About us
Building a strong and safe oral health care system for all Canadians.
The Canadian Dental Assistants Association is proud to be the national voice for the dental assisting profession in Canada.
We have a vision for a strong and safe oral health care system for all Canadians and strongly advocate for standardization across Canada to include education, qualification, scope of practice, regulation and licensure, health and safety, continuing education, and compensation. We work with our partners in oral health care, education providers, professional associations, services providers, and government agencies to effect change.
We are committed to contribute to this future through our mission of empowering dental assistants across Canada to advance the dental assisting profession through collaboration, advocacy, and leadership. By keeping our membership at the forefront, we are strategically focusing on national standardization, communication, and operational excellence, as we continue to provide education, training, and resources; conduct research; and foster meaningful relationships to ensure our voice is heard and respected.
Our Story
Created in 1945, the Canadian Dental Assistants Association (CDAA) is primarily a federated model of association, and currently has 9 Member Organizations representing dental assistants in the provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, New Brunswick, Newfoundland & Labrador, Nova Scotia , Saskatchewan and the Royal Canadian Dental Corps. Individual membership is available to dental assistants who are living and/or working in a province or territory where there is no Member Organization. The CDAA operates with a not-for-profit status and federal incorporation.
Contact Info
Canadian Dental Assistants’ Association
Suite 200, 440 Laurier Avenue West
Ottawa, Ontario K1R 7X6
Telephone: 613-521-5495
Toll-Free: 1-800-345-5137
Board of Directors
Kelly Mansfield
President
Tabatha Blais
Manitoba Dental Assistants Association
Crystal Wall
Association of Alberta Dental Assistants
Brooke Dunham
Society of Saskatchewan Dental Assistants
CWO Susanne Richard-Wilson
Royal Canadian Dental Corps
Veronica Brown
Ontario Dental Assistants Association
Natalie Marsh
Vice President
Chelsea Nicholas
New Brunswick Dental Assistants Association
Our Leadership
Leslie Ann Wirth
Executive Director
Dental Assistants in Canada are part of an integrated healthcare team that provides oral care to patients. While clinical jobs are found mainly in private practices, there are also opportunities found in hospitals , long term care facilities, health units. and other institutions. While upward mobility is limited within clinical practice settings, many dental assistants expand their education and skills to become educators, work in sales, insurance, government and organized dentistry.