Frequently asked questions.

SafeSource provides independent verification of where dental supplies are purchased. It is not an audit, an enforcement program, or an evaluation of clinical care, pricing, or treatment decisions.

Verification reflects whether a practice demonstrates a consistent pattern of purchasing from authorized distributors — not whether every individual transaction meets that standard.

Practices connect a business purchasing account through a secure, read-only connection using Plaid — the same technology trusted by major banks and financial platforms.

SafeSource reviews where supplies are purchased and compares that information against recognized authorized distributor standards. Once purchasing aligns with verification requirements, the practice receives the SafeSource Verified Seal.

No uploads. No forwarding. No paperwork.

SafeSource focuses on where supplies are purchased, not individual products, pricing, or treatments.

Purchasing activity from connected business accounts is reviewed and documented. Verification status reflects whether a practice demonstrates a consistent pattern of purchasing from authorized distributors.

SafeSource sees merchant name, date, and amount. It does not see item line-items, receipts, or what was purchased.

That's completely fine. Verification is based on the practice's purchasing accounts, not individual users.

Verification is ongoing. Purchasing activity is reviewed on a recurring basis so verification reflects current practices — not a one-time snapshot.

There are no renewal forms or reapplications.

If a transaction comes from an open marketplace or an unrecognized merchant, SafeSource will send a short classification request. This happens automatically and reflects a data limitation — SafeSource reviews merchant name, date, and amount and cannot determine from that alone whether a purchase was clinical or non-clinical.

The classification takes about 30 seconds and requires no documents. You'll be asked one question: was this a dental supply purchase or a non-dental office purchase?

Most flags are resolved in a single click with no change to verification status. Individual flags are not investigated — they are recorded as data points. Verification status is based on purchasing patterns over time, not individual transactions.

A single flag of any kind does not affect your verification status.

Verification status may be paused if a practice's purchasing pattern no longer aligns with authorized distributor criteria over time, or if repeated flags remain unresolved.

A single transaction or classification never triggers a status change. For most flag types, escalation is pattern-based. Purchases from certain merchants are treated as hard disqualifiers and may trigger a review after a single transaction.

Any review or pause is handled privately and collaboratively with the practice.

This ongoing review is what keeps the seal meaningful.

SafeSource verification is designed to be stable, deliberate, and transparent.

Most flag activity is resolved automatically — the large majority of classification requests close with no outreach and no change to verification status.

If a pattern of flags warrants closer review, SafeSource will contact your practice directly before any public status change occurs. You'll be told what was identified and given the opportunity to provide context or documentation.

Verification status reflects completed reviews and is not updated in real time. Changes, if required, follow a defined review and notification process.

No action is required unless you are contacted by SafeSource.

Then SafeSource simply verifies and documents what you're already doing.

You gain independent confirmation and a visible signal that helps patients better understand and feel confident about your purchasing practices — without changing your workflow.

No. Participation is voluntary.

Regulators focus primarily on licensing and clinical standards. SafeSource addresses transparency around where dental supplies are purchased — an area that has historically been difficult to monitor.

Dental supply purchasing has become more complex, especially with the growth of online marketplaces and secondary sellers.

Verification helps practices:
• make purchasing sources more visible
• document responsible purchasing
• demonstrate transparency to patients who increasingly expect it

Verified practices receive:

• Inclusion in the SafeSource public directory, making it easy for patients to find and recognize verified practices
• A digital verification badge for websites and email
• A SafeSource countertop display

Each element reflects participation in ongoing verification.

SafeSource charges an annual membership fee, billed at enrollment and renewed each year. Pricing is provided during the application process.

Verification status is determined by sourcing review, not by payment. Fees cover monitoring and administration. They do not influence outcomes.

No.

Information is used solely for verification purposes and is not sold, shared, or disclosed outside the program.

SafeSource is designed to minimize data access and exposure.

Key protections include:
• secure, read-only account connections
• no access to banking credentials or patient information
• role-based access controls
• encryption in transit and at rest using industry-standard methods

Only the information necessary for verification is reviewed.

SafeSource uses Plaid in a limited, read-only way and is intentionally configured to minimize data access.

In normal operation, SafeSource reviews merchant names only from recognized authorized distributors.

Additional merchant names are surfaced only if a purchase does not clearly match an authorized distributor and requires clarification.

SafeSource does not access:
• account numbers
• balances
• login credentials
• patient information
• the ability to move or modify funds

Connections can be revoked at any time.

SafeSource retains only the minimum data required to support verification.

Practices may request secure data deletion upon leaving the program. Requests are processed promptly and confirmed once complete.

Trust is essential — but verification helps make that trust visible to patients.

In a purchasing environment that has grown more complex, SafeSource offers clear documentation that helps patients feel confident about choices they often assume but can't easily see.

SafeSource helps turn quiet diligence into visible reassurance for patients.

You can simply explain:
"We participate in an independent verification program that helps patients understand where our dental supplies are purchased."

The SafeSource seal is designed to communicate that clearly, so patients don't need a long explanation.

SafeSource is not about restricting practices or questioning professional judgment.

It exists to make responsible purchasing visible, verifiable, and clear — for patients and for the profession.