Dental caries (K02)

ICD-10 code K02 covers various forms of dental caries, commonly known as tooth decay, and is used to specify the location and severity of these cavities. This set includes codes for arrested caries, caries on pit and fissure surfaces, smooth surfaces, root caries, and unspecified dental caries.

This section helps coders and healthcare providers accurately document dental decay by distinguishing between conditions like K02.3 Arrested dental caries, which refers to tooth decay that has stopped progressing, and K02.5 series, which identify caries located on the pits and fissures of teeth. For example, K02.51 indicates decay limited to enamel, while K02.52 and K02.53 describe deeper cavities penetrating dentin or pulp respectively. Similarly, codes from K02.6 address decay on smooth tooth surfaces with similar distinctions for severity, and K02.7 specifies root caries, including terms like “cementum caries” or “root surface origin.” The broad K02.9 unspecified code covers dental caries not otherwise specified, helping capture cases with uncertain or complex presentations. Using these specific ICD-10 codes for dental caries ensures precise coding aligned with categories such as "pit and fissure caries," "smooth surface caries," or "root surface caries," facilitating targeted treatment planning and documentation.