There are many types of dental insurance plans being sold or provided by employers. It can be very confusing, but it’s extremely important to understand the differences between these plans.

We see a lot of confusion surrounding CDT code D7111 as it relates to the extraction of a primary tooth. Keeping up with CDT codes is always a challenge for dental professionals, but this knowledge is crucial for proper claim submission that will lead to timely reimbursement from insurance companies.

Did you know D5875 is a billable service? It is common for a patient with an existing denture or partial denture to have implants placed. The existing denture or partial dentures are modified to fit the implants placed. This may be modification for the denture to be used as an interim during the healing phase following implant placement. The denture may also be modified with the intention of it being the definitive implant/abutment supported denture (e.g., immediate denture modified after implant placement).

Is it a sealant, preventive resin restoration or a filling? What’s the difference?

During my many years of working as a chairside assistant in a progressive general dentistry practice, I was fortunate to watch the advances in implant technology and technique. Dental implant treatment options to replace missing teeth is an excellent treatment option for many patients. Is it always successful? No, unfortunately it isn’t. When treatment is not successful, it may be necessary to remove the implant.

Are you capturing all the potential insurance reimbursement when performing implant related services? Accurate reimbursement begins with accurate coding. There are many components associated when restoring dental implants. It is important to document each component, as applicable to ensure the highest possible reimbursement. This article will focus on implants restored with single crowns and retainer crowns associated with fixed partial dentures (bridges).

Are you prescribing Perio Trays™ in your dental practice? Many of you may be prescribing and placing carriers, or trays, for the periodontal patient filled with a medicament developed to decrease harmful, disease causing pathogens. Perio Trays™ by Perio Protect® is the brand we are familiar with for fabricating the custom carriers or trays. Use of the custom lab fabricated carrier is a non-invasive treatment and can reduce the need for more invasive treatments for patients with periodontal disease.

Do you place fixed interim implant dentures? If so, did you know there are CDT codes to document this procedure? Many dentists are performing All-on-4 treatments and patients are seeking this treatment option more than ever. The All-on-4 is a treatment concept where a fixed hybrid denture is supported by implants, not necessarily limited to placement of 4 implants. In 2018, the Code Maintenance Committee (CMC) recognized a gap in the CDT code set. Dentists were placing interim fixed hybrid dentures and there was no code to adequately document this procedure. Thus, CMC accepted two new codes into CDT 2019.

According to the American Cancer Society’s recent study , oral cancer continues to be on the rise. This being my 35th year in dentistry and many years being a clinical team member, I have seen many instances of oral cancer, more than I like to count. I have also had friends who did not survive oral cancer and those that have, for which I am very thankful. April is Oral Cancer Awareness month. Early detection saves lives! I thought it would be the perfect time to discuss CDT codes related to early detection of oral cancer. This article will address code D0431 and editorial revisions to the descriptors of D0120 and D0150 for CDT 2021.

You see two long words with the same prefix and think “probably is close to the same thing!” In this case, they actually have different meanings. In the dental world, many people use the terms predetermination and preauthorization interchangeably. However, there can be some differences in the meaning depending on its purpose. Confused? We get it. Not everyone’s an expert on insurance terms, and they can get really complicated. Our team of experienced dental billers at Dental ClaimSupport have submitted many predeterminations and preauthorizations over a number of years. We know the pros and cons of this practice and understand the meaning of these terms and the payer’s views. We value education and learning as much as we can about dental billing terms so that we can move through the process seamlessly.