Ask the Coder (540)

If you are removing gingiva for the purpose of giving more tooth structure for a crown the most appropriate answer is D4249 crown lengthening as this would not be considered a gingivectomy. Crown lengthening is performed to allow a crown with little or no tooth structure exposure to the oral cavity. While gingivectomy is used (more)

According to most carriers it should be billed out on the delivery date.

D8660 usually includes the following Exam, treatment plan and consultation between other dentists involved in the case.

This is really a carrier driven question, some carriers will allow the exam to be performed on the same day as the debridement, however most carriers will not. The code D4355 Debridement is performed when an exam cannot be performed due to poor oral health. Most carriers want the debridement D4355 performed on a seperate (more)

99512 would be an inapproiate code for sleep apenea / tap appliance as the code is used for Home Health visit for hemodialysis. They may have transposed the numbers and it should be 99215 for an exam, however, even that would be considered over-coding as it would be difficult to meet the criteria for a (more)

Whether the lab made the inlay or onlay has no bearing on the code. It is the same as if you were billing for a crown made in a lab. Depending on what type of material was used and how many surfaces covered would determine the code used: Metallic onlay- D2542-D2544 or Metallic Inlay D2510-D2530 (more)

41899

Depending on the insurance carrier, some carriers state 1-3 teeth use 21248 partial 4 or more use 21249. While other carriers state if you are performing the surgical phase only use 21248 and if you are performing both the surgical and prosthetic phase use 21249.

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