The Dental Hygiene Coding Coach

10/07/2026

Are you sure you’re using the right CDT procedure code?

I recently joined Steph on the *Straight Up with Steph* podcast, and we covered A LOT!

We talked about some of the coding mistakes I see most often, why the descriptor matters just as much as the code itself, what can happen when a procedure is coded based on insurance coverage instead of what was actually performed, and why dental hygienists need a stronger voice in conversations about the codes we use every day.

We also got into some of the newer preventive procedures and technologies entering dentistry, what happens when there isn’t a specific CDT procedure code yet, and yes… we talked about the OPA debate and the coding questions that come with it.

If you’re a dental hygienist, dentist, assistant, office manager, or practice owner, I think you’ll get a lot out of this conversation.

🎧 **Listen to Episode 109 of Straight Up with Steph:**
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2312744/episodes/19794214

Thank you, Steph, for having me and for being willing to dig into a topic that affects far more of dentistry than most people realize!

10/02/2026

If someone asks what a dental hygienist does and the answer is simply **"cleans teeth,"** we're leaving out a pretty big part of the story.

Dental hygienists assess risk.

We gather clinical information.

We evaluate periodontal health.

We provide preventive and therapeutic services.

We educate patients.

We identify changes that may require further evaluation.

And increasingly, hygienists are expected to understand how the services they provide are accurately documented and reported using CDT procedure codes.

That's one reason I'm so passionate about teaching coding.

Understanding the CDT Code isn't about turning hygienists into insurance experts. It's about helping us better understand, communicate, and accurately report the professional services we provide every day.

Dental hygiene is healthcare—and our language should reflect that.

09/30/2026

Are inaccurate procedure codes or insurance pushback costing your dental practice time and revenue? 📉

Join me for my upcoming live webinar, “Are You Coding What You're Actually Treating? Turning Clinical Findings Into Accurate Procedure Coding,” hosted by Concord Seminars! We’ll break down the ADA’s CDT descriptors, navigate ICD-10 diagnostic codes, and cover ethical billing strategies that protect your practice and strengthen patient trust.

Event Details:

📅 Date: October 8, 2026

⏰ Time: 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM ET

🎓 CE Credit: 3 Hours (Subject Code: 550 - Practice Management)

💡 Includes: Live Zoom Q&A + Exit Exam

Don’t let CDT updates or coding confusion hold your team back. Reserve your spot today at Concord Seminars! 🔗✨

09/28/2026

A patient's dental benefit plan can tell you what it will pay for.

It **cannot diagnose your patient.**

That's an important distinction.

If a patient's clinical findings support a particular diagnosis and treatment recommendation, the fact that their plan doesn't provide a benefit for that service doesn't change their oral health condition.

Our responsibility as healthcare professionals is to assess the patient, establish an appropriate diagnosis, recommend treatment based on their needs, and communicate those recommendations clearly.

Then we can have a separate conversation about benefits, coverage, and financial options.

Patients deserve to know what they **need**, not simply what their plan will pay for.

Treatment planning and benefit determination are two very different conversations. Let's keep them that way.

09/25/2026

Ready to sharpen your CDT coding skills and ensure you’re accurately coding what you’re actually treating? Join me on October 8, 2026, from 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM ET for a live webinar hosted by Concord Seminars!

We’ll bridge the gap between clinical findings, treatment planning, and accurate procedure reporting—plus dive into ICD-10 diagnostic codes, coding updates, and ethical billing strategies to protect your practice and build patient trust.

Webinar Highlights:

3 CE Hours (Subject Code: 550 - Practice Management)

Pricing: $79 for Dentists | $59 for Hygienists & Auxiliary

Format: Live, interactive Zoom webinar + Exit Exam included

Head over to Concord Seminars to register and save your spot! 📲✨

09/25/2026

Thank you to Concorde Seminars for hosting my presentation: Implementing the 2017/2018 AAP Classifications of Periodontal and Peri-implant Diseases and Conditions last night! Registrants included 14 dentists and 55 hygienists! Lots of questions got answered as well as "pearls" I took away. I always walk away from these learning more and with encouragement to keep going! Check out my next presentation on October 8, 2026 where I'll answer the question "What is the CDT procedure code for a 'cleaning'? Oh Wait! There Isn't One!"

Dental hygienists are the first line of defense in accurate patient records. This course connects the dots between clinical findings, treatment planning, and accurate reporting while emphasizing best practices in diagnosis, documentation, ethical coding and fraud prevention.

09/23/2026

🚨 LAST CALL to register! 🚨

My live 3 CE hour webinar with Concord Seminars is happening TOMORROW, September 24th from 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM ET!

We’re taking a deep dive into the 2018 AAP Classifications and walking through practical tools you can implement right away—including hands-on case studies, a Patient Assessment Worksheet, and an ADPIE DH Template.

Don't miss out on actionable takeaways that will simplify your clinical workflow. 💡

🔗 Click the link in my bio to grab your seat before registration closes!

09/21/2026

Every January 1, a new version of the CDT Code takes effect.

But January 1 shouldn't be the first time your team thinks about what's changing.

New codes can be added. Existing nomenclatures or descriptors can be revised. Codes can be deleted altogether.

And sometimes a seemingly small wording change can affect how a procedure should be reported.

Fall is a great time to start preparing your team.

What will change next year?

Which changes apply to procedures your office regularly provides?

Do your clinical templates, practice management software, and team protocols need to be updated?

And most importantly—does everyone understand **why** something changed?

A little preparation before the new year can prevent a lot of "Wait…which code are we supposed to use now?" in January. 😉

09/19/2026

Let's talk about those tempting words in the CDT manual:

**"Other" and "unspecified."**

When a procedure doesn't seem to fit neatly into a familiar code, it can be tempting to jump straight to an unspecified option.

But an unspecified code isn't a catch-all for "I'm not sure which one to choose."

First, make sure there truly isn't an existing CDT procedure code that accurately describes the service you provided.

If an unspecified procedure code is appropriate, documentation becomes especially important. The payer needs enough information to understand exactly what service was performed and why.

And if you're repeatedly providing a service for which no appropriate CDT procedure code exists? That's worth paying attention to, too.

Remember: the CDT Code is not static. The profession has a process for proposing additions and revisions as dentistry evolves.

09/17/2026

Are you ready to simplify your periodontal diagnostic workflow? 💡

Join me on September 24th from 6:00–9:00 PM ET for my live 3 CE hour webinar: Implementing the 2018 AAP Classifications of Periodontal and Peri-implant Diseases and Conditions.

We’ll dive into 4 hands-on case studies and walk through a Patient Assessment Worksheet and ADPIE DH Template that you can take back to your practice and start using right away.

✨ Details:

📅 September 24, 2026

⏰ 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM ET

🎓 3 CE Hours (Includes Exit Exam)

📍 Live Interactive Zoom Webinar

Head to the link in my bio to register today! 🔗👇