denture·id
Glossary

Dental charting

The record of each tooth’s condition, existing restorations and planned treatment, kept on a tooth chart.

Dental charting documents what is present in the mouth and what needs to be done. A digital chart shows all teeth as a diagram (the odontogram) on which the clinician marks missing teeth, decay, fillings, crowns, root canals and implants by tooth and surface.

Charts usually separate existing conditions, treatment planned and treatment completed, often by color. Every charted procedure is tied to a CDT code, which is how the chart drives the treatment plan, the insurance estimate and the claim.

From our data: 40 of 47 practice management systems with documented features confirm clinical charting.

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