ICD-10 code for dental caries

The ICD-10-CM code for dental caries is K02.9 (Dental caries, unspecified). The official index lists 21 more specific codes, so check the documentation for details such as type, cause, site or severity before settling on K02.9.

Within K02, choose K02.9 (unspecified) only when documentation doesn't support a more specific option: Arrested dental caries (K02.3), on pit and fissure surface (K02.5), on smooth surface (K02.6) and dental root caries (K02.7).

It is not a CC or MCC, so as a secondary diagnosis it doesn't change the MS-DRG severity level.

In MS-DRG v44.0, it is part of the grouping logic for DRG 011 (Tracheostomy for Face, Mouth and Neck Diagnoses or Laryngectomy with MCC, relative weight 5.6154), DRG 012 (Tracheostomy for Face, Mouth and Neck Diagnoses or Laryngectomy with CC, relative weight 4.381), DRG 013 (Tracheostomy for Face, Mouth and Neck Diagnoses or Laryngectomy without CC/MCC, relative weight 2.7307), DRG 157 (Dental and Oral Diseases with MCC, relative weight 1.809), DRG 158 (Dental and Oral Diseases with CC, relative weight 0.9366) and DRG 159 (Dental and Oral Diseases without CC/MCC, relative weight 0.6893), in Pre-MDC and MDC 03 (Diseases and Disorders of the Ear, Nose, Mouth and Throat), as a principal or secondary diagnosis. The DRG a claim lands in depends on the principal diagnosis, procedures and any CC/MCC secondary diagnoses.