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K02.9 — Dental caries, unspecified
K02.9
What this code means
Dental caries (tooth decay) is damage to a tooth caused by acid-producing bacteria in plaque.
Also called: dental caries, tooth decay, cavities.
When this code is used
Used for dental caries when the type is not specified.
Where it sits in ICD-10-CM
Code K02.9 belongs to Chapter 11: Diseases of the digestive system, which covers codes K00–K95 in the FY2027 ICD-10-CM tabular list. The official description above is copied verbatim from the CDC/NCHS FY2027 code file.
Watch: related videos
Frequently asked questions
What is ICD-10-CM code K02.9?
K02.9 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for “Dental caries, unspecified”. Dental caries (tooth decay) is damage to a tooth caused by acid-producing bacteria in plaque.
When is code K02.9 used?
Used for dental caries when the type is not specified. It belongs to Chapter 11 of ICD-10-CM (Diseases of the digestive system).
This guide explains ICD-10-CM codes in plain language for patients, students and other readers. It is educational information only — not coding, billing or medical advice. The code recorded for any real encounter is assigned from the full clinical documentation by the treating team and qualified coders, and only they can decide which code fits a specific case.