Although the phrase quality assurance has only recently been used in the health care field, it is clear that the concept is far from new. As has been described, early efforts by the American Dental Association in licensure and accreditation of professional educational programs were directed toward providing the consumer of health care services confidence in the quality of care being rendered. Such programs serve as a strong foundation upon which current work can build ongoing and future efforts. This current effort is a logical step along the path that was defined many years ago by the dental profession. Although current projects in dental quality assurance are exciting and new, the commitment to assuring the American public of the highest possible quality of dental care is not new. The goal of the American Dental Association remains unchanged: patients entering the dental health care system must be able to do so with confidence that they will receive quality care.