December 17, 2009
The CDA was recently alerted to a problem with the coding and representation of indirect composite restorations, specifically procedures that involve taking an impression, making the restoration out of oven curable composite and cementing the restoration in place. We have been told that some dentists are representing the procedure to the patient as a porcelain crown and coding this procedure as such. However, the material used for the procedure is a composite, not glass. Thus, the SBDE has determined that this procedure cannot be represented or billed as a porcelain crown. Those who are engaging in this practice may be subject to disciplinary action for fraud. It is important that dentists know the board’s interpretation on this issue, and code and represent the procedure correctly to patients!
