• Ask the Coder
• 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!

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!