Newsletter

Dental implants have transformed modern dentistry, offering predictable restoration of function, preservation of alveolar bone, and significant improvements in patient quality of life. As implant placement continues to rise nationwide and is projected to grow steadily in the coming years, the number of patients presenting with peri-implant mucositis and peri-implantitis has also increased.¹, ² With this growth comes a corresponding need for clinical precision and administrative clarity. Accurate diagnosis, appropriate staging of disease, and correct utilization of implant-specific CDT codes are essential not only for optimal patient outcomes but also for compliant documentation, defensible treatment planning, and successful insurance reporting.

During the ADA’s Code Maintenance Committee (CMC) meeting in March of 2024, it was determined that a substantial reworking of the sedation and anesthesia CDT codes was necessary, prompted by several anesthesia-related submissions for CDT 2025. These changes were discussed during the action request review period and at the actual March 2024 CMC meeting. A working group was established at the direction of the Council on Dental Benefit Programs (CDBP) following a recommendation from the CMC.

The 2025 Code Maintenance Committee (CMC) has finalized the Current Dental Terminology (CDT) for 2026. The CMC’s action includes 60 total changes: 31 additions, 14 revisions, 9 editorial changes, and 6 deletions. To meet HIPAA requirements, all dental claims for services performed between January 1 and December 31, 2026, must utilize the appropriate code from CDT 2026.

Current Dental Terminology (CDT) – officially known as the Code on Dental Procedures and Nomenclature – provides a uniform, consistent, and accurate method of documenting dental procedures. This is its primary purpose; to be the universal language of dentistry. The American Dental Association (ADA) is the sole publisher and copyright holder of the CDT code set and is responsible for updating the code each year to meet the current needs and trends of the practice of Dentistry.
In accordance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), the CDT code set also serves as the national terminology for reporting dental procedures to insurance and third-party payors.
This means that for a dental claim to be processed correctly, the claim must have valid and accurate CDT codes from the most current CDT code set. Since 2020, there have been 249 CDT code changes, and
there are 60 more changes coming in 2026. How do these changes occur, and who decides what changes should be made? Let’s take a peek behind the curtain.