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    v1.0.28
    OpenPayerBilling CodesDiseases of oral cavity and salivary glandsICD-10-CM k02-dental-caries
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    ICD-10-CM Code For Dental Caries: Group Overview

    The International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM) code group K02 includes diagnoses for dental caries, covering carious lesions of enamel, dentin, and pulp as well as recurrent caries and lesions by tooth and surface involvement. These ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes are used to document clinical presentations of tooth decay, capturing severity, tooth-level involvement, and complications such as pulp exposure. Accurate coding within the ICD-10-CM K02 group supports proper claim adjudication, complete clinical documentation, and appropriate reimbursement.

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    ICD-10-CM K02: Dental Caries Overview

    The ICD-10-CM K02 group represents dental caries, commonly known as tooth decay, affecting the hard tissues of teeth. These diagnoses target the oral cavity and salivary gland system, describing varying stages of enamel and dentin destruction and tooth involvement. Accurate coding matters for appropriate claim adjudication and reflecting disease severity for clinical and billing records.

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    When to Use

    Use a code from this group when documenting clinical encounters for tooth decay identified by examination or imaging that specify lesion location, depth, or recurrent status. Select the code that best reflects the affected tooth structure and any reported complications such as pulp exposure.

    ICD-10-CM Codes

    9 rows

    ICD-10-CM CodeDescription
    K02.3Arrested dental caries
    K02.51Dental caries on pit and fissure surface limited to enamel
    K02.52Dental caries on pit and fissure surface penetrating into dentin
    K02.53Dental caries on pit and fissure surface penetrating into pulp
    K02.61Dental caries on smooth surface limited to enamel
    K02.62Dental caries on smooth surface penetrating into dentin
    K02.63Dental caries on smooth surface penetrating into pulp
    K02.7Dental root caries
    K02.9Dental caries, unspecified

    DRG Codes

    6 rows

    DRG CodeDescription
    011Tracheostomy for Face, Mouth and Neck Diagnoses or Laryngectomy with MCC
    012Tracheostomy for Face, Mouth and Neck Diagnoses or Laryngectomy with CC
    013Tracheostomy for Face, Mouth and Neck Diagnoses or Laryngectomy without CC/MCC
    157Dental and Oral Diseases with MCC
    158Dental and Oral Diseases with CC
    159Dental and Oral Diseases without CC/MCC

    Typical Clinical Scenarios

    • A child presents to a pediatric dental clinic with sudden tooth pain and visible dark cavitation on the occlusal surface of a primary molar after eating sweets; examination shows acute enamel and dentin destruction without pulp exposure, and treatment is planned for restoration. A caries diagnosis is assigned to document the active decay in the tooth surfaces requiring operative care. Typical codes: K02.3, K02.51
    • An adult with a history of xerostomia and poor oral hygiene attends a routine dental visit with multiple chronic, progressive lesions including smooth-surface enamel demineralization and secondary caries under existing restorations; management includes preventive counseling and staged restorations. A chronic caries code is used to reflect longstanding tooth structure loss and involvement of several tooth surfaces. Typical codes: K02.7, K02.9
    • An emergency department patient presents with severe toothache, facial swelling, and a fistula associated with a previously untreated carious posterior tooth; imaging shows caries extending into the pulp with periapical involvement, and the patient is referred for urgent dental extraction or endodontic therapy. A code indicating caries with pulpal involvement or unrestorable lesion is assigned to capture the source of the acute infection and need for definitive dental treatment. Typical codes: K02.52, K02.63

    Related Codes

    K00-DISORDERS-OF-TOOTH-DEVELOPMENT-AND-ERUPTION

    ICD-10-CM Code For Disorders Of Tooth Development And Eruption: Group Overview

    K01-EMBEDDED-AND-IMPACTED-TEETH

    ICD-10-CM Code For Embedded And Impacted Teeth: Group Overview

    K03-OTHER-DISEASES-OF-HARD-TISSUES-OF-TEETH

    ICD-10-CM Code For Other Diseases Of Hard Tissues Of Teeth: Group Overview

    K04-DISEASES-OF-PULP-AND-PERIAPICAL-TISSUES

    ICD-10-CM Code For Diseases Of Pulp And Periapical Tissues: Group Overview

    K05-GINGIVITIS-AND-PERIODONTAL-DISEASES

    ICD-10-CM Code For Gingivitis And Periodontal Diseases: Group Overview

    K06-OTHER-DISORDERS-OF-GINGIVA

    ICD-10-CM Code For Other Disorders Of Gingiva And Edentulous Alveolar Ridge: Group Overview

    K08-OTHER-DISORDERS-OF-TEETH

    ICD-10-CM Code For Other Disorders Of Teeth And Supporting Structures: Group Overview

    K09-CYSTS-OF-ORAL-REGION

    ICD-10-CM Code For Cysts Of Oral Region Not Elsewhere Classified: Group Overview

    K11-DISEASES-OF-SALIVARY-GLANDS

    ICD-10-CM Code For Diseases Of Salivary Glands: Group Overview

    K12-STOMATITIS-AND-RELATED-LESIONS

    ICD-10-CM Code For Stomatitis And Related Lesions: Group Overview

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    Frequently Asked Questions

    References

    1. 1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.Maintains the CPT code set's official descriptions and guidelines, licensed from the American Medical Association, used as the definitional source for CPT codes on this page.
    2. 2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's quarterly release of HCPCS Level II codes and short/long descriptors, the source for HCPCS code definitions and update history.
    3. 3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's complete ICD-10-CM diagnosis code list, used to cross-reference diagnosis codes associated with this procedure or service.
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