Is your practice prepared for the additions, revisions, and deletions that will go into effect on January 1, 2020, to the Codes on Dental Procedures and Nomenclature (CDT)? The new year will bring 37 new and five revised codes, plus six deleted codes.
While dental plans are required to recognize current CDT codes, it is important to keep in mind they are not required to pay for or provide benefits for the new or revised codes. Dentists should review each dental plan's payment and processing guidelines to determine whether benefits will be payable. Typically, plans will start sending updates about policy changes for the new year in late October and early November.
New procedure codes
The new procedure codes being introduced in 2020 are listed below.
| New CDT 2020 procedure codes | |
| Code | Description |
| D0419 | Assessment of salivary flow by measurement |
| D1551 | Recement or rebond bilateral space maintainer -- maxillary |
| D1552 | Recement or rebond bilateral space maintainer -- mandibular |
| D1553 | Recement or rebond 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 fixed partial denture (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 | Recement or rebond fixed retainer -- maxillary |
| D8699 | Recement or rebond 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 |
CDT code revisions
There will be three code revisions (see table below) and two site changes.
| CDT code revisions | |
| Code | Description |
| 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. |
In addition, there will be periodontal category descriptor revisions.
The site changes include the following:
- 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.
CDT code deletions
There are also six code deletions scheduled for 2020.
| CDT codes deletions | |
| Code | Description |
| D1550 | Recement or rebond space maintainer |
| D1555 | Removal of fixed space maintainer |
| D8691 | Repair of orthodontic appliance |
| D8692 | Replacement of lost or broken retainer |
| D8693 | Recement or rebond fixed retainer |
| D8694 | Repair of fixed retainers, includes reattachment |
There are also 15 editorial actions that clarify without changing the CDT Code entry's purpose or scope, such as to syntax and spelling. The CDA encourages all billing dentists to obtain a current copy of the ADA CDT 2020 procedure codes, which are available for purchase through the ADA website. It is recommended that all dental offices have a current copy to assist with proper claim billing.
Additionally, when coding, dentists must code for the work that was done, not for what is covered under the patient's benefit plan.
DrBicuspid.com wishes to thank the California Dental Association (CDA) for allowing us to reprint this article, which originally appeared on the CDA website.
The comments and observations expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the opinions of DrBicuspid.com, nor should they be construed as an endorsement or admonishment of any particular idea, vendor, or organization.
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