American Dental Coders Association | Dental Billing & Coding Certification Online

Certifying Dental Billing and Coding Professionals Nationwide

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I am new to dental coding and having a hard time deciphering exam code D0150 from D0140 for new patients. To provide an example, I had a patient who came to the oral surgeon on referral from her regular dentist to have her wisdom teeth removed. The oral surgeon notes in the history that her wisdom teeth are impacted but asymptomatic, that she has no allergies, her family history is non-contributory, and she's not a smoker. He then takes a panorex and looks at the gums and notes the impacted wisdom teeth and the absence of any malocclusion. He is not including a total perio chart in the record (though he's also indicated the presence of a malpositioned canine tooth). He doesn't mention the hard/soft palates or any soft tissue anomalies (not referencing looking at the tongue or the mucosa). So while he is looking around at a lot of structures in the mouth, not just at the wisdom teeth, he doesn't appear to me to be documenting the full extent of what is described by CDT code D0150, but at the same time, D0140 for a problem-focused exam seems like less than the work he is doing. In this particular example, would you recommend D0150 or D0140?
Anonymous January 4, 2017
D0140 is for a patient being seen for a specific problem minimal documentation is required. Why the patient was there or Chief Complaint and proposed treatment. D0150 is for a first time patient and must meet the following criteria oral cancer screening, evaluation and recording of patients dental and medical history and overall general health (more)
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Is there a guideline for a dental provider on signing off on documentation when patient is seen? If patient is seen mutiple days, Can one documentation be used or does each day need to be initialed and/or signed by the dentist?
Anonymous December 28, 2016
No, the provider must document clearly each day what was done and each day needs to be signed off on.
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Our office took a panorex xray for a patient for purposes of teeth extraction at the oral surgeon. The patient wants me to send the Panorex xray claim to medical insurance since it is related. What code do I use for the Panorex and what would be the diagnosis code I put on the 1500 form?
Anonymous December 16, 2016
70355 the diagnosis code would depend on the findings example why are the extractions being performed...impacted teeth, decay, etc.
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how do I sign up for the CDC exam
Anonymous December 3, 2016
Go to the website and click Certification - CDC
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(Once you purchase the exam it will be released within 2 business days of purchase.)How will I know that the exam has been released for me to take?
Anonymous November 27, 2016
Once you have been approved to take the exam you will receive an email with the URL along with your username and password. Please note some individuals will undergo an audit prior to the release of the exam these individuals will be notified by mail. The address used will be the one in your members (more)
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how many CEUS do I need to renew membership?
Anonymous November 15, 2016
depending on how many credentials you hold it is 12 CE's for the first credential and an additional 4 CE's for every credential you hold in addition.
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I would like to know if a scaling and root planning has been done on only 1 or 2 teeth on the right upper quad are we required to still do periodontal maintenance on the entire mouth and bill for that. Is it possible to bill for only those two teeth for periodontal maintenance and then a regular prophy for the rest of the mouth?
Anonymous November 9, 2016
RSP must be done on a separate visit. It is not billable in conjunction with periodontal maintenance or a prophy.
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Hi i applied for CDBS certification Exam last thursday but still i didn't get the link for exam. my email is wonkyen@gmail.com can you please check this problem ?
Anonymous November 8, 2016
All exams are suspended at this time we will resume exams starting Monday January 23, 2017
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I recently asked about testing but have not yet received an answer. I completed the course this past Spring and have not yet completed the final exam for certification. How do I pay for and access this? Thank you.
Anonymous November 1, 2016
You may contact the certification department 800.300.0239 or email support@adcaonline.org Or you may logon to www.adcaonline.org and select the certification tab select the exam you would like to take and follow the registration process.
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Good afternoon, where can i buy this coding books for CDC exam. i stay in Doha-Qatar where i cannot find this books. Can you help me in buying books. Thanks
Anonymous October 27, 2016
We suggest Amazon.com for all coding manuals
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