2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code K02.9Dental caries, unspecified
ICD-10-CM Codes›K00–K95›K00-K14›K02
- Billable — Valid for Submission
- Not Chronic
K02.9 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for dental caries, unspecified. 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.
- Active dental caries
- Acute dentine dental caries
- Acute enamel dental caries
- Caries active
- Caries inactive
- Caries involving multiple surfaces of tooth
- Caries of infancy
- Caries of infancy associated with bottle feeding
- Caries of infancy associated with breastfeeding
- Carious exposure of pulp
- Cervical caries
- Chronic dentine dental caries
- Chronic enamel dental caries
- Curly hair, acral keratoderma, caries syndrome
- Demineralization of tooth
- Dental arch length loss
- Dental arch length loss due to dental caries
- Dental caries
- Dental caries activity - finding
- Dental caries associated with enamel hypomineralization
- Dental caries associated with enamel hypoplasia
- Dental caries class I
- Dental caries class II
- Dental caries class III
- Dental caries class IV
- Dental caries class V
- Dental caries class VI
- Dental caries due to fluorine deficiency
- Dental caries extending into dentin
- Dental caries secondary to acquired defects of tooth structure
- Dental caries secondary to developmental defects of tooth structure
- Early childhood caries
- Enamel caries
- Extensive cavitated lesion with exposed dentine
- Extensive stage active coronal caries
- Extensive stage coronal caries
- Extensive stage non-active coronal caries
- Incipient enamel caries
- Initial stage active coronal caries
- Initial stage coronal caries
- Initial stage non-active coronal caries
- Injury of salivary apparatus
- Injury of salivary gland
- Insufficient clinical crown height due to dental caries
- Interproximal enamel caries
- Moderate cavitated lesion limited to outer half of dentin
- Moderate stage active coronal caries
- Moderate stage coronal caries
- Moderate stage non-active coronal caries
- Necrosis of the pulp
- Nonrestorable carious tooth
- Primary active dental caries extending into dentin
- Primary active dental caries extending into enamel
- Primary active dental caries extending into inner half of enamel
- Primary active dental caries extending into inner third of dentin
- Primary active dental caries extending into middle third of dentin
- Primary active dental caries extending into outer half of enamel
- Primary active dental caries extending into outer third of dentin
- Primary active dental caries extending into pulp
- Primary dental caries
- Primary dental caries extending into outer half of enamel
- Primary dental caries of indeterminate origin
- Primary dental caries, multisurface origin
- Primary non-active dental caries extending into dentin
- Primary non-active dental caries extending into enamel
- Primary non-active dental caries extending into inner half of enamel
- Primary non-active dental caries extending into inner third of dentin
- Primary non-active dental caries extending into middle third of dentin
- Primary non-active dental caries extending into outer half of enamel
- Primary non-active dental caries extending into outer third of dentin
- Primary non-active dental caries extending into pulp
- Rampant dental caries
- Salivary dysfunction caries following radiotherapy
- Salivary dysfunction caries secondary to aging
- Salivary dysfunction caries secondary to medication
- Salivary dysfunction dental caries
- Secondary active dental caries extending into dentin
- Secondary active dental caries extending into enamel
- Secondary active dental caries extending into inner half of enamel
- Secondary active dental caries extending into inner third of dentin
- Secondary active dental caries extending into middle third of dentin
- Secondary active dental caries extending into outer half of enamel
- Secondary active dental caries extending into outer third of dentin
- Secondary active dental caries extending into pulp
- Secondary dental caries
- Secondary dental caries associated with failed or defective dental restoration
- Secondary dental caries associated with local or systemic factors
- Secondary non-active dental caries extending into dentin
- Secondary non-active dental caries extending into enamel
- Secondary non-active dental caries extending into inner half of enamel
- Secondary non-active dental caries extending into inner third of dentin
- Secondary non-active dental caries extending into middle third of dentin
- Secondary non-active dental caries extending into outer half of enamel
- Secondary non-active dental caries extending into outer third of dentin
- Secondary non-active dental caries extending into pulp
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)
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 K02.9 to ICD-9-CMHistory
The closest ICD-9-CM equivalents under the General Equivalence Mappings.
Code HistoryHistory
Questions About K02.9Overview
Is K02.9 (Dental caries) a billable code?
Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report dental caries, unspecified on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.
What MS-DRG does K02.9 group to?
When dental caries, unspecified 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 K02.9?
Under the General Equivalence Mappings, dental caries, unspecified converts to ICD-9-CM 521.00 (dental caries NOS). The mapping is approximate, so confirm the match fits the documentation.
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.
