Dental Procedure Codes D9220 & D9221: Medical Coding Information

D9220 and D9221 are CDT (Current Dental Terminology) codes, not medical (CPT/HCPCS) codes.

Code Descriptions

• D9220: Deep sedation/general anesthesia – first 15 minutes.
• D9221: Deep sedation/general anesthesia – each additional 15 minutes.

Key Distinctions

• CDT (ADA-maintained) = dental procedures/services.
• CPT/HCPCS (AMA/CMS) = medical procedures/services.
• Dental claims submit on ADA Dental Claim Form (J400) using CDT codes.
• Medical claims submit on CMS-1500/UB-04 using CPT/HCPCS.

Cross-Over Scenarios

Some procedures (e.g., trauma repair, biopsy, sleep apnea appliance) may be billed to medical insurance using CPT codes, but D9220/D9221 remain dental-specific for anesthesia time.