The American Student Dental Association encourages the participation of interested dental students in efforts to impact the oral health of the public through projects, education, internships, externships and outreach to underserved populations.

The American Student Dental Association supports evidence-based measures that are efficacious and sustainable in reducing barriers to care in underserved communities. These measures include, but are not limited to, early intervention, Medicaid expansion and co-location of health services.

The American Student Dental Association supports the American Dental Association policies on direct reimbursement.

The American Student Dental Association opposes dental care discrimination by dental students or dental schools on the basis of disease or disability status.

The American Student Dental Association supports providing dental services to all patients regardless of reimbursement method.

The American Student Dental Association supports appropriate initiatives and legislation to improve and foster the oral health of persons with special needs. The Association encourages constituent and component dental societies to support state and local initiatives and legislation to improve the oral health of persons with special needs. The American Student Dental Association encourages dental and allied dental programs to educate students about the oral health needs and issues of people with special needs.

The American Student Dental Association believes patient’s interests are best served when dental practices are owned and controlled by dentists licensed in the jurisdictions where those practices are located.

ASDA favors utilizing a dentist-led team approach to ensure that no practice modalities or treatment criteria interfere with the dentist-patient relationship, provider autonomy and treatment within the standard of care.

The American Student Dental Association supports appropriate initiatives and legislation to improve and foster the oral health of all military veterans. The Association also encourages constituent and component dental societies to support legislation promoting access to veterans’ dental care, including eligibility expansion of dental care at the VA. 

The American Student Dental Association, in accordance with ADA policy, strongly discourages the practice of Direct to Consumer Dental Laboratory services because of the potential for irreversible harm to patients.

The American Student Dental Association supports the American Dental Association definition of “Essential Dental Care” as any care that prevents and eliminates infection, preserves the structure and function of teeth as well as the orofacial hard and soft tissues. The association urges federal and state agencies to designate the oral health workforce as essential workers to promote the health of its constituents.

The American Student Dental Association supports the ADA Policy on Vaccine Administration. ASDA encourages dental schools to incorporate vaccine administration into their curricula and to administer vaccinations in clinical settings, when appropriate. 

The American Student Dental Association (ASDA) supports appropriate initiatives and legislation to improve and foster the oral health of elderly patients. The Association encourages dental and allied dental programs to educate students about the oral health needs and issues of elderly patients. The Association believes that a dental benefit in a public program for age 65+ should include the following:

• Covers individuals under 300% of the Federal Poverty Line
• Covers the range of services necessary to achieve and maintain oral health
• Ensures proper reimbursement to dental health providers
  

The American Student Dental Association supports appropriate initiatives and legislation to improve and foster the oral health of vulnerable populations. These populations include, but are not limited to:

• Older adults
• Children
• Racial and ethnic minorities
• Deaf or hard of hearing people
• People experiencing speech/language barriers, spectrum of blindness, physical or intellectual disabilities
• Veterans
• Low income or individuals experiencing homelessness
• Rural populations
• Birthing persons
• Individuals who have experienced or are experiencing abuse or trauma
• Individuals with mental health or substance-related disorders
• Immunocompromised individuals
• Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex, androgynous, asexual (LGBTQQIAA+) individuals
• Undocumented immigrants and refugees

The Association encourages constituent and component dental societies to support state and local initiatives and legislation to improve the oral health of these and other vulnerable populations. The American Student Dental Association encourages dental and allied dental programs to educate students about the oral health needs and issues of these and other vulnerable populations.

ASDA supports the practice of ancestral land acknowledgments at dental schools to recognize the Indigenous peoples, raise awareness about historical injustices, and promote respectful relationships with the indigenous populations to further the reach of oral health care.

ASDA encourages dental schools to incorporate educational initiatives that highlight the history, culture, and contributions of Indigenous peoples within the curriculum, fostering an environment of cultural competency and sensitivity.

ASDA officially supports the ethical use of Artificial Intelligence in dental settings and encourages its members to engage in responsible AI practices.

ASDA shall advocate for the development and implementation of ethical guidelines by the ADA Council on Ethics, Bylaws and Judicial Affairs in collaboration with ASDA for the use of AI in dental education and practice, emphasizing transparency, fairness, and patient privacy.