Newsletter - Page 2

While fixed hybrid All-On-X restorations have surged in popularity (see the coding for All-on-4 article from ISN Mar/Apr 2022), there are still many times an implant supported removable prosthetic may be considered the better choice for patient treatment. These appliances generally require fewer implants to be placed, are easily removed by the patient for routine cleaning, and need little maintenance with the exception of occasionally replacing retentive o-rings or gaskets.

Understanding the difference between CDT coding and clinical diagnosis is important when evaluating the gum health of our patients and creating treatment plans to address our findings. Yet a fully integrated approach to addressing their periodontal well-being also means prioritizing their comfort during treatment. A study published by the National Center for Biotechnology Information showed that 36% of the population experience dental anxiety or fear, with an additional 12% facing severe dental fear. This fear and anxiety were proven to lead to the avoidance of dental care, deterioration of dentition, and feelings of guilt, shame, and inferiority, which further perpetuates this vicious cycle.

Although it is most often considered clinically a non-invasive method for arresting active caries, silver diamine fluoride, commonly referred to as SDF, has multiple other clinical uses within the dental office. The SDF
compound combines the clinical properties of silver, which is naturally antimicrobial, and fluoride, which remineralizes and hardens tooth structures, along with ammonia, which acts as a stabilizing agent and also has inherent antiseptic properties. It is available in the United States as a 38% solution delivered as a brush on medicament.

The American Dental Association’s Code Maintenance Committee (CMC) is responsible for maintaining the Code on Dental Procedures and Terminology (CDT) code set. The committee meets annually and is charged with evaluating all submitted code change requests. The CMC votes to accept, amend, or decline each request based on the best interests of the dental profession, patients, and third-party payers and administrators.

The 2023 Code Maintenance Committee (CMC) has finalized the Current Dental Terminology (CDT) for 2024. The action of the CMC includes 16 total changes: 14 additions and 2 revisions, with no editorial changes or deletions. In addition, one new Category of Service has been added. All dental claims for services performed between January 1 and December 31, 2024, must utilize the appropriate code from CDT 2024 to meet HIPAA requirements.