Information for Authors
Introduction
The Journal of the Canadian Dental Association (JCDA) is Canada’s premier dental publication. This peer-reviewed journal is the flagship publication of the Canadian Dental Association. Through a complementary print and electronic publishing strategy, JCDA provides essential reading for Canadian dentists and their colleagues worldwide.
The paper version of JCDA (ISSN: 0709-8936) has a circulation of over 20,000 copies, and reaches all dentists and dental students in Canada as well as subscribers outside the country. It is published 10 times per year in both English and French. The publication is sent to dentists in the official language of their choice. Designed to be visually attractive, JCDA contains a lively mix of clinical articles, information about issues facing the dental profession, summaries of research papers and news about matters pertinent to dentists.
The electronic version of JCDA (ISSN: 1488-2159) is an open access publication (www.cda-adc.ca/jcda) that contains the more scholarly elements of the material published in JCDA. For example, the full text of a research paper published in JCDA only appears in the electronic version of the publication, while an abridged version (usually 1 page long) appears in the paper version of the journal.
The electronic version of JCDA is indexed in Medline, Journal Citation Reports and Science Citation Index. Through Journal Citation Reports, Thomson Reuters Scientific creates an Impact Factor for approximately 50 publications in the dentistry, oral medicine and oral surgery fields. By publishing high-quality papers, the electronic version of JCDA will have an Impact Factor worthy of an excellent general dental journal. The publication of high-quality clinical research and review articles is therefore a priority for the electronic version of JCDA.
JCDA endorses the Uniform Requirements for Manuscripts Submitted to Biomedical Journals (www.icmje.org/) and the CONSORT statement relating to improving the quality of reports of randomized clinical trials (www.consort-statement.org). Authors are advised to review these requirements.
Authors writing for JCDA should note that the majority of its readers are general dental practitioners. Specialists and clinical researchers should therefore direct their articles to this audience.
Scope of JCDA
JCDA is a general dental journal concerned with science-based clinical practice and the major issues (e.g., clinical, demographic, educational, ethical, legal and regulatory) facing the dental profession.
Our main priorities are to publish action-oriented, science-based articles that are clinically relevant, as well as reflective articles presenting and discussing the main issues facing the Canadian dental profession today and in the future.
Types of manuscripts accepted
Applied Research
This section includes original submissions reporting findings of clinical research projects. Submitted papers must be pertinent to clinical decision-making. The text of the manuscript, excluding abstract and references, should not exceed 2,500 words. If accepted for publication, such a paper will be published in a format where the full text appears only in the electronic version of JCDA. On acceptance, authors are asked to submit a 500-word abridged version of the article (a structured “super abstract”) that will be published in the paper version of JCDA.
Clinical Practice
This section includes submissions, in various formats, related to the practise of clinical dentistry. Clinicians may submit systematic review articles, case reports, topic updates or creative solutions to clinical problems that they have encountered in practice. The length of a manuscript should not exceed 2,500 words if intended for the paper version of JCDA. A manuscript longer than 2,500 words will be considered for full-text publication only in the electronic version of JCDA, with a 500-word abridged version appearing in the paper version of JCDA.
Professional Issues
This section of JCDA aims to help the dental practitioner understand and adapt to the changing professional environment. Articles that propose solutions to the problems posed by the changes in our professional environment are invited. Topics within the scope of this section include demographics, dental education, dental ethics, epidemiology, health policy and professional regulation. Manuscripts must not exceed 2,000 words if they are to appear in full-text format in the paper version of JCDA. Professional Issues manuscripts that are reports of research projects will be published in the same format as Applied Research manuscripts (please see above).
Debate and Opinion
This section provides a forum for the expression of opinions by people with an interest in the promotion of optimum oral health in Canada. These opinions may be provocative, even iconoclastic, yet they should be put forward in the sincere hope of promoting new ways of examining issues facing the dental profession. Debate pieces should be no longer than 1,400 words.
Letters
This section includes brief Letters to the Editor (300 words maximum) on topics related to clinical dentistry and the environment in which dentistry is practiced.
Best of the Current Literature
This section features abstracts and summaries from peer-reviewed dental publications. It attempts to make readers aware of recent literature that may be of interest to oral health care workers.
Clinical Showcase
Clinical Showcase is a series of pictorial essays that focus on the technical art of clinical dentistry. This section features step-by-step case demonstrations of clinical problems encountered in dental practice. [ more ]
Point of Care
Point of Care answers everyday clinical questions and is designed to provide practical information at the point of patient care. [ more ]
Diagnostic Challenge
Diagnostic Challenge briefly presents interesting clinical findings and offers a brief rationale for the diagnosis of the condition presented. The condition is presented through a minimum of descriptive text and up to 4 illustrations on a single page. This page ends with the question “What is this condition?” The differential diagnosis and the rationale for diagnosis are presented on another page.
Note
As a general rule, in articles of a clinical nature that demonstrate techniques and use specific materials or therapeutic agents, authors should provide the rationale for choosing the technique, materials and therapeutic agents.
Prior to manuscript preparation
Potential authors are invited to contact the editor-in-chief, Dr. John O'Keefe, to discuss ideas for manuscripts at 1-800-267-6354, ext. 2297 (in Canada), or +1 613 520-5000 (from outside Canada), or to send an email to jokeefe@cda-adc.ca.
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Preparing your manuscript
Arrange the manuscript in the following sequence, with each section beginning on a new page: title page; abstract; text of the manuscript; acknowledgements; references; individual tables and figure legends. Number pages consecutively beginning with the title page. To accommodate blinded peer review, place the names of authors only on the cover page.
TITLE PAGE
This page should contain the title; each author's complete given and family names, earned academic degrees, primary institutional affiliation and address; and the postal address, fax, telephone and email address of the author responsible for correspondence relating to the manuscript. Sources of support in the form of grants, equipment, materials or drugs should be mentioned in a footnote. Include the word count for the text of the manuscript (from beginning of Introduction to end of Discussion) on the title page.
ABSTRACT
Include a structured abstract of up to 250 words for research articles and systematic reviews, and up to 150 words for other types of articles, depending on the length of the text. The abstract should highlight the main points of the paper. When papers reporting research findings are accepted for publication, authors will be asked to provide a 500-word structured “super abstract” that will serve as the abridged version of the article to be published in the paper version of JCDA.
TEXT
The average article in JCDA contains approximately 2,000 words, not including title page, abstract, tables, reference list, etc. Manuscripts longer than 2,500 words will only be accepted on an exceptional basis, and then only in the format where the full text appears in the electronic version.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Authors should acknowledge professional help received in the preparation or review of their manuscript.
REFERENCES
Emphasize recent references (past 5 years preferred – novelty of information is a priority). In general, avoid references older than 10 years, letters to the editor or editorials. Please do not use abstracts, unpublished observations, manuscripts in preparation or submitted for publication, personal communications or references from journals that our readers will have difficulty accessing. As a general rule, references should be to material published in either English or French.
To avoid plagiarism, please be sure not to use the language, content or concepts of another source without appropriate citation. Do not use extensive verbatim or near verbatim portions of text from another source, even with appropriate citation.
Number references in the text in the order of citation. Arrange them numerically, not alphabetically, in the reference list. Follow the style advocated by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (the Vancouver Group). We strongly prefer that you do not exceed 35 references. In the text, references should be superscripted (please do not use the Footnote function).
References first cited in tables or figure legends must also be numbered in sequence with references cited in the text.
Note the following examples of the correct reference style:
Standard journal article
- Tam L. Clinical trial of three 10% carbamide peroxide bleaching products. J Can Dent Assoc 1999; 65(4):201–5.
- Feine JS, de Grandmont P, Boudrias P, Brien N, LaMarche C, Taché R, and others. Within-subject comparisons of implant-supported mandibular prostheses: choice of prosthesis. J Dent Res 1994; 73(5):1105–11.
Chapter in a book
- Banting DW. Management of dental caries in the older patient. In: Papas AS, Niessen LC, Chauncey HH, eds. Geriatric dentistry: aging and oral health. St. Louis: Mosby Year Book Inc.; 1991. p. 141–67.
- Please note that no periods are used after authors' initials or journal abbreviations, and that “and others” is used after the sixth author's name when there are more than 6 authors. Include beginning and ending page numbers for journal and book references.
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ILLUSTRATIONS (TABLES AND FIGURES)
Number tables and figures sequentially with arabic numerals (e.g., Table 1, Figure 1) and reference them at the appropriate location in the text.
Give complete reference data and include copies of all tables and figures taken or adapted from other sources. Authors may have to obtain permission from the original publication to reproduce this material.
Tables
Tables should be understandable without reference to the text. They should not duplicate the text. Start each table on a separate page and include a title which is concise yet comprehensive.
Figures
JCDA encourages the submission of original images that highlight the text. Photographs in which a patient is identifiable must be accompanied by the patient’s written permission to publish the photographs.
Digital images must be of a high enough resolution for press requirements. Photos must be at least 300 dpi when sized to 3.33” x 2.125” (or at least 1,000 pixels along the largest dimension). Only TIFF or JPG formats will be accepted.
Symbols, lettering and arrows in figures should be clear and large enough to remain legible if the illustration is reduced when published.
Charts or graphs created in software applications other than Word, such as Excel (preferred for charts and graphs) or PowerPoint, should be sent as separate attachments in the original format (e.g. .xls, ppt). Supporting data spreadsheet should be included.
Type concise comprehensive figure legends on a separate page.
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STYLE GUIDELINES
Use of Proprietary Names: Generic names should ideally be used for all drugs and materials. When a trade name must be used, cite (in parentheses) the name, city, province/state and country of the manufacturer.
Text Formatting: (1) Use plain text with no special formatting. (2) Use bold print, italics and underlining sparingly. (3) Use a single, standard typeface (preferably Times New Roman 12 pt).
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COVER LETTER
Include a statement that the manuscript is original, that it has not been published previously and is not under consideration for publication elsewhere, and that the final version has been seen and approved by all authors.
Submitting your manuscript
Please submit the manuscript by email to JCDA@cda-adc.ca.
COPYRIGHT TRANSFER
All manuscripts that are accepted for publication become the permanent property of the Canadian Dental Association and may not be published elsewhere without written permission from CDA.
A Copyright Transfer Agreement will be sent to the corresponding author upon receipt of the manuscript. This statement should be signed by all authors and returned as soon as possible to CDA.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
CDA expects authors to disclose any commercial association that might pose a conflict of interest in connection with the submitted paper. All funding sources supporting the work should be acknowledged.
A Financial Disclosure Statement will be sent to the corresponding author upon receipt of the manuscript. This statement should be signed by all authors and returned as soon as possible to CDA.
Manuscripts will not be sent for review until the editor-in-chief receives signed financial disclosure and copyright transfer statements.
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- Article is submitted by email to the Canadian Dental Association Publication Division.
- The editor-in-chief reviews the manuscript and decides to 1) accept for review, 2) send back for modification before re-submission or 3) reject outright.
- The editor-in-chief picks 2 reviewers who have expertise in the particular clinical discipline or topic area.
- The editor-in-chief contacts reviewers by email to check their availability and willingness to review.
- The editor-in-chief sends the manuscript by way of email attachment(s) (with identity of authors removed) to reviewers, with request that reviewer comments be back to the editor-in-chief within 3 weeks. The manuscript is accompanied by a cover letter that explains the review criteria.
- Manuscripts may be sent to an expert statistician for review.
- When the comments of the expert reviewers come back, the editor-in-chief decides whether to 1) accept, 2) accept with modifications or 3) reject the manuscript. This decision is based on the quality, importance and relevance of the manuscript. NOTE: The editor-in-chief has the final decision on the acceptance of the manuscript.
- The editor-in-chief communicates the acceptance decision to the corresponding author and advises of next steps.
- The corresponding author re-submits the modified manuscript to the editor-in-chief. In some cases, the manuscript may need to be reviewed by a technical expert.
- Once accepted for publication, the manuscript is sent for copyediting.
- Article is published in JCDA.
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Checklist for Authors
Incomplete submissions will be returned to the author. Please ensure your submission by email to JCDA@cda-adc.ca includes the following:
- “Cover letter” of submission
- Original manuscript (in Microsoft Word format)
- Title page
- Title of manuscript
- Full name(s), academic degree(s), affiliation(s) and titles of author(s) on title page accompanying the original manuscript
- Author to whom correspondence and galleys are to be sent, including address and business telephone, fax and email
- Word count of the body of the text alone (from beginning of Introduction to end of Discussion) and word count of the entire manuscript provided
- Structured abstract for the manuscript
- Manuscript
- References
- Tables
- Legends
- Illustrations: Photos must be at least 300 dpi when sized to 3.33” x 2.125” [or at least 1,000 pixels along the largest dimension). Only TIFF or JPG formats will be accepted. Charts/graphs: whenever possible send as separate original file (Microsoft Excel format preferred)
- Acknowledgements
- Sources of funding for research
- Permission(s) to reproduce previously published material or to publish photographs of identifiable persons
- Signed Copyright Transfer Agreement & Financial Disclosure Statement
(PDF 111 KB)
Please review this checklist carefully before submitting your manuscript to ensure its completeness and conformity with JCDA style.
The Canadian Medical Association provides a wealth of useful information for potential authors at its Medical Writing Centre.
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