Who is SADA?

The main business of the Association is to promote the interests and serve the needs of its Members in order to promote optimal oral health care for all South Africans.

The Association subscribes to the World Health Organization definition of Health as a state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.

The Association believes that Health is a basic Human Right which should be available to all people irrespective of gender, race, colour, political belief, religion or socio-economic status.

The Association supports all efforts to promote optimal health, including oral health.

The fundamental principles of the Association are

  • to attain the highest possible level of oral health for all people in South Africa, through the principles and philosophy of the primary health care approach;
  • to promote and encourage the practice of comprehensive oral health care, emphasizing projects and programmes that would give priority to prevention, education and primary oral health care;
  • to encourage and develop community and worker involvement in all matters of health and oral health;
  • to promote the health and allied sciences, at all levels of society;
  • to promote the ethical codes governing the profession, thereby protecting its honour and interests;
  • to promote high standards of research, education and training in the health and oral health sciences relevant to the needs of the people;
  • to endeavour to ensure equity and demographic equality in the selection of students for training as oral health personnel by South African institutions; and;
  • to consider affiliation and/or co-operation with any scientific, professional or other groups which contribute to the advancement of health and oral health, nationally and internationally.