What is the D3320 Dental Code? (Dental Code Answers)

The D3320 dental code refers to a root canal of a bicuspid tooth. Root canals are also commonly referred to as endodontic procedures involving the removal of a tooth’s pulp; however, specific nomenclature can depend on the dentist and practice.

What Are Dental Codes?

A dental code is a set of dental coding numbers used to identify specific dental procedures. The first three letters are the general type of treatment, the following two numbers are the number of teeth being treated, and the last number is the number of visits.

What does dental code D3320 mean?

The D3320 dental code refers to endodontic therapy (root canal) of a bicuspid tooth. Bicuspids, also called premolar teeth, are located between the canines and the molars in the back of the mouth. They are teeth with two cusps on the top and are about half an inch long. There are eight bicuspid teeth with four being on the top arch and four on the bottom arch.

It is possible to remove a bicuspid tooth while maintaining most of the natural pulp. The procedure to save most of the pulp is known as a pulpotomy.

Two visits are typical for a D3330 and D3320 Dental Code

It is common to use both the D3320 and D3330 dental codes on patients who require multiple root canals on bicuspid and molar teeth.

Root canal code

A root canal code is the dental coding used to describe an abscess, which occurs when bacteria enter the tooth and infect or inflame the tissue inside. The result is pus-filled tissues or a pocket of infection in the pulp. Treatment involves removing the infected pulp followed by cleaning, disinfecting, filling, and sealing the inside of the tooth.

The D3320 Dental Code is for root canal treatment of a bicuspid tooth. A bicuspid tooth requires two visits to complete the procedure, and codes are used in different parts of this process. Based on Current Dental Terminology (CDT), the Dental Procedure Code Library provides you with all the information you need about these codes.

D3320 Dental Code Definition: Root canal – bicuspid (excluding final restoration) – dental procedure code description

The D3320 dental code describes a root canal – bicuspid procedure, excluding final restoration. Your endodontist or dentist will tell you whether you need a root canal after making oral examinations. The premolars are the two teeth right behind your incisors, and they’re classified as bicuspids or molars.

A bicuspid tooth has two cusps or points where the enamel meets the gum. They are the ‘middle’ teeth, with the molars in the back and the anterior teeth in the front.

Root canals are sometimes performed as a preventive measure, but the most common reason for performing one is to remove infected tissue that can cause pain, infection, and even decay in other teeth. The treatment may also be used to save teeth in danger of becoming rootless.

Endodontic and molar treatment (without definitive restoration)

Endodontic and molar treatment is a type of dental work that restores teeth to their natural shape. The code D3330 represents the tooth root as it would be found on a 3D model.

What is a Root Canal?

A root canal is a surgical procedure to treat recurrent or persistent pain in the pulp of an untreated tooth. The dentist will create an opening through the infected area and remove the diseased pulp, also known as the root, from the tooth. The canals and pulp chamber are then filled with a sterile liquid or paste. Core buildup, which allows the repaired tooth to support a crown, is often needed.

The D3320 dental code is a set of guidelines that can be used to establish an appropriate level and type of patient dental care, depending on your dentist’s instructions. The American Society of Endodontists developed this specific dental code in 2008 to provide some standardization across practitioners performing endodontic therapy.

A root canal is performed during endodontic therapy and typically requires two visits. Alternatives to root canals include direct pulp caps, indirect pulp caps, pulpotomy, ozone therapy, and tooth extraction. If you are interested in an alternative to a root canal such as pulp capping, discuss whether these options are appropriate for you with your endodontist.

Root canal procedure

A root canal procedure is a dental procedure in which the dentist removes diseased tissue from the inside of the pulp chamber and the root of the tooth and replaces it with a filling. This process aims to eliminate infection or inflammation while relieving painful pressure on the nerve in the tooth.

Root canals are an endodontic procedure that removes the infected and dead pulp from a tooth’s root, followed by cleaning, disinfecting, filling, and sealing the inside of the tooth. Your dentist should decide whether or not to perform a root canal. By performing this procedure, your dentist can determine how far the decay has progressed and if additional treatments will be necessary.

If a patient lacks sufficient tissue to support a conventional crown, a post will be cemented into the root canal. This procedure is called ‘core restoration’ and supports a post and core crown. Several dental products are available for core restoration, including prefabricated posts, cast posts, and core material. Prefabricated posts, which come in various lengths and thicknesses, are the preferred dental products for core restoration. The dental code for a prefabricated post and core used on an endodontically treated tooth is D2954.

What is the CDT code for a root canal?

There are several different CDT codes for a root canal. The D3320 Dental Code is a dental procedure code provided by the American Dental Association (ADA) for bicuspid tooth root canals. The D3330 dental code is used for molar root canals, while the D3310 dental code is for anterior (front) teeth.

These dental codes are primarily used in dentistry and define all of the procedures under endodontics, including root canals.

What is a root canal classified as?

Root canals are an endodontic procedure that involves removing a tooth’s exposed pulp and then dressing or cementing it to promote healing and repair. However, root canals are not classified as the first stage of treatment for dental patients.

A root canal requires either conscious sedation or general anesthesia, during which a small opening is made in the tooth’s root. Once the exposed pulp is exposed, the pulp is removed, and the canal is cleaned by filling it with a chemical solution, usually sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl). It is common to use plug caps to seal the tooth.

What does Endo mean in dentistry?

Endodontics, or endodontic therapy, is the branch of dentistry that specializes in conducting surgical procedures on endodontic canals and dental pulp. Sometimes root canal therapy is used instead of endodontics, but the term root canal therapy is not interchangeable. Endodontics includes procedures necessary to remove the dental pulp from the canal and restore the pulpal blood supply to improve your oral health care.

What is an apicoectomy procedure?

An apicoectomy is one of the most common forms of root canal surgery and is performed under local anesthesia. It is used when conventional root canal treatment does not clear an infection in the tissues near the root of a tip. The procedure involves removing the tip (apex) of the tooth’s root and any infected tissue.

After making an incision into the patient’s gum for flap entry, the infected tissue and a small portion of the root tip are removed. The extracted area will be cleaned, filled, and sealed using a special filling. Depending on what the endodontist discovers and the patient’s answer, a small bone graft may or may not be required. After completing the bone grafting, if necessary, the gum tissue will be closed to complete the apicoectomy

Does a bicuspid need a crown?

A bicuspid needs a crown when it is severely worn down or damaged. This is because a bicuspid has to be able to hold up to your daily grinding and chewing of your food. Choices for bicuspid crowns include:

• porcelain fused to metal (PFM)
• gold and other noble metals
• zirconium (porcelain)
• composite resin
• E-Max crowns
• base metals

The D3320 is the current dental code that was created in 2008. This step is essential to determine the extent of decay and shape of canals during a bicuspid restoration procedure. It’s important not to skip this crucial step until you’ve completed your final visit with your dentist, at which time they will complete the restorative process, including placement and crowning if needed for optimal results.

D3320 Dental Code Cost

The average fees for a bicuspid root canal, which has a D3320 dental code, range between $800 and $1,200. Bicuspid teeth are in the middle of the dental fee price range for root canals, with molars being the most expensive and front teeth being the least costly. The final dental fees charged to the patient and insurer will depend on your dental benefits plan or insurance carrier.

While some dental offices will only provide you with the paperwork to file with your insurance company, others will directly file for you using the insurer’s electronic remittance system. Offices that verify patient eligibility, file electronically, and track the claim status are participating providers in your insurer’s network. For this reason, they are called ‘in-network providers’. Patients often find it simpler to choose a dentist or endodontist who takes care of filing with insurance rather than doing it themselves.

If you need the services of an endodontist and have dental insurance, it’s often less expensive to select participating providers. The reason is that they have agreed to negotiated rates with your dental plan to save you (and your insurer) money.

How Much Will My Root Canal Cost?

In the United States, the average cost of a root canal is $1,067 if you pay full price.

The total cost of a root canal depends on a patient’s treatment plan and the dental practice’s fees. The type of dental office also plays a role, as a private practice tends to be more expensive than a teaching clinic. The price of a root canal can range from $912 to $1,246, including filling and crowning. The out-of-pocket dental fees can be significantly less if the patient has dental insurance, a dental benefits plan, a qualified health plan, or a dental discount plan.

Besides the root canal itself, other dental procedures required by the patient’s treatment plan be billed separately for the claim processing.

Root canal dental codes are primarily used by dentists who perform endodontics or by endodontists. Proper coding is essential for any dental practice. It is required by law to follow this coding system when billing insurance companies for patient care services.

What is the billing code for a root canal?

A billing code is a unique identifier assigned to each dental procedure. Some of the dental codes used for root canals include D3330 (molar tooth), D3320 (bicuspid tooth), and D3310 (anterior tooth).

What Is a Pulpectomy Procedure?

Dental codes are a list of codes used to classify dentists’ and endodontists’ different types of procedures. The D3320 pulpectomy procedure, for example, is the removal of some or all of the pulp from a tooth to remove infection or decay. This type of root canal treatment is often referred to as endodontic therapy.

Is pulpectomy the same as root canal treatment?

A pulpectomy is not the same as a root canal treatment. A pulpectomy is a procedure to remove the pulp from a tooth. The pulp of a tooth makes up the bulk of a tooth’s structure. On the other hand, a root canal treatment is a surgical procedure that cleans out an infected or damaged tooth’s pulp to stop it from spreading infection.

D3347: Retreatment of Previous Root Canal Therapy – Bicuspid

Occasionally, patients who have had a root canal on a bicuspid tooth under dental code D3320 require retreatment. The dental code for endodontic retreatment of a previous root canal on a bicuspid tooth is D3347.

A patient may need retreatment months or years after a first root canal. This can be due to a tooth that hasn’t healed properly, remains painful, or is still infected. Other common reasons for retreatment include a broken crown, loose filling, fractured tooth, improper treatment, or new decay.

While no one wants to have a second root canal, it’s always best to save your natural teeth. The alternative to retreatment is an extraction of the tooth (or teeth) followed by a costly replacement with partial dentures, bridges, or implants. Most patients prefer to keep their natural teeth over partial dentures. It might seem counterintuitive, but retreatment is cheaper and better than extraction! Speak to your dentist or endodontist about whether retreatment or having your tooth removed is right for you.

Other endodontic retreatment dental codes for root canals include:

• D3346: Retreatment of Previous Root Canal Therapy – Anterior
• D3348: Retreatment of Previous Root Canal Therapy – Molar

What is the difference between surgical and non-surgical tooth extraction?

Surgical tooth extraction is the act of taking out teeth by making an incision in the gum tissue. This oral surgery process uses forceps, lasers, or other tools to extract the tooth. Non-surgical tooth extraction is when a dentist removes a tooth without making an incision in a patient’s gum tissue. There are different surgical codes and non-surgical codes for endodontic treatment.

What Does Endo Therapy Molar Ex Rest Mean?

Endotherapy is a surgical procedure that minimizes the risk of one tooth being knocked out by another. The molar ex rest is an orthodontic device designed to prevent the teeth from coming into contact with each other. The term ‘Ex rest’ refers to before restoration.