Benefits

Practice Support Services

CDAnet and CDA ITRANS 2.0 Claims Service: a secure and efficient way to send e-claims to claims processors on behalf of your patients. It’s convenient, secure and saves time!

• Cuts the wait time for patients to receive reimbursements from weeks to days.
• Know the exact patient portion to collect at the appointments (after accepting assignment of benefits).
• Electronically receive information about a patient’s eligibility for coverage, required pre-determinations, claim errors, and more.

Learn more about CDAnet and CDA ITRANS 2.0.

CDA Secure Send: An easy and secure electronic messaging service that allows dentists to send patient information (such as X-rays) to any email address.

• Ensures privacy obligations for electronic transmission of patient information.
• CDA Secure Send mobile app - use Secure Send from your IOS or Android device.

Watch this video to learn more about CDA Secure Send and how to sign up.

Get expert technical support: Available to members on weekdays, from 7:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. EST. All Help Desk Agents are security-cleared. Call toll-free: 1-866-788-1212.

Advocacy: Political influence that protects, promotes, and advances the dental profession

The Canadian Dental Association (CDA) along with the Provincial and Territorial Dental Associations (PTDAs) have been actively advocating for improvements and changes to the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) to ensure better dental care access and conditions for both patients and providers. Our persistent efforts have led to several significant achievements, reflecting our commitment to advancing the dental profession and improving oral health care across Canada.

• Prevention of Unilateral Changes to Terms and Conditions: The government agreed to not make unilateral changes to the CDCP terms and conditions without consulting dental associations. This protects dentists from unexpected changes.
• Base Coverage Increased: Significant improvements have been made to the initial base coverage proposed for the CDCP. As a direct result of our advocacy, more treatments and procedures are now accessible to those who qualify.
• Balance Billing: We successfully advocated for the inclusion of balance billing in the CDCP Terms and Conditions. This allows dentists to bill patients for the difference between the plan's coverage and the actual cost of services, providing flexibility and financial stability for dental practices.
• Removal of Registration Requirement: Through our efforts, the federal government announced an alternative pathway that removes the registration requirement for dentists.
• Improved Reimbursement Rates: Our advocacy has led to an average of 7% increase in the 2024 CDCP reimbursement rate. This improvement helps align the CDCP with the costs of oral health care.
• Other achievements: Simplified Terms and Conditions, Commitment to Patient Privacy, and Clarification on Onsite Audits and Liability.

While CDA remains encouraged by these changes, some other key areas need to be addressed over the long term. These include:

• Mitigating the potential loss of insurance coverage for those with existing employer-provided dental benefits
• Addressing health human resource challenges
• Expanding the CDCP service coverage
• Improving Public communication about the CDCP

Learn more about CDA’s advocacy activities and our ongoing efforts to support dental professionals and improve oral health care across the nation.

Knowledge

CDA Essentials: published on a bi-monthly basis, CDA’s magazine provides dialogue between the national association and the dental community, and is dedicated to keeping dentists informed about news, issues, and clinically relevant information. It’s available in English and French, in print and online.

Journal of the Canadian Dental Association (JCDA.ca): Canada’s only peer-reviewed dental journal, JCDA.ca, is an open access publication that publishes original research articles indexed in Medline, Journal Citation Reports and Science Citation Index.

CDA Oasis: A podcast and video-interview platform where you can stay up to date about clinical matters, issues, and technology impacting the dental profession.

CDA Newsletter: A weekly digital newsletter that features items from all CDA’s communications vehicles and publications, including videos and web posts, journal and magazine articles, and updates from our website and social media channels in one convenient location.

Community and Connectedness

CDA has the unique privilege and opportunity to bring together subject matter experts to discuss clinical and practice issues facing the profession. Through many committees, working groups and partnership with international bodies, CDA:

• Collects, analyzes and communicates information to help dentists make informed decisions about the delivery of patient care;
• Strengthens and promotes idea sharing to the benefit of the profession; and
• Produces Position Statements, which includes background information and evidence-based support on a range of issues affecting oral health and dentistry.

Exclusive access to insurance and investment solutions from our financial services partner, CDSPI.

Created by dentists, CDSPI is a not-for-profit organization that helps you achieve and maintain financial wellbeing with advice, insurance, and investments customized for the needs of today’s dentists.

CDSPI passionately advocates, sources, and negotiates best-in-class solutions for dentists, including customized life, disability, and office insurance. Other benefits include:

• A no-cost insurance program for dental students and discounted rates for new dentists;
• Access to a suite of low-fee, top-tier investment funds and one-on-one, no-cost financial planning services to develop a plan to help you achieve financial success;
• Private wealth management, banking, and accounting services through our network of partners;

Sponsorships and Programs:

• CDSPI sponsors the free and confidential Members’ Assistance Program (MAP), which provides a variety of support and resources for any work, health, or life concern, including counseling, advice, and referrals;
• CDSPI supports important initiatives across Canada, including mentorship programs and community access to care;
• CDSPI has programs in place to gather input from dental professionals to ensure they are always focused on supporting the financial needs of dentists.

For more information, please visit cdspi.com or call 1.800.561.9401.

Affiliation with prestige CDA programs and resources

• CDA Seal Program: The CDA Seal Program independently validates specific oral health benefit claims made by manufacturers of oral health products. The CDA Seal and its accompanying statement are found on products that have successfully completed the CDA review process. For Canadian consumers and dentists, the CDA Seal provides reassurance that a specific oral health product can improve an individual’s oral health in the ways claimed by the manufacturer. The CDA Seal celebrated its 50^th anniversary in 2022. Learn more about the benefits of the CDA Seal in this, the application process, oral health products that have earned the CDA Seal, and more.
• Dental Aptitude Test (DAT) Program: The Dental Aptitude Test Program is provided by CDA to assist dental schools in selecting first-year students. Dental schools use scores from the DAT in making admissions decisions. Most importantly, it allows CDA to be part of the discussion of the attributes desired of our future colleagues. Learn more about the DAT Program.
• Host of ISO/TC 106: CDA hosts the international secretariat for the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) technical committee for dentistry (ISO/TC 106), which helps ensure that Canadian dental experts have a voice in creating international standards. The scope of ISO/TC 106 is standardization in oral health care including:
  • terms and definitions;
  • performance, safety, and specification requirements of dental products; and
  • clinically relevant laboratory test methods, all of which contribute to improved global health.

Dental Career Options Website: Developed by leaders in Canadian dentistry, the Dental Career Options website (dentalcareeroptions.ca) helps dental students and early practicing dentists fully understand the career options that are available to them throughout their professional lives. Learn more about the five most common dental practice options available.