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D0150New patients & transfersPayer limit: ~1 per 3 yrsPair with D0210 films

Comprehensive oral evaluation note template

A complete, fill-in-the-blank D0150 note written around what insurance reviewers ask for — with the documentation checklist, the denial patterns, and an Open Dental auto-note format built in.

01 · Before you bill it

Know what the payer wants first.

The note should answer every item on the left — and read so that nothing on the right applies.

What documentation D0150 requires

Missing any of these is why the claim pends for records.
  • Full-scope exam findings — extraoral, intraoral, occlusal, and periodontal — matching the "comprehensive" descriptor
  • Dated medical history review with medications and ASA status
  • Radiograph type, count, date, and the findings you read from them
  • An oral cancer screening result, positive or negative
  • A written diagnosis list, not just charted findings
  • A sequenced treatment plan with evidence the patient discussed it

Why D0150 gets denied

The denial patterns payers actually use for this code.
  • Billed within the frequency window of a prior D0150/D0180 at the same office (commonly once per provider per patient, then periodic exams)
  • Note scope reads like a limited exam — one tooth, one complaint — while billed comprehensive
  • No radiographic findings documented despite films billed the same day

02 · The template

Copy it, chart with it.

Square brackets are the blanks — replace each one as you chart. Switch the format to turn every blank into an Open Dental auto-note prompt.

D0150 · Format
MEDICAL HISTORY: Reviewed and updated [date]. Medications: [list]. Allergies: [NKDA / list]. ASA [I/II/III].
VITALS: BP [___/___]  Pulse [__]
CHIEF COMPLAINT: [Patient's words, or "new patient comprehensive evaluation; no acute complaint"].
EXTRAORAL EXAM: [WNL / findings]. TMJ: [no deviation, clicking, or tenderness / findings]. Lymph nodes: [non-palpable / findings].
INTRAORAL EXAM: Soft tissue: [WNL / findings]. Oral cancer screening: [negative / describe]. Occlusion: [class, wear, notes].
DENTITION: Existing restorations: [chart]. Caries: [teeth and surfaces]. Defective restorations: [teeth].
PERIODONTAL SCREENING: [PSR sextant scores / full chart completed]. Bleeding: [localized/generalized/none]. Recession: [notes].
RADIOGRAPHS: [FMX ## films / panoramic / BWX] taken [date] and reviewed: [findings; note bone levels and pathology or absence of pathology].
DIAGNOSIS: [Caries by tooth/surface; periodontal diagnosis with stage and grade if applicable; other findings].
TREATMENT PLAN: [Sequenced plan discussed, including alternatives and no-treatment consequences]. Patient questions answered; patient [accepts / will consider].
NEXT VISIT: [Hygiene / restorative sequencing and interval].

03 · Common questions

Frequently asked about D0150

D0150 or D0180?
D0180 is the comprehensive periodontal evaluation — use it when the visit centers on full perio charting and risk assessment, typically for new patients with perio involvement or referred perio cases. Payers often reimburse them at similar rates but track frequencies separately.
Can I bill D0150 with a same-day prophy?
Yes, commonly — but keep the exam note distinct from the hygiene note, each supporting its own code.
New patient exam every time a patient switches offices?
Generally yes — D0150 frequency is usually per patient per office/provider, so a transferring patient supports a new comprehensive evaluation.

More templates

Or never fill in a blank again.

Molaris listens to the visit and drafts this exact note in your wording — placeholders already filled from what was actually said. You review, you sign, it files to Open Dental.

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Reviewed August 2026. These templates are original Molaris reference samples showing how the scribe structures documentation. They are educational examples, not billing, coding, or legal advice; payer requirements vary by plan and state. CDT codes are maintained by the ADA.