K08.9 ICD-10-CM Code: Disorder of teeth and supporting structures, unspecified

Coding instructions

Official Tabular Instructional Notes: the inclusion, exclusion and sequencing notes published for K08.9 in the official ICD-10-CM tabular list, quoted as published.

Source: CMS/CDC — ICD-10-CM Tabular ListRelease: FY2026Effective: October 1, 2025

Notes without a marker are published on K08.9 itself; “inherited from” names the category or block whose note applies here.

Coder workflow for K08.9

MedCoder structured workflow — derived from this code’s own official record

Before you code K08.9

1. Unspecified does not mean incorrect. When the record gives no greater specificity, K08.9 may be the appropriate code. Check the record for detail that supports a more specific sibling. An unspecified code is for records that do not provide the detail a more specific code needs; a query, not an assumption, is the route to specificity (Guidelines I.A.9.b, I.B.18).

   ReviewK08.5, K08.8

   See the relationships section · Guide: Other vs unspecified (NEC vs NOS) →

Choose the right path

1. Does the record document the detail a more specific sibling code needs?
   Yes → Review the specific siblings in this subcategory.
   No → Continue — K08.9 is appropriate when the documentation goes no further.

   ReviewK08.5, K08.8

Consider K08.9. Then confirm the code is valid for the date of service in the Verify section.

Documentation check

The provider’s diagnostic statement

Codes are assigned from the provider’s documented diagnosis, not from clinical criteria, test values or a medication list (Guidelines I.A.19).

Any detail beyond this code’s title

What the record states that a more specific sibling code would capture — or its absence, which itself supports the unspecified code.

Official instructions as workflow

• Excludes2 — not part of K08.9(2 notes)

  Coding workflow: The conditions named in this note are not included in K08.9. When the record documents both, both may be reported; the note is a boundary, not a prohibition.

  CompareM27

  See the official tabular notes · Guidelines I.A.12.b

Coding decision scenarios

Pattern scenarios for this code’s structure — decision rules, not clinical cases

Every row is derived from this code’s own record — its title, tabular notes, 7th-character family and same-category siblings — with fixed MedCoder wording; nothing is inferred about a patient. The official notes and guideline text are in the sections each row links to, and they control.

Indexed Clinical Terms (7)

Official source data — entries quoted as published, in the Index’s own lookup phrasing

Clinical term phrases from the official ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries that map to this code. These are alphabetic-index entries shown as the Index writes them — lookup phrasing, not necessarily the wording of a final diagnosis.

• Abnormal, abnormality, abnormalities, alveolar ridge
• Disease, diseased, alveoli, teeth
• Disease, diseased, supporting structures of teeth
• Disease, diseased, tooth, teeth
• Disorder (of), tooth
• Lesion (s) (nontraumatic), alveolar process
• Lesion (s) (nontraumatic), tooth, teeth

Official Coding Guidelines

No excerpt in the ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines names this code specifically. Its chapter carries only this chapter-wide note:

Don’t confuse K08.9 with…

MedCoder analysis — pairs from this code’s official notes, distinctions written by MedCoder

The codes most likely to be picked instead of K08.9 — named in its own official notes, or sharing its laterality or encounter family — with what separates them and which documentation moves the case. Each links to the full comparison.

• M27— Excludes2 relationship (Informational)

  Distinct conditions — both may be reported.

  A distinct condition — both may be reported when both are documented.

  What moves you there: Documentation of disorders of jaw adds M27; it is not part of this code and both may be reported when both are documented.

  Full comparison: K08.9 vs M27 →

Relationships are read from this code's own official notes, its laterality siblings and its encounter family; the wording of each distinction is MedCoder editorial, and the documentation named in each “what moves you there” line is the official note phrase or sibling title itself. Source: CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes; ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines, Section I.A.12.a.

Verify Before Coding

• No Medicare Code Editor or MS-DRG Definitions Manual restrictions apply to this code.

From the code registry, the Medicare Code Editor, and the MS-DRG Definitions Manual. Check it against a full claim in Claim Check.

Relationships & Classification

MedCoder structured relationships — computed from published CMS and AHRQ datasets

MS-DRG Grouper Relationships (FY2026)

Potential MS-DRG participation — not a DRG assignment.

FY2026 MS-DRG: not on the CMS CC/MCC list — as a secondary diagnosis this code does not change MS-DRG severity for that release.

Named in the grouper logic of 6 MS-DRGs: DRG 011 (MDC PRE), DRG 012 (MDC PRE), DRG 013 (MDC PRE), DRG 157 (MDC 03), DRG 158 (MDC 03), DRG 159 (MDC 03).

From the CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual (Appendices B and C). Actual DRG assignment depends on the complete claim.

Clinical classification (AHRQ CCSR):DIG002 — Disorders of teeth and gingiva (default); DEN001 — Any dental condition including traumatic injury; DEN002 — Nontraumatic dental conditions; DEN003 — Caries, periodontitis, and other preventable dental conditions.

Clinical Classifications Software Refined (CCSR) for ICD-10-CM Diagnoses. Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

Related Codes

Same clinical category (CCSR)

AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software groups these diagnoses under the same clinical categories (Disorders of teeth and gingiva, Any dental condition including traumatic injury, Nontraumatic dental conditions, Caries, periodontitis, and other preventable dental conditions).

K08.531 — Fractured dental restorative material with loss of material, K08.539 — Fractured dental restorative material, unspecified, K08.54 — Contour of existing restoration of tooth biologically incompatible with oral health, K08.55 — Allergy to existing dental restorative material, K08.56 — Poor aesthetic of existing restoration of tooth, K08.59 — Other unsatisfactory restoration of tooth, K08.8 — Other specified disorders of teeth and supporting structures, K08.81 — Primary occlusal trauma, K08.82 — Secondary occlusal trauma, K08.89 — Other specified disorders of teeth and supporting structures, K09.0 — Developmental odontogenic cysts, K09.1 — Developmental (nonodontogenic) cysts of oral region, M26.00 — Unspecified anomaly of jaw size, M26.01 — Maxillary hyperplasia, M26.02 — Maxillary hypoplasia, M26.03 — Mandibular hyperplasia, M26.04 — Mandibular hypoplasia, M26.05 — Macrogenia, M26.06 — Microgenia, M26.07 — Excessive tuberosity of jaw, +613 more

Same Index main term, other category

The ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries files this code under the main terms “Lesion”, “Abnormal, abnormality, abnormalities”; these codes share that main term but sit in a different category of the Tabular List.

J34.89 — Other specified disorders of nose and nasal sinuses (nose), J35.9 — Chronic disease of tonsils and adenoids, unspecified (tonsillar fossa), J39.2 — Other diseases of pharynx (pharynx), J98.4 — Other disorders of lung (pulmonary), K00.2 — Abnormalities of size and form of teeth (form, teeth), K02.51 — Dental caries on pit and fissure surface limited to enamel (white spot, chewing surface), K02.61 — Dental caries on smooth surface limited to enamel (white spot, smooth surface), K04.3 — Abnormal hard tissue formation in pulp (hard tissue formation in pulp), K05.5 — Other periodontal diseases (combined periodontic - endodontic), K06.2 — Gingival and edentulous alveolar ridge lesions associated with trauma (gingiva, associated with trauma), K11.8 — Other diseases of salivary glands (salivary gland, benign lymphoepithelial), K11.9 — Disease of salivary gland, unspecified (salivary gland), K13.0 — Diseases of lips (lip), K13.70 — Unspecified lesions of oral mucosa (oral mucosa), K13.79 — Other lesions of oral mucosa (mouth), K27.9 — Peptic ulcer, site unspecified, unspecified as acute or chronic, without hemorrhage or perforation (peptic), K31.9 — Disease of stomach and duodenum, unspecified (cardia), K62.9 — Disease of anus and rectum, unspecified (anorectal), K63.9 — Disease of intestine, unspecified (cecum), K76.9 — Liver disease, unspecified (liver), +336 more

Contextual Map

Every relationship of K08.9 in one view: hierarchy, official tabular instructions in both directions, clinical classification, risk adjustment, MS-DRG participation, index terms and change history — each edge carrying the CMS source it derives from.

Hierarchy

• K00-K95 — Chapter 11: Diseases of the Digestive System (K00-K95) (K00-K95)[Hierarchy]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• K00-K14 — Diseases of oral cavity and salivary glands[Hierarchy]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026

Clinical classification (CCSR)

• DIG002 — Disorders of teeth and gingiva[CCSR]— AHRQ CCSR for ICD-10-CM Diagnoses (HCUP)
• DEN001 — Any dental condition including traumatic injury[CCSR]— AHRQ CCSR for ICD-10-CM Diagnoses (HCUP)
• DEN002 — Nontraumatic dental conditions[CCSR]— AHRQ CCSR for ICD-10-CM Diagnoses (HCUP)
• DEN003 — Caries, periodontitis, and other preventable dental conditions[CCSR]— AHRQ CCSR for ICD-10-CM Diagnoses (HCUP)

MS-DRG Grouper

• DRG 011 — TRACHEOSTOMY FOR FACE, MOUTH AND NECK DIAGNOSES OR LARYNGECTOMY WITH MCC[MS-DRG]: “TRACHEOSTOMY FOR FACE, MOUTH AND NECK DIAGNOSES OR LARYNGECTOMY WITH MCC (MDC PRE)”— CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual (Appendix B) · FY2026
• DRG 012 — TRACHEOSTOMY FOR FACE, MOUTH AND NECK DIAGNOSES OR LARYNGECTOMY WITH CC[MS-DRG]: “TRACHEOSTOMY FOR FACE, MOUTH AND NECK DIAGNOSES OR LARYNGECTOMY WITH CC (MDC PRE)”— CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual (Appendix B) · FY2026
• DRG 013 — TRACHEOSTOMY FOR FACE, MOUTH AND NECK DIAGNOSES OR LARYNGECTOMY WITHOUT CC/MCC[MS-DRG]: “TRACHEOSTOMY FOR FACE, MOUTH AND NECK DIAGNOSES OR LARYNGECTOMY WITHOUT CC/MCC (MDC PRE)”— CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual (Appendix B) · FY2026
• DRG 157 — DENTAL AND ORAL DISEASES WITH MCC[MS-DRG]: “DENTAL AND ORAL DISEASES WITH MCC (MDC 03)”— CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual (Appendix B) · FY2026
• DRG 158 — DENTAL AND ORAL DISEASES WITH CC[MS-DRG]: “DENTAL AND ORAL DISEASES WITH CC (MDC 03)”— CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual (Appendix B) · FY2026
• DRG 159 — DENTAL AND ORAL DISEASES WITHOUT CC/MCC[MS-DRG]: “DENTAL AND ORAL DISEASES WITHOUT CC/MCC (MDC 03)”— CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual (Appendix B) · FY2026

MDC crossing

• Pre-MDC[MDC crossing]: “Pre-MDC — the grouper's crossing between diagnoses and procedures: a principal diagnosis sets the MDC, and same-MDC procedures move the stay to its surgical DRGs. 153 same-MDC procedures group here; browse them on the MDC page.”— CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual · FY2026
• MDC 03 — Diseases and Disorders of the Ear, Nose, Mouth and Throat[MDC crossing]: “Diseases and Disorders of the Ear, Nose, Mouth and Throat — the grouper's crossing between diagnoses and procedures: a principal diagnosis sets the MDC, and same-MDC procedures move the stay to its surgical DRGs. 5,147 same-MDC procedures group here; browse them on the MDC page.”— CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual · FY2026

Index entries

• Abnormal, abnormality, abnormalities, alveolar ridge[Index term]— CMS ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries · icd10cm-fy2026
• Disease, diseased, alveoli, teeth[Index term]— CMS ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries · icd10cm-fy2026
• Disease, diseased, supporting structures of teeth[Index term]— CMS ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries · icd10cm-fy2026
• Disease, diseased, tooth, teeth[Index term]— CMS ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries · icd10cm-fy2026
• Disorder (of), tooth[Index term]— CMS ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries · icd10cm-fy2026
• Lesion (s) (nontraumatic), alveolar process[Index term]— CMS ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries · icd10cm-fy2026
• Lesion (s) (nontraumatic), tooth, teeth[Index term]— CMS ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries · icd10cm-fy2026

Nearest codes (40)

• K08 — Other disorders of teeth and supporting structures[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• K08.41 — Partial loss of teeth due to trauma[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• K08.411 — Partial loss of teeth due to trauma, class I[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• K08.412 — Partial loss of teeth due to trauma, class II[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• K08.413 — Partial loss of teeth due to trauma, class III[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• K08.414 — Partial loss of teeth due to trauma, class IV[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• K08.419 — Partial loss of teeth due to trauma, unspecified class[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• K08.42 — Partial loss of teeth due to periodontal diseases[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• and 32 more

Change history

• FY2016 — In the code set at ICD-10-CM adoption [Change history]— CMS release files (code change ledger) · icd10cm-fy2016

Sources for this page

Codes, titles, notes, index terms and mappings on this page are transcribed from the datasets below. Relationships MedCoder computed and text MedCoder wrote are labelled where they appear.

Code, title, tabular notes and index terms Official source data

CMS/CDC ICD-10-CM FY2026 tabular list, index and tables, effective October 1, 2025 Release, file and checksum · Publisher’s page

Coding guidelines Official source data

ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting (FY2026), quoted by section Release, file and checksum · Publisher’s page

Claim edits Official source data

CMS Definitions of Medicare Code Edits — v43.1 (April 2026) Release, file and checksum · Publisher’s page

Inpatient payment groups Official source data

CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual (incl. Appendix B diagnosis index, Appendix C CC/MCC list, Appendix E procedure index) and IPPS Final Rule tables — v43 Release, file and checksum · Publisher’s page

Change history and date-of-service validity Official source data

CMS ICD-10-CM release addenda, ingested release by release into the change ledger Release, file and checksum · Publisher’s page

Comparisons, relationships and the contextual map MedCoder structured relationship

Computed by MedCoder from the tabular notes and tables above; every derived relationship is marked as derived where it appears

Summary and FAQ answers MedCoder explanation

Written by MedCoder to explain the sources above: drafted with AI assistance, checked by a person against the release files, and labelled as MedCoder text where it appears. Not official text.

Labels on this page: Official source data · MedCoder structured relationship · MedCoder explanation. How to read the labels · All data sources and release dates

Nearest Codes in This Family

Official ICD-10-CM classifications closest to K08.9 in its code family, with their registry titles.

• K08.530 — Fractured dental restorative material without loss of material
• K08.531 — Fractured dental restorative material with loss of material
• K08.539 — Fractured dental restorative material, unspecified
• K08.54 — Contour of existing restoration of tooth biologically incompatible with oral health
• K08.55 — Allergy to existing dental restorative material
• K08.56 — Poor aesthetic of existing restoration of tooth
• K08.59 — Other unsatisfactory restoration of tooth
• K08.8 — Other specified disorders of teeth and supporting structures
• K08.81 — Primary occlusal trauma
• K08.82 — Secondary occlusal trauma

View all codes in the K08 family