Six Common Dental Problems and Their Related ICD-10 Codes

Six Common Dental Problems and Their Related ICD-10 Codes

Practicing good oral hygiene can help prevent dental problems. The article provides an overview of six common dental conditions and their ICD-10 codes.

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Dental or oral health is an important part of your overall health and wellbeing. Lack of proper oral hygiene can lead to dental cavities, gum diseases and has also been linked to heart disease, cancer, and diabetes. Proper oral hygiene habits (like proper brushing, flossing, limiting the intake of sugar) will help evade costly dental procedures. Patients must be encouraged to go for regular dental check-ups and educating themselves about the common dental problems and their related causes. Dealing with the process of medical billing and coding and insurance coverage is a challenging task for all dental practices. Relying on the services of an established dental billing company can help in accurate clinical documentation and appropriate reimbursement.

Reports from the World Health Organization (WHO) suggest that between 60-90 percent of school children have at least one dental cavity. It is estimated that nearly 100 percent of adults have at least one dental cavity.

Pain or toothache, loose teeth, frequent dry mouth, pain with chewing or biting, bleeding or swollen gums, ulcers, sores, or tender areas in the mouth (that do not heal after a week or two) and receding gums are some of the common symptoms associated with the dental problems. Treatment of dental problems may depend on the type of condition and generally includes antibiotics, fluoride treatments, cleanings, root canal, probiotics and oral surgery (in more serious cases). Dental practices treating patients with different types of dental conditions need to know the ICD-10 codes to report these conditions correctly.

Let’s take a look at the ICD-10 codes for six common dental problems – Bad breath – Also called halitosis, bad breath is characterized by an unpleasant odor of the mouth. Anyone can suffer from bad breath. It is estimated that 1 in 4 people have bad breath on a regular basis. Poor dental hygiene is one of the most common causes for this condition. Other related

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causes include – use of tobacco products, the breakdown of food particles in and around your teeth, dry mouth, infections in your mouth and use of certain type of medications. Keeping the mouth hydrated can reduce mouth odor. Symptoms of this condition include unpleasant odor or taste in the mouth, dry mouth, or white coating on the tongue. Practicing good oral hygiene is one of the best ways to reduce the occurrence of bad breath. The ICD-10 codes for halitosis include – 

R19.6 - Halitosis

Tooth Decay – Tooth decay refers to permanently damaged areas on the hard surface of your teeth (that develop into tiny openings or holes). Also referred to as dental caries or cavities, tooth decay occurs when plaque (a sticky substance that forms on teeth) combines with the sugars and/or starches of the food you eat to produce acids that attack tooth enamel. The condition is particularly common in children, teenagers and older adults.

Common symptoms include - toothache, tooth sensitivity, mild to sharp pain (when eating or drinking something sweet, hot or cold) and visible holes or pits in your teeth. If left untreated, cavities can get larger and affect deeper layers of your teeth causing severe toothache, infection and tooth loss.

Regular dental visits and good brushing and flossing habits can help prevent tooth decay and cavities. ICD-10 codes for dental caries:  K02 - Dental caries 

K02.3 - Arrested dental caries



K02.5 - Dental caries on pit and fissure surface  K02.51 - Dental caries on pit and fissure surface, limited to enamel  K02.52 - Dental caries on pit and fissure surface, penetrating into dentin

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 K02.53 - Dental caries on pit and fissure surface, penetrating into pulp 

K02.6 - Dental caries on smooth surface  K02.61 - Dental caries on smooth surface, limited to enamel  K02.62 - Dental caries on smooth surface, penetrating into dentin  K02.63 - Dental caries on smooth surface, penetrating into pulp



K02.7 - Dental root caries



K02.9 - Dental caries, unspecified

Gingivitis – Gingivitis is a common form of gum disease that causes swelling, redness and irritation of gingiva – the part of your gum around the base of your teeth. It is estimated that this gum disease occurs among 3 out of 4 Americans during their lifetime. Symptoms of this condition include – swollen or puffy gums, gums that bleed easily (when you brush or floss), tender gums and dusky red or dark red gums. Practicing good oral health habits, such as brushing at least twice a day, flossing daily and getting regular dental checkups, can help reverse the symptoms of gingivitis.

Associated ICD-10 codes include K05 - Gingivitis and periodontal diseases 

K05.0 - Acute gingivitis  K05.00 - Acute gingivitis, plaque induced  K05.01 - Acute gingivitis, non-plaque induced



K05.1 - Chronic gingivitis  K05.10 - Chronic gingivitis, plaque induced  K05.11 - Chronic gingivitis, non-plaque induced

Periodontitis - Periodontitis is a serious gum infection that damages the soft tissue and destroys the bone that supports your teeth. Also called gum disease or periodontal disease, this condition occurs due to poor brushing www.outsourcestrategies.com

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and flossing habits that allow plaque (a sticky film of bacteria) to build up around the tooth causing inflammation of the gums. This inflammation of the gums can cause redness, swelling and a tendency to bleed during tooth brushing. Maintaining good oral hygiene is one of the primary methods to keep the teeth and gums healthy and prevent infection. Related ICD-10 codes include – K05.2 - Aggressive periodontitis 

K05.20 - Aggressive periodontitis, unspecified



K05.21 - Aggressive periodontitis, localized  K05.211 - Aggressive periodontitis, localized slight  K05.212 - Aggressive periodontitis, localized moderate  K05.213 - Aggressive periodontitis, localized severe  K05.219 - Aggressive periodontitis, localized unspecified severity



K05.22 - Aggressive periodontitis, generalized  K05.221 - Aggressive periodontitis, generalized, slight  K05.222 - Aggressive periodontitis, generalized, moderate  K05.223 - Aggressive periodontitis, generalized, severe  K05.229

-

Aggressive

periodontitis,

generalized,

unspecified

severity K05.3 - Chronic periodontitis 

K05.30 - Chronic periodontitis, unspecified



K05.31 - Chronic periodontitis, localized  K05.311 - Chronic periodontitis, localized, slight  K05.312 - Chronic periodontitis, localized, moderate  K05.313 - Chronic periodontitis, localized, severe  K05.319 - Chronic periodontitis, localized, unspecified severity



K05.32 - Chronic periodontitis, generalized  K05.321 - Chronic periodontitis, generalized, slight

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 K05.322 - Chronic periodontitis, generalized, moderate  K05.323 - Chronic periodontitis, generalized, severe  K05.329 - Chronic periodontitis, generalized, unspecified severity K05.4 - Periodontosis K05.5 - Other periodontal diseases K05.6 - Periodontal disease, unspecified Mouth sores – Mouth sores can appear on any of the soft tissues of your mouth, including the lips, cheeks, gums, tongue, and floor and roof of the mouth. In most cases, mild irritation causes a sore to appear. Many things can irritate the mouth and lead to sores – sharp or broken teeth, burning the mouth (on hot food or beverages), tobacco products and poorly fitting dentures. In addition, these sores can also occur due to use of certain medications like beta-blockers, vitamin and folate deficiencies, using highly acidic foods, and hormonal changes. Avoiding the irritants can help a person prevent mouth sores in the long run. ICD- 10 codes include – K13.7 Other and unspecified lesions of oral mucosa 

K13.70 Unspecified lesions of oral mucosa



K13.79 Other lesions of oral mucosa

Temporomandibular Joint Disorders (TMJ) - Temporomandibular joint and muscle disorders (TMJ) are a group of conditions that cause pain and dysfunction in the jaw joint and muscles that control jaw movement.

Regarded as one of the most complex joints in the body, TMJ acts like a sliding hinge, connecting the lower jaw bone (mandible) to the skull (temporal bone) in front of the ear. The joint, in combination with other muscles and ligaments, allows you to chew, swallow, speak and yawn.

According to reports, about 12 percent of people in the United States

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experiences TMJ disorders at any one time. In fact, women get affected more than men, with estimates suggesting 9 women to every 1 man experiencing

severe

pain

and

restricted

jaw

movement.

Treatment

modalities for this jaw disorder include medications and other non-drug therapies. The ICD-10 codes relevant to temporomandibular joint disorders (TMJ) includes – M26.6 - Temporomandibular joint disorders 

M26.60 - Temporomandibular joint disorder, unspecified



M26.601 - Right temporomandibular joint disorder, unspecified



M26.602 - Left temporomandibular joint disorder, unspecified



M26.603 - Bilateral temporomandibular joint disorder, unspecified



M26.609 - Unspecified temporomandibular joint disorder, unspecified side

M26.61 - Adhesions and ankylosis of temporomandibular joint 

M26.611 - Adhesions and ankylosis of right temporomandibular joint



M26.612 - Adhesions and ankylosis of left temporomandibular joint



M26.613 - Adhesions and ankylosis of bilateral temporomandibular joint



M26.619

Adhesions

and

ankylosis

of

temporomandibular

joint,

unspecified side M26.62 - Arthralgia of temporomandibular joint 

M26.621 - Arthralgia of right temporomandibular joint



M26.622 - Arthralgia of left temporomandibular joint



M26.623 - Arthralgia of bilateral temporomandibular joint



M26.629 Arthralgia of temporomandibular joint, unspecified side

M26.63 - Articular disc disorder of temporomandibular joint

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

M26.631 - Articular disc disorder of right temporomandibular joint



M26.632 - Articular disc disorder of left temporomandibular joint



M26.633 - Articular disc disorder of bilateral temporomandibular joint



M26.639

Articular

disc

disorder

of

temporomandibular

joint,

unspecified side M26.69 - Other specified disorders of temporomandibular joint Good oral and dental health has an effect on more than just your teeth.

They can also affect your overall quality of life. Many dental and oral problems develop without any symptoms. Therefore, conducting regular dental check-ups (including an examination of the entire mouth) can help in early detection of a dental problem, before it gets worse. Make sure to tell your dentist about any problems you have when chewing, swallowing, speaking or moving your tongue or jaw.

Medical billing and coding for dental disorders can be a challenging process.

Dental billing services can help dental practices meet their medical billing and claim submission requirements. Such companies will provide the services of skilled AAPC-certified coding specialists who can ensure that your practice has only fewer accounts receivable and unresolved dental claims.

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