Open Dental Forum

I am trying to obtain a pre-treatment estimate from Aetna Medical for implant restorations to replace congenitally missing #6, 7, 10, 11.
1) Is the correct ICD-9 code for a congenitally missing tooth 520.0 or is it 525.50? Or do I put down both?
2) Is there a CPT code for the implant, or the abutment, or the crown, or should I just use the dental procedure codes?
3) What would be an appropriate modifier? Do I need a modifier?

I'm going to be of no use at all for these types of questions. When I was helping program these code systems all I could think of to myself was "I'm so glad I'm not a doctor". This is how it all looks to me:

Hungry Man ICD 9
502.00 - PB & J Sandwich
502.10 - PB & J Sandwich, Jelly Spread With Knife
502.20 - PB & J Sandwich, Jelly Spread Without Knife
502.30 - PB & J Sandwich, With Unknown Jelly Found (IN SPUTUM) By Microscopy
502.40 - PB & J Sandwich, (Diagnosis)


Um... I just wanted to indicate that I ate a PBJ... Now I don't even remember how I prepared it. Is 502.00 too generic? I think I used a spoon, so does that mean I need to use 502.20? And what the heck is 502.40? Oh forget it, I'm just going to use 340.60 - Peanut Butter Jelly Time

Oh look over here... ICD 10, SNOMEDS, RXNORM, UCUM, etc, etc,... Goody

It's no joke. No wonder this country's medical system is so screwed up.