Two bitewing radiographic images, typically one on each side.
Get help with D0272 claims →Children with primary or mixed dentition who have posterior contacts. Two bitewings cover the posterior teeth adequately in smaller mouths.
Patients with partial edentulism who only have posterior teeth on two sides.
Some plans cover two bitewings annually for children or patients with low caries risk.
These are the denial reasons we see most often for D0272. Each one is preventable with proper documentation.
If four bitewings were taken, bill D0274. Do not bill D0272 twice to get four images.
Most plans allow bitewings once per 6 or 12 months. Check the last date bitewings were taken.
Some plans only cover D0272 for children under a certain age, requiring D0274 for adults.
Document the patient's caries risk level to justify the radiograph interval.
Note the reason for taking bitewings: caries detection, monitoring existing restorations, or evaluating interproximal bone levels.
Confirm two images were taken and which quadrants they cover.
D0272 covers two bitewing images. This is typically one image per side, covering the premolar and molar areas. D0274 covers four bitewing images, which is the standard for adult patients with full posterior dentition.
Bill the code that matches the number of images actually taken. Do not bill D0272 twice to represent four images. Do not bill D0274 if you only took two images. The code must match the actual number of radiographs exposed.
Most dental plans cover bitewings once every six months for high-risk patients and once every twelve months for low-risk patients. Some plans have shifted to once every 24 months for adults with no caries history. Always verify the patient's specific benefit frequency before assuming coverage.
If bitewings are denied for frequency, check whether the previous bitewings were taken at another office. Transfer patients often trigger frequency denials because the new office doesn't know when the last images were taken. Request the patient's prior records or verify with the insurance company before taking new images.
Our team handles D0272 billing daily. We know the denial patterns, documentation requirements, and appeal strategies that get claims paid.
Get a free AR analysis →