2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code K02.3Arrested dental caries
ICD-10-CM Codes›K00–K95›K00-K14›K02
- Billable — Valid for Submission
- Not Chronic
K02.3 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for arrested dental caries. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2026 (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026) and groups to MS-DRG 157 through 159. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Any dental condition including traumatic injury; Caries, periodontitis, and other preventable dental conditions; and Disorders of teeth and gingiva.
Code Identity
Code Classification
Approximate SynonymsGuidance
Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.
- Arrested dental caries
Tabular List NotesGuidance
Coding notes and annotation back-references applicable to this code.
Inclusion Terms
- Arrested coronal and root caries
These terms are the conditions for which that code is to be used. The terms may be synonyms of the code title, or, in the case of "other specified" codes, the terms are a list of the various conditions assigned to that code. The inclusion terms are not necessarily exhaustive. Additional terms found only in the Alphabetic Index may also be assigned to a code.
Index to Diseases and InjuriesGuidance
Alphabetical index entries that point to this code.
External Cause of Injuries IndexGuidance
References for this code in the External Cause of Injuries Index.
- Caries
- dental (dentino enamel junction) (early childhood) (of dentine) (pre-eruptive) (recurrent) (to the pulp)
- arrested (coronal) (root)
Clinical ClassificationClinical
AHRQ’s CCSR groups this code into broader clinical categories.
Clinical InformationClinical
Dental Caries
localized destruction of the tooth surface initiated by decalcification of the enamel followed by enzymatic lysis of organic structures and leading to cavity formation. if left unchecked, the cavity may penetrate the enamel and dentin and reach the pulp.Dental Caries Activity Tests
diagnostic tests conducted in order to measure the increment of active dental caries over a period of time.Dental Caries Susceptibility
the predisposition to tooth decay (dental caries).
Patient EducationClinical
Tooth Decay
Tooth decay is damage to a tooth's surface, or enamel. It happens when bacteria in your mouth make acids that attack the enamel. Tooth decay can lead to cavities (dental caries), which are holes in your teeth. If tooth decay is not treated, it can cause pain, infection, and even tooth loss.
The full article covers:
- What is tooth decay?
- What causes tooth decay?
- Who is at risk for tooth decay?
- What are the symptoms of tooth decay and cavities?
- How are tooth decay and cavities diagnosed?
- What are the treatments for tooth decay and cavities?
- Can tooth decay be prevented?
Read the full article at MedlinePlus
Courtesy of MedlinePlus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
Convert K02.3 to ICD-9-CMHistory
The closest ICD-9-CM equivalents under the General Equivalence Mappings.
Code HistoryHistory
Questions About K02.3Overview
Is K02.3 (Dental caries) a billable code?
Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report arrested dental caries on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.
What MS-DRG does K02.3 group to?
When arrested dental caries is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 157, 158, 159, with relative weights from 0.7085 to 1.7168 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.
What is the ICD-9 equivalent of K02.3?
Under the General Equivalence Mappings, arrested dental caries converts to ICD-9-CM 521.04 (dental caries - arrested). The mapping is a direct match.
Footnotes
[1] Not chronic - A diagnosis code that does not fit the criteria for chronic condition (duration, ongoing medical treatment, and limitations) is considered not chronic. Some codes designated as not chronic are acute conditions. Other diagnosis codes that indicate a possible chronic condition, but for which the duration of the illness is not specified in the code description (i.e., we do not know the condition has lasted 12 months or longer) also are considered not chronic.
