How Andre Does the Yearly CDT Updating of Service Codes in Eaglesoft
New ADA Current Dental Terminology (CDT) Codes are added, deleted, updated and/or modified each year. You can add, update and/or modify or delete (or inactivate codes that have been used in the past) from Eaglesoft. Sometimes it may be only one or two changes each year.
For Eaglesoft users, typically, the Patterson Technology Center (“Support”) sends a notice that a CDT update is available. Instructions are available to downloaded as a file (containing the new codes) and you can run the “CDT Utility” (found in Utilities > Mass Updates).
The CDT Utility will ONLY add new Service Codes. It will NOT delete, update or inactivate existing Service Codes. Ultimately, the practice is responsible for updating descriptions/Inactivating codes as they become active and stop using code that have been deactivated. For this reason, I have never suggested waiting for the CDT Utility.
Example: In 2019, D9940 was deleted by the ADA and replaced with 3 new codes. The Eaglesoft CDT Utility added the 3 new codes but did not inactivate or delete the old code.
As new Service Codes are added, they are not associated with existing Fee Schedules and/or Coverage Books. You may need to reach out to In-Network plan administrator to get a Maximum Allowable Fee for a newly introduced code or check if a replaced code keeps the old Maximum Allowable Fee. For Out-of-Network plans, you’ll need to investigate the Maximum Considered Fees.
One great resource for these updates, besides the ADA CTD book, is to do a quick Google Search for “CDT Changes 202X” followed by an In-Network plan name you pare a provider for. For 2026, Cigna released a great resource that showed the New code, it’s Description, the comparable existing code and even coverage information for the new code. [Link]
DISCLAIMER:
This is a resource guide and all decisions on each dental office setup should remain the sole decision of the dentist/owner of the practice. Eaglesoft is a registered trademark of Patterson Dental Company. All other software or products mentioned are the property of their respective owners. Although Andre Shirdan was an employee of Patterson Dental, he is not associated with Eaglesoft or Patterson Dental Company or endorsed by Patterson or any other Company Mentioned in this blog.
