| Category | Definition | Examples |
| ASA I | A normal healthy patient with no evidence of systemic disease | |
| ASA II | A patient with mild systemic disease or a significant health risk factor.The patient is able to walk up a flight of stairs or two level city blocks without difficulty | Well-controlled diabetes, controlled hypertension, history of asthma, mild obesity, pregnancy, smoker, extreme anxiety or fear toward dentistry |
| ASA III | A patient with moderate to severe systemic disease that limits activity but is not in capacitating; the patient can walk up one flight of stairs or two level city blocks, but stops at times because of distress | Stable angina, post myocardial infarction, poorly controlled hypertension, symptomatic respiratory disease, massive obesity |
| ASA IV | A patient with severe systemic disease that is life threatening; the patient is unable to walk up a flight of stairs or two level city blocks; patient is in distress at rest | Unstable angina, liver failure, severe congestive heart failure, or end-stage renal disease |
