A code is assigned by American Dental Associations (ADA) for all kinds of dental procedures. The objective is to ensure that all dentists and dental insurance companies use and accept the dental code uniformly all around the globe. Given this purpose, sealant dental code D1351 was announced by ADA.
Dental Sealants
The term dental sealants refer to narrow layers of coatings that serve the purpose of protecting the chewing surface of premolars and molars from bacteria and cavities. The coating bonds over the groove surface of the tooth as soon as it is placed and protects the enamel.
Although frequent brushing and flossing can play a role to ensure that the premolars and molars of teeth remain clean and free of tiny particles. However, the chewing surface of those teeth is at risk of decay as the accumulation of plaque is likely in this area. Sealants offer extra protection against tooth decay by providing a smooth surface to the vulnerable areas of premolars and molars in the form of coatings. Children and teenagers are usually likely to undergo the dental procedure of sealants.
Dental Code for Sealants
The dental code d1351, one of the codes of Current Dental Terminologies (CDT), is assigned to the procedure of dental sealants per tooth. This dental code comes in the category of “Preventive” codes, which range from D1000-D1999. Even if the procedure of sealant is referred to by a different name in other countries, the d1351 dental code description is recognized all over the globe. Hence, dentists prefer to use the ADA code for sealants in their records and documents.
What is the Preventive Resin Restoration Code
Sometimes, patients confuse two dental procedures- Sealants and Preventive Resin Restoration, because of the few similarities they entail. However, in actuality, they have considerable differences. Dental sealant refers to the procedure in which thin coatings are applied to the premolars and molars before the teeth are strained i.e. there is no existing decay. This procedure shows its efficacy for about 10 years. On the other hand, Preventive Resin Restoration (PRR) is carried out for moderate to high caries risk patients, when few strains of decay already exist on the enamel layer of teeth. The results of this procedure are likely to last longer than that of dental sealant. The preventive resin restoration code is D1352 while that of the Dental Sealant is D1351.
These unique dental codes play a major role in the worldwide identification and distinction of the two seemingly similar processes.
Conclusion
Dental Code D1351 is assigned to the dental procedure of Sealant. This procedure is characterized by the coating of a thin layer on the premolars and molars for the purpose of protection against plague and decay. This code is acknowledged and used all over the globe by dentists for their documents and bills. However, an apparently similar yet different dental procedure- Preventive Resin Restoration is distinguished by a different dental code known as D1352.
