This dental procedure code applies to the dental use of antibiotics, steroids, or anti-inflammatory drugs accompanying simple extractions.
Such use is typically administered via injection once a dentist has numbed the area with a topical numbing agent. This additional layer of preventative medicine works to create a comfortable situation in which the “stick” from the needle itself isn't even felt. Some dentists may also use a procedure called “gate control” in which they wiggle the side of the lip and cheek for a moment to get the nerves in the area to react. In doing so, the nerves are effectively “too busy” to react or “re-fire” again when the needle is inserted.
To look up and find more cdt dental codes from the American Dental Association, please visit our complete Dental Procedure Code Library.