The American Dental Association’s Code Maintenance Committee (CMC) is responsible for keeping the CDT code set timely, relevant, and applicable to the standard practice of dentistry. The yearly updates to the CDT code set become effective on January 1 of that year. Since 2021, there have been over 160 CDT code changes. By our estimations, less than 20% of dental and dental specialty practices have the dental coding resources to stay abreast of these changes, which means unnecessary claim denials, delays, and roadblocks to consistent revenue – on top of patient dissatisfaction. Let’s take a look at some of the common coding complexities that the Advisors at Dr. Charles Blair’s Practice Booster have seen so far this year.
Dental coding tips for image-related procedures
A very commonly used CDT code received a revision this year: D0210 intraoral – comprehensive series of radiographic images, commonly referred to as the full mouth series of radiographs. Similar changes were also made to the image capture-only variant of the comprehensive series, D0709. Click below to read the Practice Booster blog on all of the 2023 CDT code changes to image-related procedures.
Dental coding tips for supernumerary teeth
Accurate dental coding and documentation of supernumerary teeth is crucial for accurate diagnosis, treatment planning, and insurance reimbursement. However, navigating the dental coding complexities of supernumerary teeth can prove to be daunting, even for the most experienced dental billing specialist. Clear up the confusion around supernumerary teeth in this informative blog post from a Practice Booster Senior Advisor.
Dental coding tips for Intraoral Tomosynthesis (sIOT)
The 2023 CDT code set introduced several new codes, six of which were created to report stationary intraoral tomosynthesis (sIOT). While a similar 3D imaging concept has been used in mammography, it is a new technology for dental practices. Read all about stationary intraoral tomosynthesis, its uses, and how to confidently code for it from the experts at Practice Booster.
Avoiding deleted CDT codes
Do you often receive insurance denials that state “invalid CDT code”? If so, you aren’t alone. As stated above, we’re estimating that around 80% of dental offices do not update dental coding resources regularly to stay in the know, which means they are risking denials, delays, and disruptions in their dental practice revenue. Keep reading for three tips for avoiding deleted CDT codes from the CEO of Practice Booster, who has experience as a State and National Dental Director.
Practice Booster has the resources you need to succeed
Practice Booster’s Online Code Advisor is the most comprehensive and up-to-date online database of CDT codes available. This powerful web-based search engine provides an in-depth review of all CDT codes to enable dental teams to properly report dental procedures. Plus, it is completely searchable by code number, topic, word, or phrase, to maximize the efficiency of your dental billing team.
Check out the incomparable features of Practice Booster’s Online Code Advisor:
- Warnings, cautions, and matches help your team stop dental coding errors before they happen
- Unparalleled error-prevention technology
- 24/7 accessibility from your computer or tablet
- Customizable dashboard for maximum coding efficiency
- Flowcharts, images, narrative guidelines, and more
- 6 paper issues of the Insurance Solutions Newsletter, plus online access to the past 3 year’s newsletter articles
This invaluable resource, along with the detailed books, integrates seamlessly with dental billing outsourcing. Arm yourself – and your team – with the best tools, resources, and training available to maximize legitimate reimbursement and minimize the hassles and exposures to audit risk.
About the Practice Booster Dental Coding Advisor
Dr. Charles Blair is the dental industry’s leading authority on practice management and profitability strategies. He is the Founder and Senior Advisor of Practice Booster. Dr. Blair holds a Doctorate of Dental Surgery from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as well as degrees in accounting, business administration, and mathematics.
