Your provincial dental association (PDA) is a corporate member of the Canadian Dental Association (CDA). Your PDA is also an excellent resource for information and networking for dental students and new dentists—see the contact details below. Additional resources in this section are provided by CDSPI, CDA and other related organizations that have helped produce this website.
Provincial Dental Association
CDSPI
CDSPI is a non-profit organization, whose members are the CDA and 9 provincial dental associations. CDSPI administers insurance and investment programs and other services meeting the needs of the Canadian dental profession and dental students.
Insurance Plans for Associates
Canadian Dental Association
Audio testimonials have been captured by CDA to provide dental students and new dentists with personal insights into the various career pathways available to Canadian dentists.
Dr. Bruce Ward - On owning a number of private general practices in Vancouver, BC
As a general practice dentist, Dr. Ward has practised for over 35 years. In addition to private practice, Dr. Ward teaches part-time at the UBC Faculty of Dentistry and is on the Advisory Committee for Vancouver’s Eastside Walk-in Dental Clinic.
Dr. Janet Leith - On owning a private general practice in Ottawa, ON
Dr. Leith practices dentistry with a passion... She has a fascination with restorative dentistry and the function and synergy of the teeth, gums, joint and jaws. She believes in developing relationships first and doing dentistry second.
Born and raised in the West Island of Montreal, Dr. Leith came from a close knit family. Her father, Dr. Donald R. Leith, practiced dentistry for over 42 years in Lachine/Dorval and was an Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Dentistry, McGill University where he taught Crown and Bridge and Occlusion. Little did he know, that when at age 12, he had her come in one weekend to hold the suction while he fixed "Auntie Joan's tooth" that he had set her on her life's work. With a passion for biology and hands on science, dentistry was the perfect fit for her.
Dr. Leith graduated in 1992 from the Faculty of Dentistry of the University of Manitoba. She also earned a Bachelor of Science specializing in Cell and Molecular Biology from Concordia University in 1987.
Dr. Leith undertook an additional year of training in the General Practice Residency at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Montreal with McGill University in 1992-1993. This advanced year of training gave her experience with medically compromised patients, cancer and transplant patients as well as surgery and anaesthesia.
After working as an associate in Kingston, Ontario for three years, she moved to Ottawa to start her private practice.
Dr. Jack Bassey - On owning a private general practice in Winnipeg, MB
Dr. Jack Bassey has lived in Winnipeg his entire life. He received a BSc from the University of Manitoba and graduated with a DMD from the Faculty of Dentistry in 1985. He opened the Fort Richmond Dental Centre in 1985, believing in the overall health of the patient as his priority, a philosophy he has carried on for more than 30 years.
Dr. Bassey has completed advanced education in esthetic dentistry at the University of Minnesota. He also has engaged in consistent continuing education in crown and bridge and restorative techniques over his career to ensure he is using the most current materials and methods available. He is a member of the Canadian Dental Association, the Manitoba Dental Association, and the Winnipeg Chapter of the Seattle Study Club.
Dr. Sean Robertson - On owning a private general practice in Southern Ontario
Dr. Robertson is a general dentist and a graduate of the University of Toronto Faculty of Dentistry. He is an international award winning researcher and presenter. Dr. Robertson’s research in the field of bone regeneration through the department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at the University of Toronto has been featured in the Journal of the Canadian Dental Association and has been presented across Canada and United States, including at the Canadian Dental Association National Conference, the American Dental Association Annual Meeting, and the Hinman Research Symposium. He is also published through his research at the Department of Vascular Surgery at McMaster University.
Dr. Robertson is a founding partner of The Dental Broker Team. He has experience writing and evaluating dental practice appraisals and as a consultant with purchase and sale negotiations. Dr. Robertson is the Lead Appraiser for the Dental Broker Team. His experience consulting with dentists, legal, accounting, and banking experts, and other brokerage firms arms him with the knowledge and the ability to accurately identify the value of your practice, all with the advantage of being from a dentist’s perspective.
Dr. Robertson has recently published a book for dentists on practice economics and acquisitions. He has practiced dentistry in Burlington, Oakville, Brant County, Milton, and Guelph, Ontario. He has extensive firsthand experience with the purchasing of dental offices and has brokered the sale of his own dental practice. As a practice owner, Dr. Robertson grew his general dental practice to more than 3 times the size and over four times the value during a period of 7 years through relationship-based patient care.
Dr. Chad Avery - On owning a private general practice in Yarmouth, NS
Dr. Chad Avery is a proud Nova Scotian. Originally from Halifax, he now lives and works in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. He completed his dental education at Dalhousie University in 2012, and immediately upon graduation, purchased a dental practice within a large group. The focus of Dr. Avery’s practice is providing patient centered care in a rural area where specialist services are not always accessible.
Dr. Avery believes the best way to ensure the needs of patients remain the primary focus, is to maintain professional autonomy, through dentists retaining ownership of their practices. He has been involved with organized dentistry in Nova Scotia since 2013 and is currently President Elect of the Nova Scotia Dental Association. Being involved in the dental community has provided Dr. Avery with valuable mentorship opportunities, and he believes mentorship is the key to a successful career in dentistry. When he is not busy with dentistry, Dr. Avery enjoys surfing, playing golf and tennis, and spending time with his family and young son Jack.
Other Resources
David Rosenthal (Lawyer)
The Stepped Purchase of a Dental Practice by David Rosenthal (Lawyer)
A stepped purchase of a dental practice is becoming more prevalent in recent years, particularly for specialty practices. A stepped purchase occurs where the purchaser dentist (Purchaser) buys a dental practice from the selling dentist (Vendor) in two or more steps over an extended period of time.
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Legal Checklist to Purchase a Dental Practice by David Rosenthal (Lawyer)
When purchasing a dental practice, there are many legal issues to consider. Ideally these matters should be dealt with early in the purchase process. This will enable you to make informed decisions about the nature of the purchase transaction and help avoid costly problems later. Outlined below is a checklist of some of the legal matters to consider when purchasing a dental practice.
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Dr. Bernie Dolansky (Dentist/Practice Broker)
Practice Purchase Tips by Dr. Bernie Dolansky (Dentist/Practice Broker)
In most places across the province, the market for dental practices is definitely a seller’s market. For every good practice that is listed there are multiple interested and qualified buyers. The competition for those practices is fierce, and your odds of getting it are low unless you are prepared well in advance. Here are several things you can do to improve your chances.
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Practice Purchase Check-up for Potential Purchasers by Dr. Bernie Dolansky (Dentist/Practice Broker)
Sections include: Are you ready?, the seller, patient base, financial considerations, premises, staffing, overview, the market, talk to experts.
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