholarship initiative launched in April 2026 in partnership with the Dental Trade Alliance Foundation.

Name

Association For Dental Safety

Legal name

Association for Dental Safety

Website

https://myads.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Association for Dental Safety is a U.S. nonprofit membership organization founded in 1984 that delivers education, certifications, and resources dedicated exclusively to dental infection prevention and safety for oral health professionals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Dental Infection Prevention Education and Certification

akta.pro primary industry

Oral Hygiene Instruction & Patient Education (HLABAHAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

School/Community-Based Preventive Dental Programs (HLABAHAM), Dental Assisting (EDAOAJAJ), Caries Risk Assessment & Preventive Planning (HLABAHAE)

Keywords

• Dental infection prevention
• Continuing dental education
• Dental safety certification
• Infection control training
• Professional dental association

Headquarters

HQ city

Atlanta

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Tiered membership structure including Student (free), Basic, Global, and Corporate membership levels with associated benefits.
2. Educational Materials and Workbooks: Sale of workbooks including OSHA & CDC Guidelines: ADS Interact Training System 8th Edition ($120-$190) and Infection Control and Management of Hazardous Materials for the Dental Team 7th Edition textbook ($70-$75).
3. Professional Certifications: CDIPC (Certified in Dental Infection Prevention and Control) and DISIPC (Dental Industry Specialist in Infection Prevention and Control) certifications administered through partnership with DANB. Annual renewal required.
4. Conference and Event Registration: Registration fees for Annual Conference and Boot Camp educational events.
5. Corporate Sponsorships: Super Sponsorship packages from dental industry companies. 18 Super Sponsors in 2026 including major dental manufacturers and distributors.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

The Association for Dental Safety (ADS) is a nonprofit membership organization that provides dental infection prevention education, professional certifications, and continuing education resources to oral health professionals. Its core offerings include tiered memberships (Student, Basic, Global, Corporate), the CDIPC and DISIPC certifications administered through DANB, the Ask ADS AI-powered expert Q&A assistant, the CE Center learning platform, the Annual Conference and Boot Camp, and published workbooks and textbooks covering OSHA and CDC guidelines for dental safety.

Product overview

The Association for Dental Safety (ADS) offers a platform-based portfolio centered on dental infection prevention education, certification, and resources. The core offerings include two professional certifications (CDIPC and DISIPC) developed with the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB), the Ask ADS AI-powered knowledge assistant, and the ADS Institute for Dental Safety and Science launched in 2025. Educational products include the Dental Infection Control Boot Camp, Annual Conference, CE Center with self-study courses and webinars, and the Dental Infection Prevention and Control Certificate co-developed with DALE Foundation. Physical and digital publications include the OSHA & CDC Guidelines: ADS Interact Training System 8th Edition workbook and the Infection Control and Management of Hazardous Materials for the Dental Team textbook. Additional resources include The Safest Dental Visit™ Toolkit, If Saliva Were Red training video, Emergency Preparedness and Recovery Toolkit, and COVID-19 best practices guides developed with CareQuest Institute.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ADS Institute for Dental Safety and Science: A dedicated institute launched to fill the gap in oral infection guidance after CDC cuts, providing evidence-based resources for dental practitioners and public health officials.

Products and services

• Certified in Dental Infection Prevention and Control (CDIPC) A professional certification for dental assistants, dental hygienists, dentists, dental office managers, dental educators, consultants, and dental inspectors or investigators, administered through the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB). Annual renewal required.
• Dental Industry Specialist in Infection Prevention and Control (DISIPC) A professional certification for dental office managers, sales or customer service representatives, service technicians, and other dental trade professionals who manufacture or distribute products/services to the dental profession, as well as dental inspectors or investigators. Administered through DANB partnership.
• Ask ADS An AI-powered assistant that provides instant, expert answers on dental infection prevention, occupational health, and patient safety topics in the user's preferred language. Members receive unlimited daily questions, response formats including checklists and SOPs, plus file upload and review capabilities.
• Dental Infection Control Boot Camp An intensive, foundational course taught by national and international experts covering CDC Guidelines and OSHA Standards. Available as 2026 On-Demand registration.
• Annual Conference The premier advanced-level event for innovators and leaders in dental infection control, featuring the latest on compliance, guidance, and emerging issues. 2027 conference scheduled for June 2-4, St. Louis, Missouri.
• CE Center Interactive self-study courses and on-demand webinars in the Dental Infection Prevention & Safety CE Center, providing continuing education for dental professionals at myads.mclms.net.
• Dental Infection Prevention and Control Certificate A comprehensive entry point for foundational expertise in dental infection prevention, co-developed by ADS and the DALE Foundation. Includes online courses on Aerosol Management, Sterilization Monitoring, Instrument Processing, CDC Guidelines, and Dental Unit Waterlines.
• OSHA & CDC Guidelines: ADS Interact Training System 8th Edition An engaging workbook with 10 comprehensive courses combining explanations and references with practical fill-in-the-blank activities and interactive group discussions, helping dental health care personnel navigate essential health and safety considerations. Members: $120; Non-Members: $190.
• Infection Control and Management of Hazardous Materials for the Dental Team, 7th Edition A comprehensive textbook emphasizing patient safety and disease prevention in the dental office, covering microbiology concepts to protocols for clinical asepsis with up-to-date regulatory recommendations. Members: $70; Non-Members: $75.
• The Safest Dental Visit Toolkit A members-only resource toolkit supporting commitment to dental infection control and safety, with versions for dental teams, dental trade, consultants & speakers, and educators, covering CDC guidelines, OSHA requirements, and infection control coordinator roles.
• If Saliva Were Red A groundbreaking training video using vivid visuals that demonstrate infection control in action without requiring words, suitable for any classroom anywhere in the world.
• Emergency Preparedness and Recovery Toolkit A collection of emergency preparedness resources and information for dental practices covering various emergency scenarios and response planning.
• Best Practices for Infection Control in Dental Clinics During the COVID-19 Pandemic A best practices resource developed with the CareQuest Institute for Oral Health providing current regulations, guidance, and practice tips for dental clinicians during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Infection Prevention & Control Guide for School Sealant Programs A guide for infection prevention and control in school sealant programs, with additional PowerPoint slides and presenter scripts available for coronavirus disease 2019 considerations.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 10 students annually supported through $125,000 scholarship program
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Dental Trade Alliance FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 April 2026Collaboration on the Gary & Deborah Steinberg Dental Assistant Scholarship - a $125,000 initiative supporting students pursuing dental assistant careers with focus on infection prevention and patient safety. Provides up to 10 students annually with $2,500 awards plus covered certification fees.
• W&HcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 23 January 2025W&H, a dental equipment and sterilization technology company (subsidiary of W&H Group), renewed Super Sponsorship for 2025. Partnership includes infection prevention educational program led by Karen Gregory and Michelle Strange, highlighting W&H Lexa sterilizer product line including Lexa Mini Class B rapid sterilizer.
• Dental Assisting National Board (DANB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint development and administration of CDIPC (Certified in Dental Infection Prevention and Control) and DISIPC (Dental Industry Specialist in Infection Prevention and Control) certifications. DANB handles exam administration and certification management.
• DALE FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-development of Dental Infection Prevention and Control Certificate program and online courses including Aerosol Management, Sterilization Monitoring, Instrument Processing, CDC Guidelines, and Dental Unit Waterlines courses.
• Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors (ASTDD)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to link state dental public health programs to technical assistance, educational materials, policy development resources, and infection prevention information.
• CareQuest Institute for Oral HealthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational grant provider for OSAP/CareQuest Institute Best Practices for Infection Control in Dental Clinics During the COVID-19 Pandemic resource. Formerly known as OSAP (Organization for Safety, Asepsis and Prevention) partnership.
• 18 Super Sponsors (Dental Industry)coreGTM or Marketing Partner2026 Super Sponsors include: Benco Dental, Coltene/SciCan, Darby Dental Supply, Dentsply Sirona, Henry Schein Dental, HuFriedyGroup, Kerr, Medicom, Midmark, Patterson Dental, Parkell, PDI, Planmeca KaVo Group, ProEdge, Solmetex, Unimed Government Services, W&H. Sponsorship includes logo placement and marketing exposure.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Dental Assisting National Board (DANB): The principal U.S. certifier for dental assistants, partnering with ADS on CDIPC and DISIPC exams — a closely aligned credentialing peer for the dental assisting audience.
• Organization for Safety, Asepsis and Prevention (OSAP) — legacy: ADS's prior identity before rebranding — referenced because the same community, content library, and membership base directly compete with any newly emerging dental infection control membership organization.
• DALE Foundation: Dental Assisting Learning and Education Foundation co-develops the Dental Infection Prevention and Control Certificate with ADS and offers overlapping CE for dental assistants and hygienists.

Broad incumbents

• American Dental Association (ADA): The largest U.S. dental membership organization, offering CE, advocacy, and standards that overlap with ADS's infection prevention education — but serving all dentists broadly rather than specializing in infection control.
• American Dental Hygienists' Association (ADHA): National professional association for dental hygienists, providing CE and advocacy on clinical practice topics including infection control — overlapping with ADS's hygienist and assistant audience.
• Academy of General Dentistry (AGD): A leading provider of FAGD/MAGD CE credit for general dentists, directly competing for the same continuing education hours and provider recognition that ADS delivers.

Regional players

• American Dental Education Association (ADEA): The leading U.S. association for dental schools and educators, supplying curriculum frameworks that compete with ADS's educational content for the dental educator audience.

Emerging players

• Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors (ASTDD): A national association of state dental public health directors that partners with ADS on policy and school-based program resources — overlapping on public health dentistry infection control guidance.
• CareQuest Institute for Oral Health: A nonprofit oral health research and education organization that funded the OSAP/CareQuest COVID-19 infection control best practices resource with ADS — a partial-overlap peer in dental safety education.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/MyADSTweets
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/safedentistry
• Facebookfacebook.com/myadsorg
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/myadsorg
• Instagraminstagram.com/myadsorg

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Association For Dental Safety