It is not just the dental world that is changing into more medical, it’s the medical world changes that bring dental into the New World of Medicine.
The American Medical Association (AMA) approved a new category III CPT code for the application of silver diamine fluoride (SDF) by medical teams to arrest dental decay without a dental filling. The addition of this code is a milestone in improving access to dental care and helping more people achieve better oral health.
The CPT code approval for SDF will benefit patients by providing many new points of access for treating tooth decay.
“To achieve oral health equity, Both Dental and Medical must work together to help all patients understand the oral connection, and treatment of patients together.
“The inclusion of a new CPT code for medical professionals to offer critical non-invasive therapeutic oral health care to their patients is a key step toward a more accessible, equitable, and integrated health system that meets the needs of everyone.”
Tooth decay is the most common noncommunicable disease worldwide and can lead to serious health problems, including brain or heart infections if left untreated. It includes patients who are not aware of the many changes in the connections the oral cavity has with the body. Education is part of the major changes, and we must all play a role in helping patients learn why oral care is as important as any medical condition that requires treatment and maintenance.
Example: Dental code for D1354 application of caries arresting medicament, per tooth—Descriptor: Conservative treatment of an active, non-symptomatic carious lesion by topical application of caries arresting or inhibiting medicament and without mechanical removal of sound tooth structure.
0792T Application of silver diamine fluoride 38%, by a physician or other qualified health care professional December 29, 2022 – July 1, 2023, CPT® 2024 The update to this code will be announced soon. The newly approved CPT code is expected to be inputted into code sets by Electronic Health Records (EHR) vendors in July 2023.
Visit www.dentalmedicalbilling.com for training and more information on the changes in how codes are changing, and the way insurance companies will be paying.