The ADA updates the Current Dental Terminology code set every January 1st. New codes are added, descriptions are revised, and some codes are retired. Practices that miss the update end up billing with retired codes or using workarounds for procedures that now have a proper code — both cause denials or underpayments.
1. Why this matters
When a claim goes out with a retired CDT code, most payers reject it outright. You don't get a denial notice right away in every system — sometimes it just silently ages in the aging report with no payment. The longer it sits, the closer you get to timely filing limits.
2. New codes to watch for
Each year a handful of new codes are added for procedures that previously required workarounds. Verify the official ADA CDT update for the current year — look specifically at new codes in the diagnostic, restorative, and implant categories, as these shift most frequently. Make sure each new code has a corresponding entry in your fee schedule with the correct billed amount.
3. Codes that were retired
Retired codes are the most dangerous. They often stay in a PMS fee schedule because nobody removes them, and a front-desk team member who doesn't know keeps selecting them. Pull a report of every CDT code used in the last 12 months and cross-reference it against the new year's valid code list. Delete the retired ones from your pick list.
4. Updating your PMS fee schedule
In Dentrix, Eaglesoft, and Open Dental you can import updated fee schedules. Your PMS vendor often has a CDT update file available before January 1st. Import it, verify billed amounts for high-volume codes like D1110, D0274, D2740, and D4341, and adjust any that are below your current contracted rates.
5. Your January 1st checklist
Run through these steps in the first week of January: (1) Import the new CDT fee schedule update from your PMS vendor. (2) Remove retired codes from active fee schedules. (3) Verify that new codes have the correct billed amounts. (4) Brief your treatment coordinators on any codes that changed descriptions — a description change sometimes means a different payer policy applies. (5) Check your payer contracts to see if any fee schedule updates are effective January 1st.