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

1. 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.
Outsource Strategies International
United States

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Dental or oral health is an important part of your overall health and well-
being. 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

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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.