Let’s face it—dental coding and billing can feel like deciphering hieroglyphics while blindfolded… underwater… during a root canal. It’s confusing, overwhelming, and way too easy to mess up.

But here’s the truth: coding and billing are the lifelines of your practice’s cash flow. If your team isn’t trained, your claims won’t get paid. And if your claims don’t get paid, well—hello, collection calls and unpaid lab fees.

It’s time to treat coding and billing with the respect it deserves—not as an annoying afterthought, but as a strategic pillar of your practice success.

Here’s how dental offices should approach coding and billing (without losing their minds), the training resources that actually work, and the CDT codes every specialty should know.

1. Get the Right Mindset: This is Not a Game of Guess-the-Code

Far too many dental offices approach coding with the age-old technique called, “Uhh, what did we use last time?”

Big mistake.

CDT codes are legal documents that communicate your treatment to insurance companies. Submitting the wrong code can lead to:

• Denied claims

• Audit risks

• Unhappy patients

• Money flying out the window

The key is accuracy. If your clinical team doesn’t know what was actually done—and your front office team doesn’t know how to code it properly—you’re in for a world of pain (and not the kind covered under D7140).

2. Train Your Team Like Revenue Depends On It (Because It Does)

Don’t assume your front office team “just knows” how to code and bill. They probably don’t—and that’s not their fault.

Instead, invest in real training. Here are a few top resources:

• Veritas Dental Resources: Offers hands-on coding and billing training tailored for front office teams and clinical staff alike. Whether you're dealing with general codes, tricky specialty claims, or fighting denials, their team knows how to turn your chaos into collections.

• Dental Coding Institute / Practice Booster: Their CDT coding books and online tools are excellent references for mastering proper documentation and staying compliant.

• AAPC and ADA Resources: For in-depth certification and code explanations.

• Webinars, CE courses, and on-demand training: Regular refreshers are essential. Codes change every year!

Your team should know how to:

• Submit clean claims

• Attach narratives and documentation properly

• Understand the difference between coding for what you did vs. what insurance will pay

3. The Must-Know CDT Codes by Specialty

Every specialty has its MVP codes—those that are used frequently and require precise documentation.

General Dentists

• D0120, D0150, D0140 – Exams (periodic, comprehensive, problem-focused)

• D1110 – Adult prophylaxis (watch for downgrades!)

• D2391-D2394 – Resin-based composites

• D2740 – Crowns (porcelain/ceramic)

• D2950, D2954 – Core build-ups, post & cores

• D4341, D4342 – SRPs (commonly misunderstood—know your quadrants and CAL!)

Orthodontists

• D8080, D8090 – Comprehensive ortho (child & adult)

• D8670 – Periodic ortho visits

• D8680 – Retainers

• D8999 – Use as a catch-all with narrative (limited to case-specific coding)

Bonus Tip: Know the medical necessity requirements for insurance-based ortho benefits (like overjet measurements).

Endodontists

• D3310, D3320, D3330 – Root canals (anterior, premolar, molar)

• D3410, D3421 – Apicoectomies

• D3220, D3221 – Pulpotomies

• D3331 – Incomplete RCT (use properly with documentation!)

Pediatric Dentists (Pedodontists)

• D1120 – Child prophy

• D1206 – Fluoride varnish

• D1351 – Sealants

• D2930, D2931 – Stainless steel crowns

• D9222, D9223 – Deep sedation (many peds practices rely heavily on this for behavior management cases)

Periodontists

• D4341, D4342 – Scaling and root planing

• D4910 – Perio maintenance (major revenue killer if misunderstood)

• D4260, D4261 – Osseous surgery

• D4381 – Local delivery antimicrobial

• D4240, D4210 – Gingivectomy and flap procedures

Reminder: Always pair perio procedures with detailed charting and radiographs!

Oral Surgeons

• D7140, D7210 – Simple and surgical extractions

• D7220-D7240 – Impacted tooth extractions

• D7280 – Biopsy

• D9110 – Palliative treatment (don’t forget this!)

• D9243 – IV sedation (needs exact start and end times!)

Also, know when to bill medical vs. dental!

Dental Anesthesiologists

• D9222, D9223 – Deep sedation/general anesthesia (time-based)

• D9219 – Evaluation for anesthesia

• Ensure proper consent forms, time documentation, and post-op recovery protocols are included with claims

Prosthodontists

• D5110-D5120 – Complete dentures

• D5213-D5214 – Partial dentures

• D6010 – Surgical placement of implant

• D6057, D6058 – Implant abutments and crowns

• D5863-D5866 – Overdenture attachments

Implants are often not covered—make sure to manage patient expectations clearly!

4. Don’t Code for Coverage—Code for Care

One of the most common mistakes? Coding based on what the insurance will pay instead of what was actually done.

Just because the insurance won’t pay for a D4341 doesn’t mean you didn’t perform it. Your documentation must reflect clinical necessity, and your codes should always match your notes. Insurance denial ≠ incorrect code.

Protect your license. Code accurately.

5. Pro Tips for Bulletproof Billing

• Attach the RIGHT documentation (x-rays, perio charting, narratives)

• Verify benefits before treatment, not after

• Create a pre-claim checklist so nothing is missed

• Track your most common denials and learn from them

• Audit claims monthly—look for missed codes, wrong providers, or insurance-specific quirks

Final Thought: Great Dentistry Deserves Great Billing

You already provide incredible care. But if your billing is sloppy or your codes are wrong, it won’t matter—because your money is stuck in insurance limbo.

Train your team. Use tools like Veritas Dental Resources to empower your office with confidence and clarity. Make coding and billing a priority, not a panic attack.

Because the practices that master this stuff?
They don’t just survive. They thrive.

Need help getting your team coding like pros?
Reach out to Veritas Dental Resources for custom insurance training, claim reviews, and real-world billing strategies that actually work.

Benjamin Tuinei

Founder - Veritas Dental Resources, LLC
Phone: 888-808-4513

Services:
PPO Fee Negotiators | PPO Fee Negotiating | Insurance Fee Negotiating
Insurance Credentialing | Insurance Verifications

Websites:
www.VeritasDentalResources.com | www.VerusDental.com