Canadian Dental Care Plan in Kitchener
If you have the Canadian Dental Care Plan and you’re looking for a CDCP dentist in Kitchener, Fairway Dental can see you at our office at 385 Fairway Rd S, Unit 203. We bill the plan directly for covered services, we tell you before treatment what the plan should pay and what it won’t, and we can usually find you a same day appointment when something hurts. This page explains how the plan works in practical terms and what a visit with us looks like when you’re using it.
The CDCP in plain terms
The Canadian Dental Care Plan is a federal program for people who don’t have access to dental insurance. It was introduced in stages, so a lot of people heard about it at different times and got slightly different information. The basic idea is simple. The government pays dental offices for a defined list of services, and depending on your family income you may pay nothing or a share of the cost, called a co-payment.
It isn’t the same as a workplace plan. There’s no yearly maximum you choose, no plan booklet from your employer, and the list of covered services is set by the government. Some services can be done right away. Others need the plan to approve them first, which is called preauthorization. We handle that request for you.
Who can apply
We can’t decide eligibility for you (only the government does that), but these are the general conditions the program uses:
- You’re a resident of Canada for tax purposes.
- You filed your tax return for the previous year.
- Your adjusted family net income is under the limit the program sets.
- You don’t have access to dental coverage through a job, a pension, a family member’s plan, or a plan you could buy. If you were offered dental benefits and declined them, you’re still considered to have access.
The income limit and enrolment steps have changed before and may change again, so please confirm your situation on canada.ca before you count on coverage. Once you’re accepted, the plan sends you your member details. Keep them handy, because that’s what we need to bill the plan.
What the plan helps pay for
Coverage falls into a few broad groups. Here’s how they line up with the care we provide at our Kitchener office:
- Exams and x-rays. Checkups, emergency exams and the x-rays needed to find out what’s going on.
- Preventive care. Cleanings and scaling, fluoride and sealants.
- Fillings. Temporary and permanent fillings, and treatment to relieve pain caused by decay.
- Root canal treatment. Treatment of an infected or damaged nerve. Some retreatments need approval first.
- Gum care. Deep cleaning below the gumline and other non-surgical treatment for gum disease.
- Dentures. Complete and partial dentures, plus repairs and relines. Some of this needs approval.
- Extractions. Removing teeth or roots that can’t be saved.
Some things aren’t covered, and it’s better to know that up front. Cosmetic work such as teeth whitening and veneers isn’t part of the plan, and neither are dental implants or fixed bridges. If you want cosmetic treatment, our cosmetic dentistry page explains what we offer, and we’ll quote it separately so it never gets mixed up with your CDCP claim.
Using your CDCP coverage at Fairway Dental
Using the plan with us works much like any other visit. The main difference is that we check your coverage and explain your share before we do the work.
Before you come in
When you call to book, tell us you’re a CDCP member. Have the member information the plan sent you ready, along with a list of any medications you take. If you’re bringing in a family member who is also covered, each person has their own member details, so bring those too.
At your appointment
The dentist examines your teeth and gums, takes any x-rays that are needed and talks you through what they see. If more than one treatment is possible, you’ll hear the pros and cons of each in plain language. We then go over which parts the plan covers, whether anything needs preauthorization, and what your co-payment is likely to be. Nothing goes ahead until you’ve agreed to it.
If something needs approval
For treatments that need preauthorization, we send the request to the plan and let you know when we hear back. If you’re in pain while you wait, we can usually take care of the urgent part first, for example draining an infection or placing a temporary filling, and finish the rest once it’s approved.
Questions about whether your treatment is covered? Call us at 519-893-9494 and we’ll check before you book.
Insurance, direct billing and CDCP
We bill most plans directly, including the CDCP, so in most cases you won’t have to pay the full fee and wait for a refund. Some specialist work may be billed differently, and we’ll tell you if that applies to you. Fees are explained before treatment starts, and we can send an estimate to your insurer ahead of time if you’d like to know exactly where you stand. For anything your plan doesn’t cover, we accept credit cards and cash.
If you have the CDCP and a private plan through a new job, let us know. The CDCP is meant for people without other coverage, so a change in your work benefits can affect your membership. It’s worth checking with the program when your situation changes.
Toothache or broken tooth? You can still use the plan
Emergency exams are part of the covered services, and so are many of the treatments that follow, such as fillings, root canals and extractions. Fairway Dental sees a lot of urgent problems, and we keep room in the schedule for them. If you’ve woken up with a swollen face or cracked a tooth on something hard, see our page on same day dental appointments or our guide to finding an emergency dentist in Kitchener. Go to a hospital emergency department instead if swelling is making it hard to breathe or swallow.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a referral to use the CDCP at your office?
No. You can call us directly. If you need care that we don’t provide, we’ll explain your options and refer you on.
Will I have to pay anything?
That depends on your family income and the treatment. Some members have no co-payment, others pay a portion. We’ll tell you your share before any treatment, so there are no surprises.
My child is covered. Can you see them too?
We see children on a case by case basis, so please call first. If we can see your child, bring your child’s own member details from the plan, since each person in the family is enrolled separately.
I’m a student. Do I use the CDCP or my student plan?
If you can get dental coverage through a student plan, the CDCP generally treats that as having access to insurance. Our page on dental care for students explains how we work with student plans, and canada.ca can confirm which one applies to you.
Still unsure how the program works? Our blog post on common CDCP myths and facts clears up the questions we hear most often.
Book your CDCP visit in Kitchener
You don’t have to have every detail of the plan figured out before you call. Tell us you’re a CDCP member, and our team will check what’s covered, explain your share and find you a time. Fairway Dental is at 385 Fairway Rd S, Unit 203, Kitchener. Call 519-893-9494, or ask about same day appointments if you need to be seen soon.
Related treatments
Questions or ready to book? Contact our Kitchener office or call 519-893-9494.