In the United States, the organization responsible for creating, updating, and managing dental procedure codes is the American Dental Association (ADA). These codes are known as CDT codes, which stands for Current Dental Terminology codes. The ADA carefully maintains these CDT dental codes to make sure every dental treatment and service has a clear, standard code used across all dental offices and insurance companies.

So, what is a CDT code? It is a special code that starts with the letter "D" followed by four numbers, such as D0120 for a routine dental exam. These codes help dentists describe treatments like cleanings, X-rays, fillings, or surgeries in a way that insurance companies and other professionals can easily understand. This system reduces confusion and helps with fast and accurate billing.

Every year, the ADA reviews and updates these codes. This includes adding new procedures, changing old definitions, and sometimes deleting outdated services. These yearly updates are called things like CDT codes 2025 or 2025 CDT code changes, depending on the year they apply to.

The ADA Code Maintenance Committee (CMC) is the specific group within the ADA that reviews suggestions and decides on changes to the CDT code set. They collect feedback from dentists, dental offices, and insurance experts to make sure the dental CDT codes reflect the latest tools, treatments, and techniques used in dentistry today.

In short, the American Dental Association is in charge of assigning and updating CDT codes for dental procedures, making sure all dental procedures are recorded in a standard, simple, and accurate way that works for both dentists and insurance companies.