Dental Oral Exam Codes Purpose
Dental oral exam codes all serve a different purpose. And lucky us! Because we have options. So, let’s take a closer look at our options. And how exam codes are defined. It’s easy to get comfortable with just a few codes. Like the periodic exam and limited evaluation. However, we miss opportunities when we do that. And we limit ourselves!
Provide Better Patient Care
We provide better patient care with an expanded exam protocol. And we also improve our patient awareness. I love to add frequency and settings for exams. It’s so helpful to know who is due for what exam at a glance. Continuing care settings allow us to track any procedure code we want. And that includes our exams.
Dental Oral Exam Codes List
8 Unique CDT Codes
- D0120 – periodic oral evaluation – existing patient
- D0140 – limited oral evaluation – problem focused
- D0145 – oral evaluation for a patient under 3 years of age and counseling with primary caregiver
- D0150 – comprehensive oral evaluation – new or established patient
- D0160 – detailed and extensive oral evaluation – problem focused, by report
- D0170 – re-evaluation – established patient, limited problem focused, not post operative
- D0171 – re-evaluation, post operative office visit
- D0180 – comprehensive periodontal evaluation – new or existing patient
Using Exam Codes Correctly
Comprehensive periodontal evaluation (D0180) is for new or existing patients. If a new patient presents with signs of periodontal disease, this may be a code to consider. Especially if we identify the patient has risk factors. A risk factor such as diabetes or patient smokes. This is an exam performed by the dentist. And may be an exam we perform once a year for periodontal patients. Although, it is not a periodontal charting visit. It is an exam!
Re-evaluation (D0170 and D0171) codes are for established patients. And these codes are pretty self explanatory. These are codes we use as a follow-up exam. One code is post operative one is not. Post operative is a follow up exam after a dental surgery.
Dental Oral Exam Codes Explained
Detailed and extensive oral evaluations (D0160) require a narrative. And this code is more extensive than a limited or periodic exam. This exam may involve both past dental issues as well as new dental issues.
Comprehensive oral evaluation (D0150) is for new and existing patients. All our new dental patients receive this level of care. However, what about our existing patients? We can certainly complete a more thorough exam for our existing patients every 3-5 years. And this exam in conjunction with a new series of full x-rays is beneficial.
Final 3 Dental Oral Exam Codes
Exam for Kids
Oral evaluation for a patient under 3 years of age (D0145) is self-explanatory. And this procedure code includes consultation costs of talking with the primary caregiver. It makes sense that a separate code exists for this particular need.
Problem Focused
A limited oral evaluation (D0140) is a problem focused exam. A patient with a toothache or broken tooth is an example of such. Our emergency dental patients fall into this category. And this might be a new or an existing patient.
Existing Patients
Finally, our periodic oral exam (D0120) for existing patients. This exam often accompanies a hygiene visit. Although it can be a separate visit as well. However, we might consider a more detailed exam code if this is the case. And this is one of the codes I would set a continuing care frequency for.
Use Continuing Care Settings
Continuing care settings are fabulous! I love to see what my patient is due for on their demographic screen. Dental exams are a critical piece of patient care. Is my patient due for a periodic exam? When was their last periodic exam? And are they due for a full comprehensive oral evaluation? All these factors contribute to my dentist’s restorative schedule too.
Perhaps you want to alternate comprehensive periodontal exams with periodic exams for perio patients. Or for those with high risk factors. And maybe you want to schedule a full comprehensive exam for existing patients every 5 years? Maybe you already do these things. Perhaps it’s time to add a frequency and continuing care setting?
Write Your Exam Policy
I highly recommend a written policy for dental exams. Make sure the team knows the policy and understands the differences between each exam code. And try not to base your use of dental exams on insurance benefits. Remember, insurance benefits are meant to be just that. A benefit that helps a patient with dental costs. It is not meant to be a guide on how to provide dental care. And our patients may need our help understanding this.
