by Christine Woolstenhulme, QMC QCC CMCS CPC CMRS
Dec 8th, 2020
When coding a diagnosis for periodontal disease, keep in mind there are more options than just chronic or acute. To get started, look at chapter 11, Diseases of the digestive system (K00-K95). Looking at this section a little further, you can see this is where the oral cavity is coded because the mouth is a part of the digestive system.
ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Codes
11. Diseases of the digestive system (K00-K95)
- K00-K14 Diseases of oral cavity and salivary glands (K00-K14)
- K05 Gingivitis and periodontal diseases
Reporting an Unspecified Diagnosis
Once you locate gingivitis and periodontal disease, you can see additional options to help you locate the most specific code. Remember coding with ICD-10-CM is all about reporting the most specific code available, even if it is unspecified such as Periodontal disease, unspecified. Generally, an unspecified code should only be reported if there is not a more specific code or the clinician has not given enough information for a more specific code. It may also be used if either the condition has not yet been defined or if there is no evidence to support a higher level of specificity.
About Christine Woolstenhulme, QMC QCC CMCS CPC CMRS
Christine Woolstenhulme, CPC, QCC, CMCS, CMRS, is a Certified coder and Medical Biller with 30 years of experience in the healthcare industry.
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