Judge Rules in Favor of ADA in Tooth-Whitening Complaint

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASENovember 2000

CONTACT:Fred Peterson[email protected], 312-440-2806

Judge Rules in Favor of American Dental Association in Tooth-Whitening Complaint

CHICAGO -- An Iowa District Court judge ruled in favor of the American Dental Association's (ADA) motion for a summary judgment, dismissing a lawsuit against the ADA in which an Iowa woman alleged that the ADA's Seal of Acceptance misrepresented a tooth-whitening product. The lawsuit, Patricia J. Hart, v Colgate-Palmolive Company, Colgate Oral Pharmaceuticals, Inc., American Dental Association, was filed in February 1999 and later amended in May 2000. The summary judgment, in favor of the ADA, was granted on November 1, 2000.

"We are very pleased with the judge's ruling on our motion for a summary judgment," said Peter M. Sfikas, ADA general counsel. "It reinforces our belief all along that there was no basis for including the Association in the original complaint."

The product in question, Colgate Platinum Professional Toothwhitening System, carries the ADA Seal of Acceptance, meaning the product meets ADA guidelines for safety and effectiveness.

Oral care products that may carry the ADA Seal include toothpaste, manual and electric toothbrushes, floss and other interdental cleaning aids, mouth rinses and oral irrigators.

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