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

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.
Next CMC Meeting - March 2021
The next annual Code Maintenance Committee (CMC) meeting is scheduled to convene at ADA Headquarters in Chicago on March 11-12, 2021 (Thursday- Friday). Proceedings begin on March 11th at 8:30 AM in the 2nd floor Auditorium.

Please note:
- The CMC meeting is when member organization representatives discuss and vote to accept, amend or decline each action request.
- This an open meeting that includes public comment and discussion of any CDT Code Action Request before the committee.
- This meeting will adjourn when all agenda items have been addressed, which may be accomplished in less than the two days scheduled.
All information about the upcoming annual CMC meeting is posted on the “Code Maintenance Committee” page (see left-hand list of hyperlinked pages) –
https://www.ada.org/en/publications/cdt/code-maintenance-committee

Meeting information includes dates, times, location, action items and “listen-only” connection information for interested parties who are not able to attend in person.

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.

Date	Milestone
November	Closing date for submissions to be addressed during the next annual CMC meeting
March	Annual CMC Meeting
April	Notification of CMC decisions on action requests sent to submitter
4th Quarter	Next edition of CDT Manual published
January 1st	Effective date of a CDT version

NOTE: Any requests received after the November 1st closing date will be addressed in the next annual maintenance cycle.