Implant coding tips and tools
- Updated:
- May 2023
- Author:
- Greg Grobmyer, DDS
- Topic:
- Coding
One of the more common challenges for dental practices is proper implant coding and reporting of implant-related procedures. There are numerous CDT codes that describe the various implant-related procedures, but not all of the codes may be in the Implant Services Category (D6000-D6199), which can lead to coding conundrums and denied claims. In this blog, we will explore implant coding best practices and show you the tools you need to navigate implant-related procedures.
Implant coding
Implant techniques and technologies continue to evolve year after year, and this evolution has resulted in an increased number of individuals accepting implant treatment to replace missing teeth. This means that many general dentists that weren’t performing implant-related procedures before have now added implant placement and/or restoration to their clinical procedures.
Implant-related procedures that require implant coding:
-
The implant body
-
Abutment
-
Locator
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Abutment-supported crown or bridge
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Implant-supported crown or bridge
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Removable prostheses
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Fixed, interim prostheses
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Fixed, long-term prostheses
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Additional supportive procedures that have CDT codes outside of the Implant Services Category
It is more important than ever for dental practices to be up-to-date on the implant-related CDT codes – and related codes – in order to keep dental claims that are reporting implant procedures from being unnecessarily denied or unexpectedly downgraded.
Removable prostheses
If a removable prosthesis has been fabricated and placed immediately after extractions, it should be reported as an immediate denture.
D5130 IMMEDIATE DENTURE - MAXILLARY
D5140 IMMEDIATE DENTURE - MANDIBULAR
If a new removable prosthesis is provided for a patient to wear while the implants are being placed, or at any time during the healing processes, that prosthesis should be reported as an interim denture.
D5810 INTERIM COMPLETE DENTIRE (MAXILLARY)
D5811 INTERIM COMPLETE DENTURE (MANDIBULAR)
The following codes report the removable implant/abutment-supported denture. Be aware that when filing a claim, it is important to indicate whether the prosthesis is the initial or replacement appliance.
D6110 IMPLANT/ABUTMENT SUPPORTED REMOVABLE DENTURE FOR EDENTULOUS ARCH - MAXILLARY
D6111 IMPLANT/ABUTMENT SUPPORTED REMOVABLE DENTURE FOR EDENTULOUS ARCH - MANDIBULAR
D6112 IMPLANT/ABUTMENT SUPPORTED REMOVABLE DENTURE FOR PARTIALLY EDENTULOUS ARCH - MAXILLARY
D6113 IMPLANT/ABUTMENT SUPPORTED REMOVABLE DENTURE FOR PARTIALLY EDENTULOUS ARCH - MANDIBULAR
Implant-supported fixed, long-term prostheses
What implant codes are used when an edentulous patient wants an implant-supported fixed, long-term prostheses? Knowing the proper implant coding best practices for each step of this treatment is crucial to maximizing legitimate revenue, while also providing a great patient experience.
D6114 IMPLANT/ABUTMENT SUPPORTED FIXED DENTURE FOR EDENTULOUS ARCH - MAXILLARY
D6115 IMPLANT/ABUTMENT SUPPORTED FIXED DENTURE FOR EDENTULOUS ARCH - MANDIBULAR
D6116 IMPLANT/ABUTMENT SUPPORTED FIXED DENTURE FOR PARTIALLY EDENTULOUS ARCH - MAXILLARY
D6117 IMPLANT/ABUTMENT SUPPORTED FIXED DENTURE FOR PARTIALLY EDENTULOUS ARCH - MANDIBULAR
As stated in Dental Technology with Confidence, “All-on-4® describes a treatment technique in which all the teeth in an arch are supported by four dental implants. The need for All-on-4® related treatment scenarios is evident as more than 35 million people in the United States are missing all of their upper and/or lower teeth. However, with the advancement of this type of complex treatment modality and its applications also comes increased confusion regarding the proper billing and coding of this treatment. Consequently, your dental team should be familiar with, and educated on, the correct coding and billing for All-on-4® treatment.”
Implant coding with confidence
Are you currently, or considering, placing and/or restoring implants in your practice? As you can see, whether you are a specialist or a general dentist that specializes in innovative procedures, your revenue depends on the implant coding knowledge of your dental billing team. Dental Technology with Confidence provides insurance coding and administration insights on the technological advancements in dentistry, including implant procedures.
Grab yours today! You can also save 11% when you bundle it with Dental Coding with Confidence.
And did we mention that our resources are available as ebooks? CLICK HERE!
And if you love dental CE as much as we do, we highly recommend Introducing New Code for Guided Tissue Regeneration, Barriers, Implants, & Vaccines.
