Billing for the DGFDT Bruxism Screening Index

Further development of the foundations of the specialty of Craniomandibular Function and Disorders has in some cases made it necessary to redefine the positions of systematized entities of this specialty that had previously been relegated to other positions or causal contexts. Consequently, the first AWMF Guideline on Bruxism Diagnosis and Treatment was published on 2 May 2019 (Register No. 083-027) by the German Society of Craniomandibular Function and Disorders (DGFDT), together with the German Society of Dental, Oral and Craniomandibular Sciences (DGZMK) as well as around three dozen professional societies. The guideline, which was assigned an S3 ranking (reflecting the highest stage of development), recognizes bruxism as a potentially independent disease entity, placing it on a similar footing with craniomandibular dysfunction. The Bruxism Screening Index (BSI), an instrument for the diagnosis of bruxism, was developed by a DGFDT working group based on the current literature, parallel to the S3 Guideline. Restructuring of the specialty in this manner has led to a need for changes in the billing of bruxism diagnostic services. These aspects are discussed in this article. Keywords: craniomandibular dysfunction (CMD), bruxism, Bruxism Screening Index (BSI), clinical functional analysis, German Dental Fee Schedule, GOZ, analogous billing