NEW
CDT 2018 Coding Companion:
Help Guide for the Dental Team
Brush up on your team’s coding skills with the CDT 2018 Coding
Companion. Revised for 2018, the Companion trains staff to code
more accurately and efficiently, with key coding concepts, scenarios,
and Q&A. Use the Companion, along with CDT 2018, to enhance
the knowledge of current staff or as an orientation tool for new
employees. Take a chapter at a time to review at staff meetings or
use it as a handy reference guide for common coding conundrums.
The CDT 2018 Coding Companion includes:
• 50+ coding scenarios
• 100+ common coding Q&A
• Descriptions of new CDT codes and revisions
• Tables linking CDT Codes with applicable ICD-10 Diagnosis Codes
The Companion was developed with the oversight of the ADA’s
Council on Dental Benefits and Practice to ensure the information
is as accurate and up-to-date as possible. Organized by coding
category, each chapter was written by a dental expert, including
coding consultants, insurance administrators and practicing dentists.
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|
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Book ISBN# 978-1-941807-80-4 | e-Book ISBN# 978-1-941807-82-8
NEW
CDT 2018: Dental Procedure Codes
CDT 2018: Dental Procedure Codes enables you to record procedures
with increased specificity and accuracy. And more accurate coding means
fewer claims rejections and speedier reimbursement. CDT 2018 is the most
up-to-date coding resource and the only HIPAA-recognized code set for
dentistry. It pays to be prepared – starting on January 1, 2018, claims using
deleted codes will be automatically rejected.
Code changes include:
• 18 new codes
• 16 revised codes
• 3 deleted codes
CDT 2018 contains:
• A new code for point of service testing for diabetes
• New prosthodontics codes with more specific language for the type of
prosthesis being placed
• Changes to anesthesia codes to more accurately describe the services
delivered to a patient
• The addition of codes relating to teledentistry
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|
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J018T
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e-Book
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Members $39.95
J018BT
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Book + e-Book
|
Retail $89.95
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K118i
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Book ISBN# 978-1-941807-77-4 | e-Book ISBN# 978-1-941807-79-8
CDT 2018 helps
your team code more
accurately for fewer
claims rejections and
faster reimbursement.
Reduce the stress of claims
rejection by learning to use the
right codes at the right time.
10 © 2017 American Dental Association  
• new procedure code 
  s revision to a nomenclature or descriptor
Diagnostic
D0385 maxillofacial MRI image capture
D0386 maxillofacial ultrasound image capture
Interpretation and Report Only
Interpretation and Report by a Practitioner not associated with Image Capture
D0391 interpretation of diagnostic image by a practitioner not
associated with capture of the image, including report
Post Processing of Image or Image Sets
D0393 treatment simulation using 3D image volume
The use of 3D image volumes for simulation of treatment including,
but not limited to, dental implant placement, orthognathic surgery
and orthodontic tooth movement.
D0394 digital subtraction of two or more images or image volumes
of the same modality
To demonstrate changes that have occurred over time.
D0395 fusion of two or more 3D image volumes of one or more
modalities
Tests and Examinations
•
D0411 HbA1c in-office point of service testing
D0414 laboratory processing of microbial specimen to include
culture and sensitivity studies, preparation and transmission
of written report
D0415 collection of microorganisms for culture and sensitivity
D0416 viral culture
A diagnostic test to identify viral organisms, most often herpes virus.
D0417 collection and preparation of saliva sample for laboratory
diagnostic testing
CDT 2017 Coding Companion: Help Guide for the Dental Team 35
Chapter
1.
D0100
–
D0999
Diagnostic
2
CODING SCENARIO #1
Patient Age 11 – Evaluation and Preventive Services
A new patient, age 11, was seen for a first exam, cleaning, and fluoride
application. During the exam the dentist noted that the erupting tooth #4
was impinging on the band loop spacer that another dentist cemented to
#3, and decided to remove it.
How might this visit be coded?
D0150 comprehensive oral evaluation – new or established
patient
D1120 prophylaxis – child
D1208 topical application of fluoride – excluding varnish
D1555 removal of fixed space maintainer
Note: If in this scenario the topical fluoride was a varnish, D1208 would
not be correct. The appropriate CDT Code would be:
D1206 topical application of fluoride varnish
What if the same patient was not new and the doctor had placed the
space maintainer two years ago. How would this encounter be coded?
D0120 periodic oral evaluation
D1120 prophylaxis – child
D1208 topical application of fluoride – excluding varnish
The exam, in this case, would be periodic (D0120) because the patient was
seen previously, but the prophylaxis and fluoride codes remain the same.
D1555 is not used to report space maintainer removal in this alternative
scenario as the code’s descriptor specifies that it is for a dentist who did
not place the space maintainer.
Coding Scenarios
© 2017 American Dental Association 77
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
1
Code
on
Dental
Procedures
and
Nomenclature
Reduction of Dislocation and Management of Other
Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunctions
Procedures that are an integral part of a primary procedure should not be
reported separately.
D7810 open reduction of dislocation
Access to TMJ via surgical opening.
D7820 closed reduction of dislocation
Joint manipulated into place; no surgical exposure.
D7830 manipulation under anesthesia
Usually done under general anesthesia or intravenous sedation.
D7840 condylectomy
Removal of all or portion of the mandibular condyle (separate
procedure).
D7850 surgical discectomy, with/without implant
Excision of the intra-articular disc of a joint.
D7852 disc repair
Repositioning and/or sculpting of disc; repair of perforated posterior
attachment.
D7854 synovectomy
Excision of a portion or all of the synovial membrane of a joint.
D7856 myotomy
Cutting of muscle for therapeutic purposes (separate procedure).
D7858 joint reconstruction
Reconstruction of osseous components including or excluding soft
tissues of the joint with autogenous, homologous, or alloplastic
materials.
D7860 arthrotomy
Cutting into joint (separate procedure).
D7865 arthroplasty
Reduction of osseous components of the joint to create a pseudoarthrosis
or eliminate an irregular remodeling pattern (osteophytes).
160 CDT 2017 Coding Companion: Help Guide for the Dental Team
Q&A
1. I am a maxillofacial prosthodontist working in a large academic setting.
The patients I am treating have some pretty significant medical conditions.
What are the codes I would use to bill to a dental carrier and a medical
carrier for the surgical, interim and definitive obturator prosthesis?
Surgical obturator: CDT code is D5931; CPT code is 21076
Interim obturator prosthesis: CDT code is D5936; CPT code is 21079
Definitive obturator prosthesis: CDT code is D5932; CPT code is 21080
2. What is the difference between a surgical, interim and definitive
obturator? The terms are so confusing!
A surgical obturator is created and used during surgery and immediately post-
operatively. The interim prosthesis is used for the duration of the healing,
which can be anywhere from two to six months. After about six months, the
definitive prosthesis is given to the patient, and it may last for many years.
3. What is the difference between a radiation shield and a radiation carrier?
The shield protects the tissues from radiation and the carrier is used for
applying radiation to the area.
4. What is the difference between a fluoride gel carrier (D5986) and
a periodontal medicament carrier with peripheral seal-laboratory
processed (D5994)?
A fluoride gel carrier is used for application of topic fluoride only and it only
covers the teeth.
The periodontal medicament carrier, however, covers both the teeth and
the alveolar mucosa. It is used to deliver medications to tissues (gingiva),
membranes (alveolar mucosa), and into periodontal pockets.
5. In dental coding, is there a separate code for a snoring appliance versus
an appliance for patients with sleep apnea?
There is not a specific CDT code for either appliance. The best choice of code
is to use D5999 unspecified maxillofacial prosthesis, by report. For
medical coding, it is important to remember that while many patients with
Coding Q&A
© 2017 American Dental Association 133
Alphabetical Index to the CDT Code
3
Alphabetical
Index
to
the
CDT
Code
Term Code(s) Page(s)
Dietary planning (nutritional counseling) D1310 15
Distal shoe space maintainer D1575 17
Dressing change, periodontal,
unscheduled
D4920 40
Drugs
therapeutic parenteral, single
administration
D9610 89
therapeutic parental, two or more
administrations
D9612 89
drugs or medicaments D9630 89
Dry socket/localized osteitis D9930 90
E
Emergency treatment D0140, D9110 5, 87
Enamel microabrasion D9970 91
Enameloplasty D9971 91
Endodontics (Category of Service) D3000 – D3999 27-32
Endodontic endosseous implant D3460 31
Equilibration (occlusal adjustment) D9951, D9952 91
Eruption of teeth
mobilization, surgical D7282 70
placement of device to aid eruption D7283 70
Evaluations
periodic – established patient D0120 5
limited – problem focused D0140 5
for patient under 3 years & counseling
with primary caregiver
D0145 5
TABLE OF CONTENTS
SECTION 1 — THE CDT CODE: WHAT IT IS AND HOW TO USE IT
SECTION 2 — USING THE CDT CODE: DEFINITIONS AND KEY
CONCEPTS, CODING SCENARIOS AND CODING Q&A
1 Diagnostic   Mark Mihalo, D.D.S.
2 Preventive   Paul Bornstein, D.M.D.
3 Restorative   Ronald Riggins, D.M.D.
4 Endodontics   Kenneth Wiltbank, D.D.S.
5 Periodontics   Marie Schweinebraten, D.M.D. and
Robert Rives, D.D.S.
6 Prosthodontics, removable   Terry Kelly, D.M.D.
7 Maxillofacial Prosthetics  Terri Bradley
8 Implant Services   Linda Vidone, D.M.D.
9 Prosthodontics, fixed   Teresa Duncan, M.S.
10 Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery   Steven I. Snyder, D.D.S.
11 Orthodontics   Stephen Robirds, D.D.S.
12 Adjunctive General Services   Patti DiGangi, R.D.H., B.S.
SECTION 3 — APPENDICES
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