D9993 is the CDT code for dental case management — motivational interviewing — patient-centered counseling using a recognized method (such as motivational interviewing) to identify and modify behaviors that interfere with positive oral health outcomes. It is an adjunctive case-management code, not a clinical procedure.
Informational only — confirm the official CDT descriptor and your payers' rules independently. This is general guidance, not billing, coding, or clinical advice.
When to Use the D9993 Code
Report D9993 when a provider delivers patient-centered counseling — using a recognized, professionally accepted method such as motivational interviewing (MI) — to help a patient change behaviors that work against their oral health. It reflects a distinct counseling effort, separate from routine chairside instruction.
It belongs to a family of case-management codes that are easy to confuse. D9991 addresses appointment-compliance barriers; D9992 is care coordination across providers; D9997 is case management for patients with special health care needs. D9993 is specifically the behavior-change counseling code. It is also distinct from traditional tobacco-cessation or nutritional counseling codes, which are reported separately.
Documentation & Clinical Scenarios
Because this code reports a counseling effort rather than a clinical procedure, documentation should show that a recognized method was used:
- The behavior targeted — e.g., a habit interfering with oral health outcomes.
- The method used — that the counseling followed a recognized, professionally accepted approach such as motivational interviewing.
- Who provided the counseling and the time spent.
- The plan or outcome — what the patient agreed to or the next step.
There's no tooth number or radiograph; the record is the narrative of the counseling. Any clinical services delivered at the same visit are documented and billed under their own codes.
Insurance & Billing Tips
- Expect limited or no reimbursement. These administrative case-management codes are frequently non-covered by commercial plans; certain public programs may recognize them.
- Verify before relying on payment. Confirm whether the specific plan recognizes D9993 and any documentation it requires.
- Don't confuse it with tobacco or nutritional counseling. Those have their own codes; D9993 is for recognized behavior-change counseling such as MI.
- Document the method. Because there's no clinical procedure, noting that a recognized counseling method was used is central to supporting the code.
- Track it even when unpaid. Logging D9993 helps quantify the behavior-change support your team provides.
Example Case
A patient with a behavior that's undermining their oral health agrees to talk it through. The provider delivers focused, patient-centered counseling using a motivational-interviewing approach — exploring the patient's own reasons to change and agreeing on a concrete next step — separate from routine instructions given chairside. The session is documented with D9993, noting the targeted behavior, the recognized method used, the time spent, and the agreed plan. The office verifies whether the plan recognizes the code; regardless of reimbursement, it records the counseling to support continuity of care.
Patients call to talk things through — not about the code. DentalReception AI answers and books those calls 24/7, notes the patient's stated concern, and routes the counseling conversation to your clinical team. See how it handles treatment follow-up, or book a demo.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is D9993 different from D9991 and D9992?
All three are case-management codes. D9993 is motivational interviewing — recognized counseling to change behaviors affecting oral health. D9991 addresses appointment-compliance barriers. D9992 is care coordination across providers and settings. Each describes a different effort, so the code should match the work actually performed.
Is D9993 the same as tobacco-cessation or nutritional counseling?
No. Tobacco-cessation and nutritional counseling are reported under their own CDT codes. D9993 is for patient-centered behavior-change counseling delivered through a recognized, professionally accepted method such as motivational interviewing. Using D9993 in place of the specific counseling codes — or vice versa — can lead to confusion or denial, so match the code to the service.
Will insurance pay for D9993?
Often not. These administrative case-management codes are frequently non-covered by commercial dental plans, though some public programs may recognize them. Verify with the specific payer whether D9993 is reimbursable and what documentation is required. Many offices record the code to track counseling effort even when no payment is expected.
What documentation supports a D9993 claim?
Since no clinical procedure is performed, the supporting record is the narrative: the behavior targeted, confirmation that a recognized counseling method (such as motivational interviewing) was used, who provided it, the time involved, and the plan or outcome. Clear, contemporaneous notes documenting the method are what justify the code.
Confirm the current CDT descriptor and your specific payer policies before billing — browse the full dental code library or see our insurance verification feature.