American Dental Coders Association

Dental Billing & Coding Experts

When the doctor notes two separate areas of decay on a single tooths O surface, for example spotting decay on a molar tooth and the doctor calls out “O, and OL”, how should we file this? Similar situation when there is decay on the O, and the doctor wants to seal up the groove and completes a connected OL & OB composite. Should it be filed this way, as two – two surface fillings or is it a 4-surface filling? Or should it just be considered an O filling, even if the doctor fills any remaining L or B grooves? We had a lot of confusion on this!

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If the filling is solely on the Occusal surface it is considered a 1-surface filling regardless of the location of the decay.
Example:
If the doctor drills into the occlusal surface and the lingual surface of the tooth then it would be considered a 2-surface filling, if he drills into the occusal, lingual and buccal surfaces of the tooth then it would be considered a 3-surface filling. If he/she merely drills into the occulsal surface with multiple locations on the occlusal surface it does not constitute more than a 1-surface filling.

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American Dental Coders Association
3120 W Carefree Hwy. Suite 1
Phoenix, AZ. 85086
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