CDCP Dentist Cambridge
The cost of dental care stops a lot of Cambridge families from getting in the chair. A cleaning gets skipped, then a checkup, then something small becomes something serious. The Canadian Dental Care Plan — the CDCP — was put in place to remove that barrier. If you have no dental coverage and your household income is under $90,000 a year, there’s a good chance you qualify.
Riverfront Dental is a participating CDCP provider. Dr. Kim Beaucage and Dr. Rifaan Lalji have been looking after Cambridge patients since 2018, and we bill the plan directly so the process is as simple as possible for you.
Call (519) 621-2111
What Is the CDCP?
The Canadian Dental Care Plan is a federal program run by Health Canada and administered through Sun Life. It was built for Canadians who sit in a gap — no employer plan, no private coverage, but income that puts them above the threshold for most provincial programs.
The way billing works: your dental office submits claims to Sun Life directly. You’re not paying the full amount out of pocket and waiting for a reimbursement cheque. The covered portion gets settled between the office and the plan. Depending on your income, you may have a co-payment — but for many patients, that amount is zero.
Who Is Eligible?
To qualify for the CDCP you need to meet all four of these conditions:
- You’re a Canadian resident and filed a tax return here last year
- Your adjusted family net income is below $90,000
- You have no access to dental benefits through an employer, a pension plan, or private insurance
- Your spouse or common-law partner (if applicable) also filed a Canadian tax return
A common misconception: if you’re already receiving dental help through a provincial program like Healthy Smiles Ontario, you’re not automatically disqualified. The CDCP coordinates with provincial plans to fill in the gaps rather than replacing them.
What does disqualify you is having access to employer benefits — even if you’ve never used them. Choosing not to enroll in your workplace plan doesn’t make you eligible for the CDCP.
CDCP Dentist in Cambridge — What to Expect at Riverfront Dental
Riverfront Dental is located at 725 Coronation Blvd, just across from Cambridge Memorial Hospital. We’re open six days a week, including evenings on Thursdays and Saturdays until 3pm, which makes it easier to fit an appointment around work and family.
When you call to book, let us know you’re covered under the CDCP. We’ll verify your plan details before your appointment so you arrive knowing exactly what’s covered and what, if anything, you’ll owe. Direct billing to Sun Life means less paperwork on your end.
We serve patients from across Cambridge — whether you’re coming from Hespeler, Preston, Galt, Blair, or anywhere in between.
What the CDCP Covers
The plan covers a broad range of services — both routine and more involved treatment. Here’s a breakdown:
Preventive Care — exams, cleanings, X-rays, and fluoride treatments. These are the visits that keep your mouth healthy and catch problems early, before they become expensive.
Basic Restorations — fillings for cavities and minor tooth damage. A small cavity treated now is a filling. Left alone, it becomes a root canal or an extraction.
Major Restorative Treatment — crowns and bridges for teeth that are too damaged for a simple filling. These typically require preauthorization before treatment begins.
Root Canals — when a tooth is infected or severely decayed but still worth saving, endodontic treatment is covered under the plan.
Gum Treatment — periodontal care for gum disease, including scaling and root planing. Gum disease is common and often painless until it becomes a bigger problem.
Oral Surgery — tooth extractions, including wisdom teeth, when removal is the right call for your oral health.
Dentures — complete and partial dentures for patients with missing teeth.
Emergency Exams — there are no frequency limitations on emergency exams under the CDCP. If you’re in pain, you can be seen.
How Much Will You Pay?
Your out-of-pocket amount depends on your household income:
- Under $70,000: no co-payment
- $70,000 to $79,999: 40% of the CDCP reimbursement rate
- $80,000 to $89,999: 60% of the CDCP reimbursement rate
One thing to know going in: the CDCP reimburses based on its own fee schedule, which may be lower than a dental office’s standard fees. Any difference between what the plan pays and what the office charges becomes your responsibility. We go over all of this before treatment starts so nothing catches you off guard.
How to Apply for the CDCP
Applications are done online through your My Service Canada Account, or by phone at 1-833-537-4342. Once you’re approved, Sun Life sends you a welcome package that includes your member card and your coverage start date.
Your start date is the earliest date your appointments can be covered. Services received before that date won’t be reimbursed retroactively. Once your card arrives and your start date is confirmed, call us to book.
Coverage needs to be renewed annually. If you miss the renewal window, your benefits lapse and you’ll need to submit a new application to get back on the plan.
Make the Most of Your Coverage
Preventive care under the CDCP costs most patients nothing. Regular exams and cleanings are covered, and using those benefits is the best way to avoid bigger treatment down the road. If cost has been the reason you’ve been putting off dental care, this plan changes that.
Have questions before you come in? Call us or send an email — we’re happy to walk you through your coverage before your first appointment.
Our Location
Riverfront Dental is located at 725 Coronation Blvd Suite B1 & B2, Cambridge, ON N1R 7S9, directly across from Cambridge Memorial Hospital.
Driving Directions
From Hespeler: Head south on Hespeler Road, turn onto Coronation Blvd heading west. We’re on the south side of Coronation, just past the hospital.
From Preston/King Street: Head north toward Coronation Blvd. We’re a short drive once you cross the Grand River area near the Dumfries Conservation Area.
From Galt/Downtown Cambridge: Take Water Street or Main Street north, connect to Coronation Blvd heading east. We’re easy to spot across from the hospital.
Office Hours
Monday to Wednesday 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Thursday 9:00 am – 7:00 pm
Friday 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Saturday 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Sunday Closed
Contact
Serving patients across Cambridge including Hespeler, Preston, Galt, Blair, Branchton, and surrounding Waterloo Region communities.