Summary & Overview
CPT 70320: Complete Dental Radiographic Examination
Headline: CPT code 70320: Complete dental radiographic examination often used to document normal dentition and jaw anatomy
CPT code 70320 represents a complete dental radiographic examination reporting a normal number, structure, and position of teeth and jaw bones. The code matters nationally because dental radiographs are a foundational diagnostic tool that informs preventive care, restorative planning, and oral surgery evaluation. Accurate coding of a complete dental radiographic exam affects coverage decisions, patient records, and care coordination across dental and medical settings.
Key payers covered in this overview include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise synthesis of the clinical context for 70320, the typical service setting, and what elements define a complete dental radiographic exam. The publication summarizes common billing modifiers and payer considerations where available, highlights typical sites of service, and outlines what national stakeholders should know about the code’s role in dental imaging workflows. Data not available in the input will be noted where applicable. The content is intended to support clinical coders, billing staff, and policy analysts seeking a practical reference for CPT code 70320.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 70320 describes a complete dental radiographic examination in which dental X‑rays show a normal number, structure, and position of the teeth and jaw bones. The service includes imaging that can detect dental caries, evaluate tooth roots and surrounding bone, and identify the status of developing teeth. Both intraoral and extraoral radiographs are referenced in the clinical description: intraoral X‑rays are used to detect cavities and assess tooth roots and adjacent bone, while extraoral X‑rays focus on the jaw and skull to evaluate impacted teeth and tooth–jaw relationships.
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Service type: Complete dental radiographic examination
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Typical site of service: Dental office or outpatient imaging facility
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A healthy adult patient presents to a dental clinic for a routine evaluation and preventive care visit. The dentist performs a complete oral examination and orders a full-mouth dental radiographic series to evaluate tooth development, detect occult dental caries, assess periodontal bone levels, and review the number, structure, and position of teeth and jaw bones. The patient is positioned in the dental radiography suite; intraoral periapical and bitewing films are obtained to visualize individual tooth roots and interproximal surfaces, and extraoral panoramic imaging is performed if indicated to assess impacted teeth or jaw relationships. Images are reviewed by the dentist; findings are documented in the chart and a radiology report or image file is stored in the patient’s record. Billing is submitted using 70320 to report a complete dental radiographic examination, with any applicable modifier appended per payer requirements.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
26 | Professional component | When billing only the interpreting dentist/radiologist fee separate from technical component |
TC |