D9244ADA CDT ProcedureAdjunctiveANESTHESIA

D9244 - Minimal Sedation

Minimal sedation – single drug – enteral.

Patient-Friendly Summary: This involves taking a single prescribed oral sedative pill shortly before your appointment to ease nervousness and promote calm. It is recommended for patients who experience mild-to-moderate dental anxiety and prefer a relaxed experience without needles. You will remain awake and able to respond to questions, but you will feel pleasantly drowsy and calm throughout your visit.
Clinical Documentation Notes: Not a covered benefit.
Procedure Code
D9244
Clinical Category
Adjunctive
Primary ICD-10 Justification
See mapped diagnoses below
Reference Fee & Claim Types
DENTAL

Insurance Verification Benchmarks & Billing Guidelines

Payer policy benchmarks, pre-submission attachment requirements, and denial prevention rules for D9244.

Source: Delta Dental 2026
Frequency Limitation
Subject to group/individual contract frequency limitations (none)

Required Claim Attachments & Pre-Submission Checklist

  • Standard ADA claim form with CDT procedure code and date of service

Bill When (Allowable Clinical Criteria)

  • Indicated for medically and clinically necessary treatment as documented in patient's dental record.

Restrictions & Clinical Exclusions

  • General anesthesia and intravenous sedation are limited to one hour. Any additional minutes are not billable to the patient unless clinical documentation (e.g., anesthesia record) supports more than an hour was necessary.
  • Benefits for D9244 are denied, unless the group/individual contract specifies that services are a covered benefit.
  • Fees for D9244 are not billable to the patient in conjunction with IV sedation (D9239 and D9243) and general anesthesia (D9222, D9223, D9224, D9225).
  • General anesthesia and intravenous sedation are limited to one hour. Any additional minutes are not billable to the patient unless clinical documentation supports more than an hour was necessary. For example, special health care needs patients may require additional units of anesthesia and may be a benefit according to group/individual contract.
  • All services and treatment provided remotely via tele-health modalities, be they synchronous or asynchronous, must be performed by a licensed dentist or their supervised staff, acting within the scope of applicable law. Services and treatment delivered virtually are only a benefit when the elements included in the descriptor of the CDT procedure code are completed and only when they meet generally accepted clinical guidelines.
  • Benefits for restorations for altering occlusion, adjusting vertical dimension, replacing tooth structure lost by attrition, erosion, abrasion, abfraction, corrosion, TMD, or for periodontal, orthodontic, or other splinting are denied, unless covered by group contract.

Common Claim Denial Codes & Overturn Strategies

Denial CodeDenial ReasonAppeal & Overturn Strategy
CO-119Benefit maximum or frequency limitation exceeded for procedureSubmit clinical narrative detailing extraordinary circumstances, active recurrent pathology, or exception criteria.

ICD-10-CM Justification & Crosswalk Mappings for D9244 (0)

Click any ICD-10-CM diagnosis code below to inspect its reverse procedure mappings and differential coding guide.

No direct ICD-10 mappings recorded for D9244.

Frequently Asked Questions — D9244 (Minimal Sedation)

Quick answers for dental billers and treatment coordinators submitting claims for D9244.

What ICD-10 diagnosis codes link to dental procedure D9244?▾

Currently no specific ICD-10 crosswalk mappings recorded for CDT D9244.

Can CDT code D9244 be billed to medical insurance?▾

Billing CDT D9244 (Minimal Sedation) to medical insurance depends on the underlying clinical necessity and trauma/pathology documentation. Supported claim types across linked diagnoses: DENTAL.

What attachments and documentation are required for billing CDT D9244?▾

Required claim attachments for CDT D9244 (Minimal Sedation) include: Standard ADA claim form with CDT procedure code and date of service.

What is the insurance frequency limitation for CDT D9244?▾

Standard commercial insurance frequency for D9244: Subject to group/individual contract frequency limitations (none).

What are common insurance denial reasons and appeal tips for CDT D9244?▾

Denial Code CO-119 (Benefit maximum or frequency limitation exceeded for procedure): Overturn appeal strategy - Submit clinical narrative detailing extraordinary circumstances, active recurrent pathology, or exception criteria.