We’ve seen the field of dentistry undergo many changes over the past several years, between tech upgrades, M&A activity, the insurance landscape, and the tax code. In 2020, new changes that will affect every dentist involve substantial changes to the CDT code. The ADA received more than 156 code change requests to the CDT dental code system. Of those requests, we can look for 37 new codes, 5 revised codes, and 6 deleted codes as of January 1, 2020.
Take the time now to update your dental practice’s administrative codes and make any adjustments to the insurance claims process to make sure you’re not scrambling come January. Incorrect use of codes can delay insurance reimbursements for your practice and open up an opportunity for fraud, so proper coding is important.
Here are the six deleted codes:
D1550 – re-cement or re-bond space maintainer
D1555 – removal of fixed space maintainer
D8691 – repair of orthodontic appliance
D8692 – replacement of lost or broken retainer
D8693 – re-cement or re-bond fixed retainer
D8694 – repair of fixed retainers, includes reattachment
And the five revisions:
D1510 space maintainer – fixed, unilateral – per quadrant. Excludes a distal shoe space maintainer.
D1520 space maintainer – removable, – unilateral – per quadrant
D1575 distal shoe space maintainer – fixed – unilateral – per quadrant fabrication and delivery of fixed appliance extending subgingivally and distally to guide the eruption of the first permanent molar. Does not include ongoing follow-up or adjustments, or replacement appliances, once the tooth has erupted.
Plus two periodontal descriptor changes, which are:
– If two contiguous teeth have areas of soft tissue recession, each area of recession tooth is a single site.
– Depending on the dimensions of the defect, up to two contiguous edentulous tooth positions may be considered a single site.
Finally, the new codes are:
D0419 – assessment of salivary flow by measurement
D1551 – re-cement or re-bond bilateral space maintainer – maxillary
D1552 – re-cement or re-bond bilateral space maintainer – mandibular
D1553 – re-cement or re-bond unilateral space maintainer – per quadrant
D1556 – removal of fixed unilateral space maintainer – per quadrant
D1557 – removal of fixed bilateral space maintainer – maxillary
D1558 – removal of fixed bilateral space maintainer – mandibular
D2753 – crown – porcelain fused to titanium and titanium alloys
D5284 – removable unilateral partial denture – one piece flexible base (including clasps and teeth) – per quadrant
D5286 – removable unilateral partial denture – one piece resin (including clasps and teeth) – per quadrant
D6082 – implant supported crown – porcelain fused to predominantly base alloys
D6083 – implant supported crown – porcelain fused to noble alloys
D6084 – implant supported crown – porcelain fused to titanium and titanium alloys
D6086 – implant supported crown – predominantly base alloys
D6087 – implant supported crown – noble alloys
D6088 – implant supported crown – titanium and titanium alloys
D6097 – abutment supported crown – porcelain fused to titanium and titanium alloys
D6098 – implant supported retainer – porcelain fused to predominantly base alloys
D6099 – implant supported retainer for FPD – porcelain fused to noble alloys
D6120 – implant supported retainer – porcelain fused to titanium and titanium alloys
D6121 – implant supported retainer for metal FPD – predominantly base alloys
D6122 – implant supported retainer for metal FPD – noble alloys
D6123 – implant supported retainer for metal FPD – titanium and titanium alloys
D6195 – abutment supported retainer – porcelain fused to titanium and titanium alloys
D6243 – pontic – porcelain fused to titanium and titanium alloys
D6753 – retainer crown – porcelain fused to titanium and titanium alloys
D6784 – retainer crown ¾ – titanium and titanium alloys
D7922 – placement of intra-socket biological dressing to aid in hemostasis or clot stabilization, per site
D8696 – repair of orthodontic appliance – maxillary
D8697 – repair of orthodontic appliance – mandibular
D8698 – re-cement or re-bond fixed retainer – maxillary
D8699 – re-cement or re-bond fixed retainer – mandibular
D8701 – repair of fixed retainer, includes reattachment – maxillary
D8702 – repair of fixed retainer, includes reattachment – mandibular
D8703 – replacement of lost or broken retainer – maxillary
D8704 – replacement of lost or broken retainer – mandibular
D9997 – dental case management – patients with special health care needs
Note the last new code for treating patients with special needs. The ADA provided additional guidance on use of this code: “Special treatment considerations for patients/individuals with physical, medical, developmental or cognitive conditions resulting in substantial functional limitations, which requires that modifications be made to delivery of treatment to provide comprehensive oral health care services.” Up until now, there hasn’t been a uniform code to use when treating patients with special needs, and it’s a growing population of dental patients.
For more information on the new CDT codes, visit the ADA website here.
Whether it’s cleaning up billing and insurance codes or organizing record-keeping, contact Dental CPAs for advice on how to run a smoother, more efficient, and profitable dental practice in 2020.