Code on Dental Procedures and Nomenclature (CDT Code)
Purpose
The purpose of the CDT Code is to achieve uniformity, consistency and specificity in accurately documenting dental treatment. One use of the CDT Code is to provide for the efficient processing of dental claims, and another is to populate an Electronic Health Record.
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.
Frequent General Questions Regarding Dental Procedure Codes
When it comes to the Code on Dental Procedures and Nomenclature, better known as the CDT Code, most dentists have similar questions about this ADA intellectual property. The questions (and answers) below, compiled by the ADA Practice Institute, are often asked by ADA members who seek a general understanding of the CDT Code, and who are interested in how their own unique questions can be addressed. Please click on the FAQ link, this information is available for anyone to download, read or view.
FAQ's Regarding Dental Procedure Codes
Contact Us
Email us anytime at dentalcode@ada.org. You can also reach out to us from 8:00 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central time, Monday through Friday by phone 800.621.8099.
Code on Dental Procedures and Nomenclature CDT Code
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Annual Review & Revision
The Council on Dental Benefit Programs (CDBP) has ADA Bylaws responsibility for CDT Code maintenance. To fulfill this obligation CDBP established its Code Maintenance Committee (CMC), a body that includes representatives from various sectors of the dental community (e.g., ADA; dental specialty organizations; third-party payers). CMC members, by their votes, determine which of the requested actions are incorporated into the CDT Code.
Please see Code Maintenance Committee (CMC) page for information about the CMC's members and activities.
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March 2021 CMC Meeting - Including "Observer" Participation Information
The next annual open CMC meeting is on March 11-12, 2021 (Thursday-Friday) will convene virtually using “Zoom®” technology. Any individual interested joining this meeting as an “Observer” may do so by registering with the CMC Secretariat by 5:00 PM Central time on Tuesday, March 8, 2021. Please note that:
- Registration will be in priority order based upon when the request to participate is received
- No registration requests will be accepted after March 8th
- If you are interested in registering for the meeting, send your request via email to dentalcode@ada.org mailbox
- The email must include your name, organization affiliation (if any), and contact information (email address and telephone)
- Upon receipt of your registration, you will receive a separate email confirmation containing the “Zoom” connection information and participation protocol
Any interested party (i.e. Observer) may also submit written comments on any of the editorial or substantive action requests listed in the PDFs on this web page. Written comments must be: a) addressed to the CMC Secretariat; b) transmitted via email to
dentalcode@ada.org; and c) be received by Friday, February 26, 2021.
Note: Comments must begin with the following information: a) Commenter’s name and organizational affiliation; b) Inventory # of the request being commented upon; and c) Commenter’s position (for / against / undecided) on the request being addressed.
All comments received by February 26, 2021 will be compiled by the CMC Secretariat and forwarded to CMC member organization representatives. Observers who wish to participate in the virtual meeting will have the ability to offer verbal comments during the time periods announced by the CMC Chair.
CDT Code substantive and editorial action requests on the committee’s agenda for possible inclusion in CDT 2022, which is effective January 1st, are in the two attached PDF’s available for review or download.
- Substantive Action Inventory containing requests for CDT Code additions, as well as deletions of or significant revisions to existing CDT Code entries.
- Editorial Action Inventory containing requests to correct grammatical and format errors in existing CDT Code entries that do not affect their purpose or scope.
UPDATE: Additional Substantive Action Request
A request for a diagnostic test procedure related to the current COVID-19 Public Health Emergency was received In January 2021. It is an additional CMC meeting agenda item that is not included in the “2021 CMC Meeting Substantive Action Inventory” PDF cited above.
This action request is for a new CDT code for the following procedure – “molecular testing for a public health related pathogen, including coronavirus” that is fully described in the following PDF available for review and download.
This PDF contains the substantive action request form and two supporting documents provided by the submitter.
As noted above any interested party may submit written comments on this or any other action request on the CMC’s agenda. Written comments must be: a) addressed to the CMC Secretariat; b) transmitted via email to dentalcode@ada.org; and c) be received by Friday, February 26, 2021.
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CDT Code Maintenance Timeline
CDT Change requests may be submitted at any time, and the date received determines the CDT Code version that may incorporate the requested action. The annual closing date for submissions is on the CDT Code Maintenance timeline. Any requests received after the closing date will be addressed in the next annual maintenance cycle.
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Date
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Milestone
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November
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Closing date for submissions to be addressed during the next annual CMC meeting
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March
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Annual CMC Meeting
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April
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Notification of CMC decisions on action requests sent to submitter
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4th Quarter
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Next edition of CDT Manual published
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January 1st
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Effective date of a CDT version
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NOTE: Any requests received after the November 1st closing date will be addressed in the next annual maintenance cycle.