How to code for prophys when DAs perform them
Dental assistants now have the opportunity to perform a prophylaxis in some states. So, how do offices code for this for insurance purposes? What is the procedure code if an assistant is scaling supragingivally? Since Kathy doesn’t know exactly what assistants are doing, her opinion is that there is no procedure code for assistants.
This is a hot topic right now, and Kathy discusses some of what’s going on in the industry, and how to move toward solving this complicated dilemma. Listen to what she has to say in this new podcast.
To learn more, or with questions about any type of coding, feel free to reach out to Kathy at kathysforbes.com.
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About the podcast
RDH Magazine Podcast is the community of voices you love from RDH magazine, brought to your podcast feed every week. You can expect to gain education and have the RDH magazine community in your ears to complement the content you enjoy online and in print each month.
About the Author

Kathy S. Forbes, BS, RDH, FADHA
Kathy has more than 40 years of experience as a clinician, educator, speaker, author, and consultant. Known for turning complex coding topics into clear, practical insights, she helps dental teams connect accurate documentation and coding with quality patient care. Kathy serves as chair of the ADHA’s new coding committee after serving as a director for the DentalCodeology Consortium for seven years reviewing and developing dental hygiene-related procedure codes. She presents testimony annually to the ADA’s code maintenance committee. Reach her at [email protected].

Jackie Sanders, MBA, RDH
Chief Editor, RDH magazine
Jackie Sanders, MBA, RDH, is a respected dental industry leader with more than 40 years of experience in dental hygiene, marketing, and professional relations. As chief editor of RDH, she is dedicated to advancing the dental profession through education, innovation, and collaboration. Prior to this role, she served as manager of professional relations and communications for Sunstar/GUM, building strong connections with industry associations, educational institutions, and dental professionals nationwide. Jackie has also contributed her expertise through committee service with organizations including the American Dental Education Association and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry.




