Explanations of mentioned D codes
Per Ingenix Coding Guide to Dental Services:
D9110 Palliative (emergency) treatment of dental pain - minor procedure
Explanation: The patient is given palliative treatment on an emergency basis for dental pain. This code is reported on a per visit basis.
Emergent care = treatment for a medical condition or symptom (including severe pain) that arises suddenly and requires immediate care and treatment.
Palliative treatment = treatment of symptoms without treating the underlying cause or to maintain current health status.
D9211 Regional block anesthesia
Explanation: Report D9211 if the dentist administers a regional anesthetic block through a similar injection process (as local anesthesia) for pain control. Regional nerve blocks are given close to a main nerve trunk at a distance from the operative/treatment site. Examples of regional nerve blocks are nasopalatine injections, posterior superior alveolar, infraorbital, and inferior alveolar injections.
Nerve block = a type of regional anesthesia/analgesia administered by injection that prevents sensory nerve impulses from reaching the central nervous system.
D9210 Local anesthesia not in conjunction with operative or surgical procedures
Explanation: Local anesthetics are given into small nerve endings in the same area in which the incision or dental treatment is made. Topical antiseptic and/or topical anesthetic may be applied to the area first. With a sterilized needle and the patient in position, the dentist inserts the needle into mucosa, injects several drops of local anesthetic solution, and begins slowly advancing toward the target.
Local anesthesia = an induced feeling or sensation restricted to a certain area of the body, including topical, local tissue infiltration, field block, or nerve block methods.
Associated CPT codes
01995 Regional intravenous administration of local anesthetic agent or other medication (upper or lower extremity)
90784 Therapeutic, prophylactic or diagnostic injection (specify material injected); intravenous
HCPCS Codes
J0670 Injection, mepivacaine HCl, per 10 ml
J2400 Injection, chloroprocaine HCl, per 30 ml
S0020 Injection, bupivacaine HCl, 30 ml
Hope this helps! Without knowing what is in the documentation, it would be difficult to guess which code is correct.
Good luck!
Jennifer, CPC