2026 CDT Code Changes and Dental Coding Accuracy

January 12, 2023

Updated 12/2022

Dental coding is one of the most difficult and specialized aspects of the dental billing process. Without expert knowledge on proper coding procedures for dental billing (and medical billing), your dental practice revenue can suffer. Many dentists are leaving collectible revenue on the table each month, mostly due to unnecessary claim denials due to incorrect coding and supporting documentation. The good news is: the 2026 CDT code changes are here. The bad news? If you don’t know what these CDT code changes are, your dental practice is not set up for success.

Accurate Dental Claim Submission

Let’s first dive into accurate dental claim submission, which is a crucial dental billing process. Dental claims are often denied due to incorrect CDT coding. This means coding for what you do, using current, up-to-date CDT codes, is paramount to maximizing legitimate reimbursement and increasing patient trust. 

Maintaining a healthy revenue cycle means having access to industry-leading coding resources. Practice Booster’s Dental Coding With Confidence manual takes it a step further with its Predictive Error Correction™ to help you code for what you do and maximize legitimate reimbursement. Their online Code Advisor offers the same critical information dental practices need to know via an electronic search engine, while also providing additional resources and coding support directly from their Coding Advisors.

Dental Billing and Coding Continues to Evolve

What were once two and a half pages of general procedural codes, back in 1969 when it was first published, is now over 800 CDT codes with descriptors for many of the procedure codes.

Every year, there are changes to laws and rules governing dentistry and the Current Dental Terminology (CDT) code set as set forth by the American Dental Association (ADA).

Since 2020 alone, there have been over 300 CDT code changes, which means that ignoring or not staying up-to-date on these changes is inevitably causing delayed or denied claims in your practice. This makes dental billing more difficult and results in avoidable stress for the dental practice owner, team, and patients.

If your practice is unaware of upcoming CDT changes, frustrated by repeated denials, or experiencing lower-than-expected reimbursement, updated CDT coding resources can make a measurable difference

The 2026 CDT code changes are here

In 2026, 60 CDT code changes are being introduced. I

Keeping pace with these updates is challenging, especially for office managers already juggling multiple responsibilities. Implementing new codes, revised descriptors, and updated documentation requirements can feel overwhelming.

Dental Coding with Confidence is dentistry’s premier CDT coding guide. This guide’s exclusive reader-friendly graphics arm dental teams with the ability to prevent the most common and costly coding errors. Plus, comprehensive content includes expert comments about the codes, dental plan limitations, and key narrative guidance needed to submit dental claims to gain maximum and timely reimbursement successfully.

Using current CDT resources allows practices to apply the 2026 changes correctly and start the year on a solid footing.

Outsourcing Dental Billing and Coding

Coding for what you do is essential from both an ethical and compliance standpoint. It also ensures you receive what you are rightfully owed when claims are submitted accurately.

Beyond coding knowledge, several additional billing steps require expertise and precision before reimbursement is achieved.

When you partner with eAssist, your practice gains access to industry-leading partnership perks that work toward increasing your dental practice revenue, including asubscription to Practice Booster’s Dental Code Advisor to help wrangle even the trickiest dental coding situations.

To learn more, schedule a consultation today. 

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.