Learning Objectives: 

• Describe the 3 reasons it is important for dental hygiene students and dental hygienists to know CDT procedure codes.
• Explain the differences between Insurance Codes and Procedure Codes.
• Explain why knowing the CDT code number and nomenclature (title) is not enough. And what about ICD-10 diagnostic codes?
• Describe the differences between the 7 “cleaning” procedure codes (because there IS no “cleaning” CDT procedure code)
• Identify ways to incorporate the teaching of the CDT procedure codes into the dental hygiene curriculum.

The dental hygiene curriculum is packed with CODA Standards for didactic and clinical courses. When state practices acts change or rules are amended to add procedures to the scope of practice, the question is always “Where do we put it?”

Dental practices are expecting hygienists to be able to select the appropriate CDT procedure code for the services they are providing to their patients. Yet most programs do not teach it, telling the students they will “learn it” at their first job.

Dental hygiene programs must begin to incorporate the teaching of the ADA’s CDT Procedures Codes and their Descriptors. But how? And what about the ICD-10 diagnostic codes currently listed in the CDT Manual?

This one hour presentation will provide ideas for beginning to include the 50-150 CDT procedures/codes which can be provided by dental hygienists, depending on your state.