Code on Dental Procedures and Nomenclature (CDT)
Purpose
The purpose of the CDT Code is to achieve uniformity, consistency and specificity in accurately reporting dental treatment. One use of the CDT Code is to provide for the efficient processing of dental claims.
On August 17, 2000 the CDT Code was named as a HIPAA standard code set. Any claim submitted on a HIPAA standard electronic dental claim must use dental procedure codes from the version of the CDT Code in effect on the date of service. The CDT Code is also used on paper dental claims, and the ADA's paper claim form data content reflects the HIPAA electronic standard.
Review and Revision
The CDT Code is periodically reviewed and revised to reflect the dynamic changes in dental procedures that are recognized by organized dentistry and the dental community as a whole. The next version is effective January 1, 2013.
Any person or organization may submit a request for a CDT Code addition, revision, or deletion. The remaining requests to be considered for the next version, received by November 1, 2011, are available to any interested party via the following hyperlink.
These requests will be presented and discussed by the Council on Dental Benefit Program’s Code Advisory Committee. The CAC meeting is open and convenes on Friday and Saturday, February 10–11, 2012 at ADA Headquarters in Chicago.
CAC comments and advice will be considered by the Council on Dental Benefit Programs during its April 2012 meeting. Notice of the Council's decision to accept or decline requests will be conveyed to the submitter. The next version of the CDT Code will be put into final form upon conclusion of the submitter’s appeal process.
Further information on the review and revision process, including the timetable for the following versions of the CDT Code, will be posted as soon as possible. In the interim please send any inquiries you may have by email to dentalcode@ada.org. This mailbox is monitored by Council on Dental Benefit Programs staff who are prepared to address questions and information needs.
Evaluation Criteria
The ADA Board of Trustees adopted the following six guidelines that are used by CDBP in its evaluation and decision process:
- Code change request evaluation should be based on the need for documenting procedures based upon the patient’s dental needs and not on services covered by any applicable dental benefit plan.
- Procedures that are being provided by dentists to patients should have a code available for documentation.
- Procedure code nomenclatures and descriptors should be clear and unambiguous.
- Nomenclatures and descriptors address the manner in which the procedure is delivered, and should not include references to time intervals when the procedure may be reported, or limitations on reporting with other procedures.
- The alleged potential for abuse or fraudulent use of a code should not be considered as an evaluation guideline.
- Community standards of care should not limit consideration of other evaluation criteria.
These evaluation criteria exist to maintain the best possible Code on Dental Procedures and Nomenclature. Such a robust code taxonomy makes it possible to prepare comprehensive, accurate, and detailed patient records, and accurate dental claim submissions.
Contact Information
Telephone: ADA Members, please use the toll-free number on the back of your membership card; Direct dial, 312-440-2500
E-mail: dentalcode@ada.org
