The Dentists Insurance Company, founded by CDA members in 1980, marks a milestone anniversary with a look back at its heritage of protecting dentists.
At The Dentists Insurance Company, we’re celebrating 45 years of dentist-centric, award-winning protection. It’s a banner year for our company, having recently been named Best of Insurance by ClearlyRated for client satisfaction for the second year in a row and earning an A (Excellent) rating from AM Best for financial stability for the 31st consecutive year.
Where it all began
In the mid 1970’s, combination of social, economic and professional trends contributed to exponentially increasing malpractice insurance rates. Dentists were confronted with unaffordable premiums and restricted coverage availability, compromising the ability to continue to provide care.
California Dental Association’s volunteer leadership advocated on behalf of their peers who faced these skyrocketing rates. In April of 1977, at a meeting on the Council of Insurance in Palm Springs, CDA faced off with a leading national insurer. Actuaries from both organizations presented.
Several years later, CDA member Dr. David Gaynor recalled what he experienced at that meeting. “You have an actuary, and I have an insurance company,” the executive stated to Dr. Gaynor, looking him right in the eye. “Until you raise adequate premium and get a Certificate of Authority from the commissioner of California, you’ll buy my product at the price I choose to charge.”
It was clear what had to be done. A small group of CDA members spent the next three years building a company that would be solely focused on protecting dentists and keep their interests at heart. On July 1, 1980, The Dentists Insurance Company was founded. “Then, the real work began,” said Dr. Gaynor.
How we’ve grown
Today, TDIC has remarkably grown, but our promises remain the same: to protect only dentists, to protect them better than any other insurance company and to be there when they need us. It’s by consistently reviewing market trends to be responsive to policyholders’ changing needs and auditing processes to ensure exceptional service that we uphold these promises.
Our company built by dentists continues to be led by their peers, and we’ve earned the trust of more than 24,000 policyholders across 15 states, as well as the endorsement of eight state dental associations. Here are just a few notable milestones along the way:
- 1980 CDA establishes TDIC as a wholly owned subsidiary. More than 5,000 members are enrolled, and the first Professional Liability policy is issued.
- 1986 TDIC introduces its first risk management program, which has since expanded to C.E., expert guidance and resources from specialized analysts.
- 1989 The first dividend is declared and paid to policyholders and, while dividends are not guaranteed, they’ve been issued every year since.
- 1990 Exploration of expansion into states other than California is approved.
- 1997 The 10,000th policyholder is insured. TDIC begins writing Commercial Property coverage.
- 1998 TDIC adds optional Employment Practices Liability coverage.
- 2000 Hawaii Dental Association endorses TDIC, and the partnership is now celebrating a 25-year anniversary.
- 2011 Workers' Compensation is added to TDIC's product portfolio.
- 2019 Dentists Benefits Insurance Company and Northwest Dentists Insurance Company merge into TDIC.
- 2025 The Dentists Insurance Company celebrates 45 years of protecting dentists.
Learn more about TDIC’s dentist-led vision at tdicinsurance.com.