From implant care to dermal fillers, these updates will affect your practice starting January 2025

The Current Dental Terminology (CDT) 2025 updates are set to bring significant changes that will affect dental practices starting Jan. 1, 2025. These updates include new codes, revisions and deletions, many of which stem from the work of the ADA’s Code Maintenance Committee (CMC) and suggestions from dental professionals like hygienists.  

Implant Maintenance: Expanding Treatment Options  

For dental professionals dealing with implant-supported prostheses, revised and new codes will simplify procedures by adding more specific options for different implant types. 

  • D6080 has been revised to reflect full-arch fixed hybrid prostheses removal and reinsertion, including debridement and examination. This change clarifies the process for cleaning and maintaining more complex prosthetic setups. 
  • A new procedure code (yet to be assigned) will cover maintenance of full-arch hybrid prostheses that do not require removal, addressing a gap in implant care and making it easier for clinicians to properly code for simpler, less time-consuming maintenance procedures.  

In addition to the changes above, D6081 will receive a descriptor revision to clarify how scaling and debridement for single implants with mucositis should be handled. The updated descriptor includes more precise criteria—such as inflammation, bleeding upon probing and increased pocket depth—enhancing clarity in treatment scenarios.  

Dermal Fillers & Neuromodulators: A Growing Trend  

The inclusion of dermal fillers and neuromodulators in the CDT 2025 updates reflects their increasing use in both therapeutic and cosmetic dental treatments. These procedures address cosmetic concerns like smile lines and nasolabial folds, as well as therapeutic issues such as TMJ disorders and bruxism. The ADA has approved two new procedure codes for:  

  • Administration of dermal fillers 
  • Administration of neuromodulators  

While these codes lack descriptors for now, the addition of these categories provides the framework for dental professionals who are qualified to administer these treatments. It is important for providers to stay updated on their state’s regulations concerning who can perform these procedures.  

Interim Restorations: Simplifying Documentation  

One notable revision for 2025 includes a change to D2940, which has been updated to cover the placement of interim direct restorations under a single code. This revision will streamline documentation for temporary restorations, reducing administrative burdens and clarifying coding for different restorative options.  

Emphasis on Clarity & Efficiency  

The 2025 CDT updates aim to fill gaps in dental coding, providing more precise definitions and descriptors ensuring accurate documentation of treatments. As Stacey Gardner, D.M.D., chair of the ADA Council on Dental Benefit Programs, explains, the revisions are designed to enhance the clarity and comprehensiveness of dental procedure codes, making it easier for professionals to prepare detailed and accurate patient records.  

What to Expect Moving Forward  

The CDT 2025 changes have been shaped by input from the DentalCodeology Consortium (DCC) and dental professionals nationwide. As the CMC continues to review submissions, more revisions may follow in future years. Hygienists, in particular, have played a pivotal role in pushing for changes that reflect real-world clinical needs. The DCC has successfully influenced multiple significant additions and changes in recent years, with more expected in the future.  

To stay updated, professionals are encouraged to follow the DCC’s Facebook page, where new proposals and workgroups are formed to develop further submissions for upcoming CDT revisions. Among the potential future updates are proposals for:  

  • Noninvasive chemical debridement procedures  
  • Caries detection tests  
  • Revisions to scaling and root planning (SRP) descriptors  

The CDT 2025 updates are an important part of evolving dental practice, helping to ensure dental professionals can provide the best care with the right tools and codes in place.  

These updates signal a significant shift in how dental professionals approach implant care, cosmetic treatments and interim restorations. Make sure to review the full CDT 2025 Book and Coding Companion when it becomes available and consider attending CE courses or workshops that cover the implementation of these new codes. Contact an Adams Brown dental advisor to learn more.