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Susan Sutherland, DDS, MSc
Chair, Committee on Clinical and Scientific Affairs

Welcome to the electronic home of CDA's Committee on Clinical and Scientific Affairs (CCSA).

The CCSA's mandate is to consider and address the important clinical and scientific issues facing our profession, provide insight on these matters to the CDA Board of Directors and help CDA establish credible national positions on oral health issues.

The current CCSA members are Drs. Susan Sutherland (chair), Clive Friedman, Rick Hallett, Carlos Quinonez, Charles Shuler and Geoffrey Smith. The CDA Board member liaison to the CCSA is Dr. Alastair Nicoll.

The committee has created a number of reports and practical resources for dentists, to help promote optimal oral health for all Canadians. Some of these resources include:

Seniors' Oral Health


Early Childhood Caries


Patient Safety

Guidance Document Pertaining to Devices for Use in Dental Health Care
FAQs Regarding Devices for use in Dental Health Care

Guidance Document for Dentists Providing Human Allogeneic Transplants
FAQs Regarding Transplants in Dentistry

Disclosure of Unanticipated Outcomes: A Toolkit For Dentists

Influenza A (H1N1) Pandemic Plan

The CCSA provides clinical and scientific input on CDA's Position Statements, including CDA Position on Oral Health Care for Residents in Long Term Care Facilities, CDA Position on Early Childhood Caries and a recent update to the CDA Position on Uses of Fluorides in Caries Prevention. The committee also advises on the CDA Seal of Recognition program.

Check back for more practical clinical resources, as we continue to expand this section of the website.