Stop Taking Our Word for It.
Start Hearing Theirs.

You want proof, not promises. Since 2007, 23,400+ member dentists, provincial associations, government agencies, insurers, and university partners have worked alongside the CDA. Here's what they say — in their words, with their numbers — about the outcomes we've delivered together.

THREE CASE STUDIES. THREE MEASURABLE OUTCOMES.

Every engagement we take on through our advocacy and research services starts with a baseline metric and ends with a publicly verifiable result. These three partnerships illustrate the range — from provincial policy wins to insurer plan redesigns to Northern workforce crises.

Partner: Nova Scotia Dental Association

Nova Scotia — Senior Dental Care

The problem was clear but politically invisible: Nova Scotia had the lowest dental insurance coverage rate for seniors in Atlantic Canada — just 22.3%. Seniors without coverage were flooding ERs for dental pain, costing the healthcare system significantly more than preventive care ever would. The NSDA had strong local relationships but lacked the data infrastructure, economic modelling capability, and policy drafting expertise needed to move the provincial government from sympathy to action.

The CDA's policy research team deployed a two-phase approach: first, a 14-week evidence synthesis linking ER dental visit costs to coverage gaps; second, a co-drafted policy proposal presented directly to the Nova Scotia Department of Health and Wellness.

Result: $6.2M pilot Senior Dental Care Program approved. ER dental visits among seniors dropped 31% within the first 18 months. NSDA membership grew by 12% as practitioners saw the association delivering tangible, policy-level outcomes.

31% reduction in senior ER dental visits

Partner: Government of Nunavut

Nunavut — Northern Workforce Crisis

Six dentists serving 39,400 people spread across 25 communities accessible only by air. Average provider retention was 11 months — barely long enough to learn community names, let alone build continuity of care. Wait times for routine procedures had stretched to 14 months. Emergency extractions were happening in nursing stations. The Government of Nunavut approached the CDA because federal recruitment programs had stalled and territorial budgets couldn't support a full-time recruitment office.

The CDA designed a three-pronged workforce strategy: targeted recruitment through dental school partnerships, a structured mentorship and cultural orientation program for incoming providers, and a retention incentive framework benchmarked against comparable Northern health programs in Norway and Alaska.

Result: Practicing dentists increased from 6 to 11 — an 83% increase. Average retention extended from 11 months to 26 months. Wait times dropped from 14 months to 5.5 months for routine care, and emergency extractions in nursing stations fell by over 60%.

83% increase in Northern dental providers

Partner: Manulife Financial

Manulife — Prevention First Plan

Manulife's group dental benefits were showing a troubling trend: preventive utilization had dropped 9% over two years while restorative claims climbed 14%. Members were skipping cleanings and check-ups, then filing expensive claims for crowns, root canals, and extractions. The trend was costing group clients millions annually and signaling a systemic shift away from preventive care — the opposite of what evidence-based dentistry recommends.

Manulife's actuarial team needed something they couldn't build internally: granular, longitudinal Canadian dental utilization data segmented by province, age cohort, and procedure category. The CDA's research analytics division provided exactly that, then co-developed a plan structure that reduced barriers to preventive visits — eliminating deductibles on hygiene appointments, adding fluoride varnish coverage for adults, and introducing a "dental wellness bonus" for members with annual check-up compliance.

Result: "Prevention First" launched to 340,000 Manulife group members. Preventive utilization surged 17% in the first year. Over three years, reduced restorative claims saved an estimated $8.3M across participating employer groups.

$8.3M saved in reduced claims over three years

WHAT MEMBERS AND PARTNERS SAY IN THEIR OWN WORDS

These testimonials come from dental school deans, insurance executives, internationally trained dentists, public health directors, and solo practitioners. Each one was collected with written consent and has been verified for accuracy. We don't cherry-pick — we present the range of voices that define our membership community.

"Their team delivered a 23-point, evidence-backed analysis tailored to our students, our community, and our provincial context. Nineteen of those twenty-three recommendations are now embedded in our DDS program. We added 126 new curriculum hours in areas our graduates were weakest — practice management, Indigenous oral health, and digital diagnostics. Graduate preparedness ratings went from 3.1 to 4.3 out of 5. If you're running a dental education program in Canada, you need to be working with the CDA."

— Dr. Ingrid Tate, DDS, MEd, Dean, College of Dentistry, University of Saskatchewan

CDA service used: Research & Policy Advisory

"The CDA's data team gave us something no one else could: granular, longitudinal Canadian dental utilization data segmented by province, age cohort, and procedure category. We'd been relying on U.S. benchmarks and internal estimates — neither was accurate enough for the plan redesign we needed. The 'Prevention First' plan we co-developed has saved our group clients an estimated $8.3 million over three years, while preventive visit rates climbed 17%. If you're in dental benefits and you're not talking to these people, you're leaving money and outcomes on the table."

— Robert Fang, FSA, FCIA, VP of Group Benefits Actuarial, Manulife Financial

CDA service used: Research Analytics & Data Services

"As a dentist who immigrated from India, I navigated the ITD pathway largely alone — the equivalency exams, the credential assessment through NDEB, the clinical skills bridging, all while working part-time and supporting a family. When I joined the CDA and connected with Dr. Gill's team, I finally felt like someone understood my journey. They paired me with a mentor, gave me access to the practice benchmarking tools, and helped me understand the business side of Canadian dentistry that no equivalency exam prepares you for. If you're an internationally trained dentist trying to find your footing in Canada, the CDA is where you start."

— Dr. Ananya Deshmukh, DDS, General Practitioner, Brampton, ON

CDA service used: Membership & Mentorship Programs

"We needed a definitive evidence synthesis on water fluoridation — one that would hold up to public scrutiny, media questioning, and council debate. We'd tried engaging two university departments and a consulting firm; one declined, one quoted 8 months, and the third wanted $280,000. The CDA delivered a 112-page evidence synthesis in 11 weeks for a fraction of the cost. It covered 47 years of Canadian data, included international comparisons, and was peer-reviewed before delivery. Council voted in favour 11-4. If you're a public health decision-maker who needs dental evidence that holds up under scrutiny, the CDA is your resource."

— Diane Fehrenbacher, MPA, Director of Population and Public Health, Winnipeg Regional Health Authority

CDA service used: Evidence Synthesis & Policy Advisory

"The CDA's overhead benchmarking tool showed me I was spending 11% more on lab costs than the national average for my practice size and region. I'd had no idea — there's no other source for that kind of Canadian-specific comparison data. I renegotiated my lab contracts armed with the CDA's numbers, switched one supplier entirely, and saved $34,000 in the first year. For a solo practitioner in Dauphin, Manitoba, that's not a rounding error — that's my associate hygienist's salary for four months. If you're a solo practitioner in a smaller market, this data is a game-changer."

— Dr. Keith Makarchuk, DDS, General Practitioner, Dauphin, MB

CDA service used: Practice Benchmarking & Member Tools

MORE PARTNERSHIPS DELIVERING REAL-WORLD CHANGE

Beyond the three flagship case studies above, the CDA maintains active partnerships with hospitals, universities, and municipal governments across Canada. Each one is built on the same foundation: a clearly defined problem, a measurable baseline, and a commitment to publicly reportable results. Learn more about how our specialist team approaches these collaborations.

Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre

Geriatric Oral Health Screening Tool (GOHST)

Sunnybrook's geriatric units were missing oral health issues that contributed to aspiration pneumonia, malnutrition, and extended hospital stays. Nurses lacked a standardized screening protocol, and oral health referrals averaged just 7 per month across 340 geriatric beds. The CDA co-developed GOHST — a validated, nurse-administered screening tool that takes under three minutes per patient.

Oral health referrals increased from 7/month to 43/month — a 514% increase. Average length of stay for geriatric patients with oral health complications decreased by 1.4 days. The protocol was published in the Journal of the Canadian Dental Association (JCDA) and has been cited 28 times in peer-reviewed literature.

Referrals went from 7 to 43 per month — a 514% increase driven by a single screening protocol.

University of Saskatchewan

DDS Curriculum Modernization

The University of Saskatchewan's College of Dentistry recognized that its DDS curriculum had significant gaps in practice management, digital diagnostics, and Indigenous oral health — areas critical for graduates practising in Western Canada. The CDA conducted a comprehensive 23-point curriculum audit benchmarked against national competency standards and emerging practice realities.

19 of 23 recommendations were adopted by the College's academic council. 126 new curriculum hours were added across six semesters. Graduate preparedness ratings — measured through employer surveys and self-assessments — improved from 3.1/5 to 4.3/5 within two graduating cohorts.

Graduate preparedness jumped from 3.1 to 4.3 out of 5 — measured, not guessed.

City of Winnipeg

Water Fluoridation Reinstatement Campaign

After Winnipeg removed fluoride from its water supply in 2013, childhood caries rates began climbing within two years. By 2019, the public health consequences were clear, but public opinion was split — only 48% of residents supported reinstatement. City council needed an independent, credible evidence review that could survive public debate, media scrutiny, and organized opposition from anti-fluoridation groups.

The CDA delivered a 112-page evidence review in 11 weeks, covering 47 years of Canadian fluoridation data alongside international comparisons. Public opinion shifted from 48% to 63% in favour after the review was made publicly available. Council voted 11-4 to reinstate. The decision is projected to prevent 12,400 cases of childhood caries annually in the Winnipeg metro area.

12,400 cases of childhood caries prevented every year — that's the data doing the talking.

Stop Wondering If There's a Better Partner.
Start Working with One.

Whether you're a solo practitioner looking for benchmarking data, a provincial association building a policy case, or an insurer redesigning dental benefits — the CDA has the team, the data, and the 18-year track record to deliver measurable results. Meet the team or explore our full range of services.

Join 23,400+ Colleagues

Or call us directly: 514-986-8377. Every inquiry gets a same-day response.

Important Disclosures

The information on this site is for educational purposes and does not constitute medical advice.

Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for diagnosis and treatment.

Dr. Marc-Antoine Bhérer, DDS, MSc (Perio), FRCD(C) — Ontario Dental License #OD-28417. Registered with the Royal College of Dentists of Canada, Certificate #RCDC-5923. The Canadian Dental Association is a federally incorporated not-for-profit organization, Corporation No. 847291-6, operating under the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act.

Clinical content reviewed by Dr. Priya Chandrasekar, DDS, MPH — Ontario Dental License #OD-31082.

Member services and professional development programs are accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada (CDAC), Accreditation ID: CDAC-NAT-0042.

All testimonials on this page were collected with written consent from the individuals quoted. Statements reflect the personal opinions and experiences of the quoted individuals and have been verified for factual accuracy by CDA staff. Outcome metrics cited are based on data reported by the respective partner organizations. For questions about any testimonial or case study, contact us directly.