D8670Periodic Orthodontic Treatment Visit

What This Code Covers

D8670 covers a periodic (routine) orthodontic treatment visit during active treatment. This is the adjustment appointment where the orthodontist evaluates progress, changes wires, adjusts elastics, replaces ligatures, and makes other modifications to the orthodontic appliances. In most practices, periodic visits are included in the comprehensive treatment global fee and D8670 is used primarily for tracking and reporting purposes.

Billing Guide

Bill this code when:

• A routine adjustment visit is performed during active orthodontic treatment
• The visit is part of an ongoing treatment case that is not billed as a global fee
• Some practices bill D8670 per visit instead of a global comprehensive fee
• The visit includes wire changes, elastic changes, or appliance adjustments

Do not bill this code when:

• The visits are included in the comprehensive treatment global fee (D8070-D8090) already billed
• The visit is a pre-treatment monitoring exam. Use D8660
• Only a retainer check is performed. Use D8680
• No orthodontic adjustment is performed at the visit

Insurance and Denial Prevention

Key Payer Rules:

• In most comprehensive orthodontic cases, periodic visits are included in the global fee and D8670 is not billed separately to insurance
• Some plans require D8670 to be reported for tracking even when included in the global fee
• If the practice bills per visit instead of globally, D8670 is the appropriate code
• Payers that reimburse per visit have strict frequency limits

Common Denials and How to Respond:

• Included in global fee - If the comprehensive case was already billed, periodic visits are included. D8670 should not generate a separate charge.
• Frequency limit - Per-visit billing plans may limit the number of D8670 visits per year. Verify the plan's allowance.
• Not a covered visit - Some plans do not reimburse D8670 separately. Verify the billing method (global vs. per visit) with the payer.