The American Dental Association (ADA) employs a standardized system, known as Current Dental Terminology (CDT), to categorize and define dental procedures. This system ensures consistent communication between dental professionals, insurance providers, and patients. A specific alphanumeric code within this system denotes a particular type of preventative treatment focused on managing gingivitis. This procedure involves scaling and root planing limited to specific areas of the mouth, typically one to three teeth per quadrant, where active periodontal disease is present. For example, if a patient exhibits localized inflammation and bleeding around a few teeth despite regular oral hygiene, this targeted therapy might be indicated.
This code’s significance lies in its ability to facilitate accurate billing and insurance claims processing. Clear and consistent procedure identification minimizes claim denials and ensures appropriate reimbursement for dental services. Furthermore, utilizing standardized terminology contributes to data collection and analysis, enabling researchers to track trends in periodontal disease prevalence and the effectiveness of various treatment modalities. Historically, the evolution of such coding systems reflects a growing emphasis on preventative and minimally invasive dental care, moving from solely addressing advanced disease to proactively managing early-stage conditions.
