ADA standards committees seek volunteers for new projects

The American Dental Association Standards Committee on Dental Products and Standards Committee on Dental Informatics are looking for volunteers to help in the development of new projects.

The Standards Committee on Dental Products is seeking volunteers for the following projects related to dental products and materials:

• Proposed revision of ADA Standard No. 34 for Dental Cartridge Syringes: This standard will specify requirements and test methods for dental cartridge syringes that are reusable dental syringes of the aspirating, nonaspirating and self-aspirating types using cartridges with dental local anesthetics.

• Proposed revision of ADA Standard No. 74 for Dental Operator's Stool: This standard will set forth requirements, recommendations and test methods for the operator's stool in the dental office, as well as requirements for the manufacturer's instructions for use and for marking and packaging. It also covers recommendations to manufacturers on the design of operator's stools.

• Proposed revision of ADA Standard No. 87 for Dental Impression Trays: This standard currently applies to reusable and disposable impression trays used in dentistry for delivering impression materials into the oral cavity for the purpose of making impressions of teeth and oral tissues. It applies to trays made of plastic, aluminum, stainless steel, and nickel- or chrome-plated brass for the purposes of full-arch dentulous or edentulous, partially edentulous, partial arch and water-cooled impressions. The revision is to add in additively manufactured trays.

• Proposed revision of ADA Standard No. 113 for Periodontal Curettes, Dental Scalers and Excavators: This standard will specify the general material, performance and dimensional requirements for periodontal curettes and dental scalers. Excavators will be addressed in a separate standard.

• Proposed revision of ADA Standard No. 132 for Scanning Accuracy of Dental Chairside and Laboratory CAD/CAM Systems: This standard currently describes test methods used to evaluate the repeatability, reproducibility and accuracy of dental devices for 3D metrology. The standard is applicable to dental chairside and dental laboratory computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing systems. The revision is to clarify the true value of the scanning accuracy test specimen and changing formulas.

• Proposed ADA Standard No. 193 for Eye Safety Bottom Gap Protection: This standard will provide a standard for eye safety that specifically addresses issues associated with "bottom gap" protection in dentistry. This project will include a review of an upcoming International Safety Equipment Association standard, Z87.62 Eye and Face Protection Against Biological Hazards, for applicability to the dental profession.

• Proposed ADA Technical Report No. 189 for a Guide to Photobiomodulation in Oral Healthcare: Technology, Science, and Safety Considerations in the Use of Low Level Laser and Light-Therapy: Photobiomodulation, which employs low-level laser and light-emitting diode energy to stimulate or inhibit a biologic response, has been used in dentistry to reduce inflammation, control pain and enhance healing after dental procedures. This report aims to be a guide to photobiomodulation for dental practitioners, discussing the science, technology and safety considerations of which dental clinicians need to be aware when incorporating photobiomodulation into patient care.

The Standards Committee on Dental Informatics is seeking volunteers who wish to contribute to the development of the following new projects:

• Proposed ADA Technical Report No. 1103 for Informatic Considerations in Assessment of Perceptions of Patients of their Experience: This technical report will discuss how information technology can provide a method to understand patients' perceptions of their oral health care experience. The report will describe essential characteristics of electronic tools to acquire or analyze information from patients about their experiences.

• Proposed ADA Technical Report No. 1104 for Guidance on Regulatory Compliance to Assure Electronic Health Information Interoperability and Prevention of Information Blocking: This technical report will summarize the requirements for and impact on dental practitioners identified in the new Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services final rules. It includes rules for interoperable access, exchange and use of electronic health information, as well as guidance on allowable exceptions for information blocking, i.e., those that support seamless and secure access, exchange and use of electronic health information.

• Proposed ADA Standard No. 1105 for Digital Periodontitis Risk Assessment Resources: Periodontitis risk assessment is an important consideration in the evidence-based management of periodontitis care for adults and is essential to the development of clinical guidelines and advancement of dental quality initiatives. This standard will specify formats for clinical input, scoring methodology to facilitate the interchange of data among stakeholders.

The following new ADA standards will be identical adoptions of the corresponding international standards published by the International Organization for Standardization. Members can review these proposed new standards by contacting the ADA:

• Proposed Revision of ADA Standard No. 27 for Polymer-Based Restorative Materials: adoption of ISO 4049:2019 Dentistry — Polymer-based restorative materials.

• Proposed ADA Standard No. 195 for Dental Tweezers: adoption of ISO 15098:2020, Dentistry – Dental tweezers.

• Proposed ADA Standard No. 196 for Materials for Dental Instruments — Stainless Steel: adoption of ISO 21850-1:2020, Dentistry — Materials for dental instruments — Part 1: Stainless steel.

• Proposed ADA Standard No. 197 for Spoons and Bone Curettes in Dentistry: adoption of ISO 22570:2020, Dentistry — Spoons and bone curettes.

The ADA is accredited by the American National Standards Institute to develop American National Standards and technical reports for products and information technology used by dental professionals and consumers.

Currently, there are more than 100 national standards, and more are under development.

National standards developed by the ADA serve the dental profession by ensuring product safety and efficacy for both clinician and patient and providing information on new and emerging technologies.  

For more information on participating in the ADA standards committee working groups that are developing these documents, email standards@ada.org.