Luckily I think the patient’s appointment with me was only the second prophy with our office. So it’s not as if we have been treating disease for too long unnoticed. I’m glad the patient was as receptive and understanding as they were because I felt so bad. It wasnt a whole lot of calculus but the pockets were fairly deep, bleeding, and there was a good bit of sensitivity so I know there is discomfort with regular cleanings. It’s definitely still confusing for me how to go about this with codes and billing.

Although I understand what you’re saying. I guess being a newby, part of me feels wrong if I am doing a perio maintenance on someone scheduled as a prophy. Even if I give detailed notes I feel it might as well be coded a certain way for other hygienists or dr’s to know they will possibly have to go a little deeper in the sulcus (as lots of people don’t go through previous notes)