ADA Dental Coding Changes for 2020 (Historical List)

This is the 2020 list

These are the CDT changes that took effect on January 1, 2020. CDT codes change every year, so a code or descriptor below may have been revised or deleted since. Check the current CDT manual from the ADA before you bill. For current coding help, start with our dental insurance and billing resources.

The ADA’s CDT code changes went into effect on January 1, 2020. Kyle Summerford published this list in his Dental Coding with Kyle column on DentistryIQ so offices could keep it handy while the team learned the new codes. We keep it here as a record of what changed that year.

Dental office staff member checking codes on paperwork before sending a claim

Codes deleted in CDT 2020

  • D1550: Recement or rebond space maintainer
  • D1555: Removal of fixed space maintainer
  • D8691: Repair of orthodontic appliance
  • D8692: Replacement of lost or broken retainer
  • D8693: Recement or rebond fixed retainer
  • D8694: Repair of fixed retainers, includes reattachment

Free guide

Maximizing Dental Insurance Benefits

Free for dental office managers. Enter your details and get instant access.

Get the free guide

Codes that replaced a deleted code

Each group below shows the 2020 code it replaced.

Replaces D1550 Recement or rebond space maintainer

  • D1551: Recement or rebond bilateral space maintainer, maxillary
  • D1552: Recement or rebond bilateral space maintainer, mandibular
  • D1553: Recement or rebond unilateral space maintainer, per quadrant

Replaces D1555 Removal of fixed space maintainer

  • D1556: Removal of fixed unilateral space maintainer, per quadrant
  • D1557: Removal of fixed bilateral space maintainer, maxillary
  • D1558: Removal of fixed bilateral space maintainer, mandibular

Replaces D8691, repair of orthodontic appliance

  • D8696: Repair of orthodontic appliance, maxillary
  • D8697: Repair of orthodontic appliance, mandibular

Replaces D8693 recement or rebond fixed retainer

  • D8698: Recement or rebond fixed retainer, maxillary
  • D8699: Recement or rebond fixed retainer, mandibular

Replaces D8694 repair of fixed retainer

  • D8701: Repair of fixed retainer, includes reattachment, maxillary
  • D8702: Repair of fixed retainer, includes reattachment, mandibular

Revised: D8692, replace lost or broken retainer

  • D8703: Replacement of lost or broken retainer, maxillary
  • D8704: Replacement of lost or broken retainer, mandibular

New codes in CDT 2020

  • D0419: Assessment of salivary flow by measurement
  • D2753: Crown, titanium, or titanium alloys
  • D5284: Removable unilateral partial denture, one-piece flexible base (including clasps and teeth), per quadrant
  • D5286: Removable unilateral partial denture, one-piece resin (including clasps and teeth), per quadrant
  • D6082: Implant supported crown, porcelain fused to predominantly base alloys
  • D6083: Implant supported crown, porcelain fused to noble alloys
  • D6084: Implant supported crown, porcelain fused to titanium or titanium alloys
  • D6086: Implant supported crown, predominantly base alloys
  • D6087: Implant supported crown, noble alloys
  • D6088: Implant supported crown, titanium or titanium alloys
  • D6120: Implant supported retainer, porcelain fused to titanium and titanium alloys
  • D6121: Implant supported retainer for metal FPD, predominantly base alloys
  • D6123: Implant supported retainer for metal FPD, titanium and titanium alloys
  • D6195: Abutment supported retainer, porcelain fused to titanium and titanium alloys
  • D6243: Pontic, porcelain fused to titanium and titanium alloys
  • D6753: Retainer crown, porcelain fused to titanium and titanium alloys
  • D6784: Retainer crown 3/4, titanium and titanium alloys
  • D7922: Placement of intrasocket biological dressing to aid in hemostasis or clot stabilization, per site
  • D9997: Dental case management, patients with special health-care needs

Before you use any code on this page

  1. Look the code up in the current CDT manual. The codes on this page are from 2020.
  2. Update your practice management software when each year’s changes come out.
  3. Check that the patient’s plan covers the code before you submit the claim.

Send this to whoever runs billing in your office.

This article first appeared on DentistryIQ in 2020.

About the author. Kyle Summerford founded DOMA, the Dental Office Managers community with 26,700+ members, and has 25 years in dental office management. He writes the Dental Coding with Kyle column for DentistryIQ.

Free guide

Maximizing Dental Insurance Benefits

Free for dental office managers. Enter your details and get instant access.

Get the free guide

More on coding and billing

Free for dental office managers

Get the Free Starter Kit

4 ebooks and 2 course previews from Kyle Summerford, plus free membership in the DOMA community of 26,700+ office managers. No credit card.

Free Starter Kit for dental office managers: 4 ebooks and 2 course previews.Get it free