Dental Examination Types
A classification system for dental evaluations, including comprehensive, periodic, limited, and emergency examinations, each assigned a distinct CDT code and clinical purpose.
Full Definition
Dental examination types categorise the scope and intent of a clinical evaluation: a comprehensive oral examination (D0150) is typically performed on new patients and covers the full mouth; a periodic oral evaluation (D0120) is conducted on established patients at recall visits; a limited oral evaluation (D0140) addresses a specific chief complaint; and a comprehensive periodontal evaluation (D0180) focuses on periodontal status. Editors working with clinical records, billing documents, and patient communications must use the correct examination type designation to ensure accurate coding and coverage. Substituting one examination type for another—particularly D0150 for D0120—is a common billing error that can constitute a compliance violation.
Usage
Usage note: Always pair examination type names with their CDT codes in billing and clinical documentation to prevent misidentification. Avoid the shorthand 'new patient exam' and 'check-up' in formal records; use the full CDT-aligned designations.
In Context
- "The billing audit found that the practice had been consistently coding the wrong dental examination type for returning patients, billing D0150 instead of D0120." — Billing compliance audit
- "The editor updated the patient intake form to list the correct dental examination types and their definitions so that front-desk staff could select the appropriate CDT code." — Patient intake form revision