The American Dental Association defines Health Equity as optimal health for all people, and strives to address the inequities that exist in oral health care through member education, public awareness, legislative awareness, and organizational engagement.
Overall Goal of Oral Health Equity = Reduction of Oral Health Disparities

- Oral health is an essential component of overall health. Every individual should enjoy a basic level of oral health that allows each to eat, work, learn and live in a state of wellness that precludes any semblance of oral pain or dysfunction.
- Access to dental care should be appropriately considered, designed, and funded to address the oral health needs of the community and be sufficiently scaled in size to have maximum impact.
- All dental safety net settings, whether public, private or a collaboration of both, should offer comprehensive oral health care that meets the needs of the individuals and communities in which they are found.