How CDT Codes Are Updated

August 23, 2023

Updated 12/2026

Current Dental Terminology (CDT), officially known as the Code on Dental Procedures and Nomenclature, is the HIPAA-mandated standard for documenting and reporting dental services delivered to patients.

This means that for a dental claim to be processed timely, the claim must use valid and accurate CDT codes from the most current CDT code set.

Since 2020, there have been over 300 CDT code changes.

How do these changes occur, and who decides what changes should be made?  Let’s take a peek behind the curtain.

How are CDT codes updated?

The American Dental Association (ADA) Council on Dental Benefit Programs (CDBP) is responsible for maintaining the CDT code set.

The CDBP established a Code Maintenance Committee (CMC), which includesL
representatives from:

• American Dental Association (ADA)
• Dental specialty organizations
• Dental payors 

Who Decides Which CDT Code Changes Are Made?

The CMC determines which changes are needed by reviewing code action requests submitted by people just like you.

Anyone can submit a request for a CDT code to be added, revised, or removed.

Key points in the review process:

• All requests are due by November 1 of each calendar year
• Each request is reviewed and either approved for further consideration or denied with feedback
• Requests approved for consideration are discussed and voted on at the annual CMC meeting in March
• Requests approved by majority vote are incorporated into the following year’s CDT code set

This year, Dr. Greg Grobmyer and Dr. Jim DiMarino from Practice Booster attended the CMC meeting. 

What Are the CDT 2026 Code Changes?

This year, there were 100 requests considered and voted on by the CMC.

Of those, 60 were accepted, resulting in

• 31 new codes
• 14 revised codes
• 6 deletions
• 9 editorial changes  

Categories Affected by CDT 2026 Changes

CDT 2026 will include changes to codes in the following categories of service:

• Diagnostic
• Preventive
• Restorative
• Periodontics
• Removable Prosthodontics
• Maxillofacial Prosthetics
• Implant Services
• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
• Adjunctive General Services

Notable CDT Changes for 2026

Some of the most interesting changes for this year include

• Sweeping changes to anesthesia codes
• Alterations to posterior resins and preventive resins
• Testing for cracked teeth
• Point-of-service salivary testing

As coding guidelines state, dental procedures must be reported using the most current CDT code set.

Continuing to report inaccurate or deleted CDT codes on dental claims will result IN:

• Denied claims
• Delayed revenue
• Unhappy patients

Keep Current CDT Code Resources

The 2026 CDT code changes do not go into effect until January 1, 2026.

Mark your calendar and be sure to grab the most up-to-date CDT coding resources from Practice Booster so your dental administrator can code with confidence. 

Staying current with CDT changes is essential, but applying them correctly is what protects your revenue.

Schedule a consultation to see how eAssist helps practices turn up-to-date coding knowledge into clean, compliant claims.

Disclaimer: Insurance administration and dental billing recommendations presented here represent the opinions of the author or our staff and are for informational purposes only. You are responsible for your own use of the CDT Codes, insurance administration, and dental billing. For the latest CDT codes and official interpretations, contact the American Dental Association or visit ADA.org.