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How to Write a Narrative Essay | Example & Tips

Published on July 24, 2020 by Jack Caulfield . Revised on July 23, 2023.

A narrative essay tells a story. In most cases, this is a story about a personal experience you had. This type of essay , along with the descriptive essay , allows you to get personal and creative, unlike most academic writing .

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Table of contents

What is a narrative essay for, choosing a topic, interactive example of a narrative essay, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about narrative essays.

When assigned a narrative essay, you might find yourself wondering: Why does my teacher want to hear this story? Topics for narrative essays can range from the important to the trivial. Usually the point is not so much the story itself, but the way you tell it.

A narrative essay is a way of testing your ability to tell a story in a clear and interesting way. You’re expected to think about where your story begins and ends, and how to convey it with eye-catching language and a satisfying pace.

These skills are quite different from those needed for formal academic writing. For instance, in a narrative essay the use of the first person (“I”) is encouraged, as is the use of figurative language, dialogue, and suspense.

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Narrative essay assignments vary widely in the amount of direction you’re given about your topic. You may be assigned quite a specific topic or choice of topics to work with.

• Write a story about your first day of school.
• Write a story about your favorite holiday destination.

You may also be given prompts that leave you a much wider choice of topic.

• Write about an experience where you learned something about yourself.
• Write about an achievement you are proud of. What did you accomplish, and how?

In these cases, you might have to think harder to decide what story you want to tell. The best kind of story for a narrative essay is one you can use to talk about a particular theme or lesson, or that takes a surprising turn somewhere along the way.

For example, a trip where everything went according to plan makes for a less interesting story than one where something unexpected happened that you then had to respond to. Choose an experience that might surprise the reader or teach them something.

Narrative essays in college applications

When applying for college , you might be asked to write a narrative essay that expresses something about your personal qualities.

For example, this application prompt from Common App requires you to respond with a narrative essay.

In this context, choose a story that is not only interesting but also expresses the qualities the prompt is looking for—here, resilience and the ability to learn from failure—and frame the story in a way that emphasizes these qualities.

An example of a short narrative essay, responding to the prompt “Write about an experience where you learned something about yourself,” is shown below.

Hover over different parts of the text to see how the structure works.

Since elementary school, I have always favored subjects like science and math over the humanities. My instinct was always to think of these subjects as more solid and serious than classes like English. If there was no right answer, I thought, why bother? But recently I had an experience that taught me my academic interests are more flexible than I had thought: I took my first philosophy class.

Before I entered the classroom, I was skeptical. I waited outside with the other students and wondered what exactly philosophy would involve—I really had no idea. I imagined something pretty abstract: long, stilted conversations pondering the meaning of life. But what I got was something quite different.

A young man in jeans, Mr. Jones—“but you can call me Rob”—was far from the white-haired, buttoned-up old man I had half-expected. And rather than pulling us into pedantic arguments about obscure philosophical points, Rob engaged us on our level. To talk free will, we looked at our own choices. To talk ethics, we looked at dilemmas we had faced ourselves. By the end of class, I’d discovered that questions with no right answer can turn out to be the most interesting ones.

The experience has taught me to look at things a little more “philosophically”—and not just because it was a philosophy class! I learned that if I let go of my preconceptions, I can actually get a lot out of subjects I was previously dismissive of. The class taught me—in more ways than one—to look at things with an open mind.

If you want to know more about AI tools , college essays , or fallacies make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples or go directly to our tools!

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If you’re not given much guidance on what your narrative essay should be about, consider the context and scope of the assignment. What kind of story is relevant, interesting, and possible to tell within the word count?

The best kind of story for a narrative essay is one you can use to reflect on a particular theme or lesson, or that takes a surprising turn somewhere along the way.

Don’t worry too much if your topic seems unoriginal. The point of a narrative essay is how you tell the story and the point you make with it, not the subject of the story itself.

Narrative essays are usually assigned as writing exercises at high school or in university composition classes. They may also form part of a university application.

When you are prompted to tell a story about your own life or experiences, a narrative essay is usually the right response.

The key difference is that a narrative essay is designed to tell a complete story, while a descriptive essay is meant to convey an intense description of a particular place, object, or concept.

Narrative and descriptive essays both allow you to write more personally and creatively than other kinds of essays , and similar writing skills can apply to both.

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Revision and Editing Checklist for a Narrative Essay

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After you have completed one or more drafts of your narrative essay , use the following checklist as a revision and editing guide to prepare the final version of your composition.

• In your introduction, have you clearly identified the experience you are about to relate?
• In the opening sentences of your essay, have you provided the kinds of details that will evoke your readers' interest in the topic?
• Have you clearly explained who was involved and when and where the incident occurred?
• Have you organized the sequence of events in chronological order?
• Have you focused your essay by eliminating unnecessary or repetitious information?
• Have you used precise descriptive details to make your narrative interesting and convincing?
• Have you used dialogue to report important conversations?
• Have you used clear transitions (in particular, time signals) to tie your points together and guide your readers from one point to the next?
• In your conclusion, have you clearly explained the particular significance of the experience you have related to the essay?
• Are the sentences throughout your essay clear and direct as well as varied in length and structure? Could any sentences be improved by combining or restructuring them?
• Are the words in your essay consistently clear and precise? Does the essay maintain a consistent tone ?
• Have you read the essay aloud, proofreading carefully?
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Don’t let essays daunt you. As long as you have the right working frame and mindset, you can boost your writing and results. Here are some useful hints and tips that can help you plan and progress when writing essays.

Stages in the writing process

Break the writing process up into manageable chunks; this helps you to excel at each stage and plan your time so that you hit your deadline. Follow these 7 stages to achieve optimal results from your writing:

Analyze the title: Work out properly in advance what the question is asking for. Note keywords and function words (for example, compare, analyze or discuss).

Make a timetable: Remember the 80:20 rule – 80 per cent on preparation (Stages 1–4) and 20 per cent on writing up and finishing (Stages 5–7). Make your essay timetable fit in realistically with your other commitments and put a copy up at your desk.

Gathering data: Keep in mind what do you need to know and where are you going to get this information from. Highlight key info in your notes and use online resources carefully and wisely.

Planning: Get your data down in the most helpful way you can and plan out the structure of your essay in detail before you start it.

Write the first draft: Remember to write for your reader, and guide them through your argument. Assume and maintain an academic voice and style.

Revise your draft: Print your draft out and read it through. Mark up any changes you need to make on the paper, then, back on computer make these changes to a copy of your original version and rename it.

Check and polish: Tidy up the finished version, paying attention to the main areas: content and presentation. Proofread your work carefully before submitting.

Tackling your essay-writing demons

Turn those little negative thoughts about essays around. You may feel self-conscious about your writing style or apprehensive about those large word counts, but rethinking those depressing thoughts can help you to see the situation in a whole new light and give you a confidence.

Key websites for essay writers

Below are some key websites that can help you research just about any topic – for your writing projects or for discovering new areas of interest. Remember to reference any material you use, where appropriate.

Google scholar : Peer-reviewed journal articles and extracts from books, without any of the usual commercial links.

IngentaConnect : You may have to pay for a full article, but you can access abstracts for free and many academic libraries have a subscription.

Internet Public Library : An enormous virtual public library.

The British Library : 10,000 pages of information and an endless gallery of images.

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There’s no way to cheat the system and avoid writing a narrative essay. Every student has written it at least once. However, while the great majority find this type of essay pretty easy and not challenging, many students struggle to understand the point behind the personal narrative essay.

In this article, you’ll learn:

• How to write a personal narrative essay like a pro.
• Why is essay writing critical?
• What exactly is a personal narrative essay?
• What is the structure of this essay type?
• How to choose a unique narrative essay topic?

Before you know it, ideas will start pouring in, and you’ll find the assignment wasn’t a difficult task after all!

In this article:

What is a Personal Narrative Essay?

1. introduction, 3. conclusion, how to write a personal narrative essay, how to choose a personal narrative topic.

A personal narrative essay is usually the preferred type of essay for students. It is commonly referred to as “short storytelling” and lacks the intense research and reference of argumentative and other essays.

Personal narrative essays are all about you and the story you want to tell. It helps shape the future writer in you and takes the reader through a journey. It can be an emotional piece of writing featuring a funny, sad, or surprising event or memory.

You will write a personal narrative essay in first person participle unless your assignment states otherwise. It aims to depict a particular narrative and a crucial moment within it.

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Personal narrative essays are typically assigned to high school students to help advance their creative writing skills, but the structure of this essay is applied to many other writing assignments.

An integral part of your personal narrative essay is the plot and story, as well as the characters featured in it. You can learn more about the structure and essential elements of personal narratives in the sections below, including some tools used by professional writers like a thesis statement or hook sentences. You’ll know how to write a personal narrative essay like a pro by the time you’re done!

Structure of a Personal Narrative Essay

The personal narrative essay certainly provides the most freedom and flexibility when writing. Of course, like any other text written by high school students or college students, it needs to have an outline and structure. But, don’t worry, it isn’t complicated. It’s there to help you arrange and organize your writing content.

A personal narrative essay consists of three parts:

The introduction is the most crucial part of the essay. It’s the beginning, and it includes your hook statement or sentence, which you use to grab the reader’s attention. Depending on how effective your hook is , the reader will decide whether or not to keep reading.

Another element present in your introduction is the thematic statement. These sentences summarize the essence of your story. They are a little tricky to master, and if you want to learn more, you can use a thematic statements guide to gain some insight into the topic.

Finally, don’t forget your transition word and sentences at the end of the introductory paragraph (and throughout). It’s essential to include those in your work.

Think of it as a burger – the introduction and conclusion are the burger buns, and the body of your essay is the delicious filling inside: all the cucumbers, meat patty, and mouthwatering sauces go here.

When we write personal narrative essays, we use the body of the narrative essay to explain the critical elements of our personal story. As a standard, your body should feature three paragraphs describing your views, stories, and ideas. This is where you will feature your characters and mention where the main event occurs.

Make sure to start your first paragraph with a topic sentence. Topic sentences work as introductions and typically come naturally. They are used as smooth transitions which bridge your introduction and body.

Keep your telling of the events in chronological order. This is the easiest way and most professional way to write. I will help you avoid getting tangled in your storytelling.

This is where you put the climax of your story. The conclusion is where we wrap up and give the readers what they have been waiting for. Summarize your story, and don’t get tempted to add any new elements in this paragraph. Otherwise, you’ll confuse the reader.

The point of the personal narrative essay is to tap into the student’s personal life and challenge them to write about their experience. A great personal narrative essay shows what happened through vivid details, and it’s an excellent written example of your inner world. The overall story should exemplify your creative writing, feelings, and morals, whether trying to convey interesting thoughts or a specific event. The are several essential elements that need to be present in your personal narrative essay:

• Choose the Right Topic

The main challenge leading to procrastination is everyone’s most dreaded part – choosing the suitable personal narrative essay topics. I get it. It’s a lot of pressure to focus your entire personal essay on one subject. In addition, you need to choose a theme with an emotional impact, which is a tough decision. However, if you’re struggling to find your topic, browsing essay topics on the web can provide you with various ideas and may even lead to some new inspiration.

Since personal narrative essays are based on thought or actual experiences, choose a topic that excites you. For example, think of a specific moment that you vividly remember. A moment that’s important to you that you can retell through the form of a personal narrative essay. Or perhaps some philosophical thoughts have been on your mind lately? You can use those to inspire your narrative essay topics research.

• Write an Outline

Think about the main event, and using the structure discussed above, pinpoint the most critical moments of your story. Next, try to create a personal narrative essay outline. This is a great way to prevent your story from filling with irrelevant details and form a straightforward narrative. Writing an outline helps keep your essay in order. Outlines make personal narrative essays and other written work easily digestible for the reader.

• Grab Attention with a Hook Sentence

Any essay needs a good hook statement, but the personal narrative essay needs it the most. Good hook sentences can convince the reader to go through your entire essay. It grabs the reader’s attention and piques their interest, making them want to read along. With this type of essay, you can be as creative as you want with your hook sentence, but if you’re struggling to come up with one, hook example lists do exist. Take the time to check out all the different hook examples for inspiration.

• Create Powerful Descriptions

You won’t need to do tons of research for your essay. Since it’s a personal take on events or thoughts, you don’t need to reference anyone. But what you should do is come up with a vivid description. I’m not saying pack your essay full of descriptions, instead, describe a scene or thought and try to submerge the reader into it. It helps to think about adjectives related to the five senses. Then, using your creative writing skills, try to paint a picture with your words.

• Get Familiar With Transition Words and Use Them

No matter the essay type, whether it’s an argumentative essay or a personal narrative essay, it is vital to use transition words and sentences. The ones we don’t use in our speech but often apply in text: moreover, however, nevertheless, whereas, as well as, etc. You can find other words in the list of transition words that could work to your benefit with a simple Google search.

• Add Emotions

The point of a narrative essay is to convey the way you feel to the reader through your personal story and experience. This can be hard on new students, and it’s often the most challenging part of an essay. Try to tap into your personal experience, and don’t be shy! Since you’re telling the story in the first person, it’s easier to talk about emotions and provide insight into your thoughts.

• Maintain Consistency

It’s easy to get distracted focusing on the vivid details or crucial moments. Grabbing the reader’s attention is essential, but getting to the point. Be realistic – have you been staying focused on the point you’re trying to make? Be sure the events in your own story are linked well enough to convey the broader message.

You might want to tell the whole story as it happened, but that’s not always necessary. So instead, go back to your essay topic. Is what you’re writing still consistent with your subject? If not, chop off the unnecessary bits. It might be challenging, but it will make for a cleaner story and free some room for other, more helpful information.

• Deliver a Moral

What is the significance behind your story? What made you choose this same event? Since this is a personal narrative essay, don’t worry too much about providing evidence – no one will fact-check your story. Instead, think about the moral or the significance behind your experience. What is the broader message?

• Check Your Work (Twice, Like Santa)

What? Read the whole thing? Again? Yes, proofreading your work is a must and checking it twice matters. Learn to go through your text and look for different things each time. Proofread once and look for grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors. This is also the time to look for punctual mistakes and contextual inaccuracies.

I recommend a fun brainstorming session for anyone stuck with choosing their personal narrative essay topic. Grab a piece of paper and write down a “personal narrative essay” in the middle. Circle the word. Now write down the first words and thoughts that come to mind, no matter how relevant. Maybe you think of the word “pet.” Write that down, circle it and connect it with a line to “personal narrative essay” in the middle. Maybe the word “pet” makes you think of your old cat Timmy. Write down Timmy, circle it, and connect it to “pet” with a line. Perhaps there’s a great story lurking in there.

Repeat the process and try to answer these questions:

• What are some of the most significant events in your life?
• Have you ever faced an obstacle or challenge in your life?
• Did you successfully overcome it? If not, did you learn something?
• What are some funny stories you can think of?
• What are some sad events you can think of?
• Have you experienced betrayal in your life?
• Is there a place you traveled to that made an impression on you?
• What is your greatest accomplishment?
• Can you think of a surprising story from your past?

List as many of your ideas as you can from answering these questions. If you run out of space on your sheet, use another one – don’t let that stop you! The more choices you have, the better.

Believe it or not, even this article uses the structure of a narrative essay – it has its own introduction and body, and here is where I deliver the conclusion!

Unlike in a personal narrative essay, I can give you new information!

You can find information on all sorts of essay writing. For example, how you can perfect your 500-word essay or ideas on topics for psychology research , and even examples of debate speech topics , the internet can be full of interesting topics and resources you can use for your next written piece.

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Common core state standards related to narrative writing.

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.CCRA.W.3 – Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, well-chosen details and well-structured event sequences.

ELA Standards: Writing

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.K.3 – Use a combination of drawing, dictating, and writing to narrate a single event or several loosely linked events, tell about the events in the order in which they occurred, and provide a reaction to what happened. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.1.3 – Write narratives in which they recount two or more appropriately sequenced events, include some details regarding what happened, use temporal words to signal event order, and provide some sense of closure. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.2.3 – Write narratives in which they recount a well-elaborated event or short sequence of events, include details to describe actions, thoughts, and feelings, use temporal words to signal event order, and provide a sense of closure. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.3.3a – Establish a situation and introduce a narrator and/or characters; organize an event sequence that unfolds naturally. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.3.3b – Use dialogue and descriptions of actions, thoughts, and feelings to develop experiences and events or show the response of characters to situations. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.4.3 – Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, descriptive details, and clear event sequences. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.4.3d – Use concrete words and phrases and sensory details to convey experiences and events precisely. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.4.3e – Provide a conclusion that follows from the narrated experiences or events. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.5.3 – Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, descriptive details, and clear event sequences. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.6.3a – Engage and orient the reader by establishing a context and introducing a narrator and/or characters; organize an event sequence that unfolds naturally and logically. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.7.3 – Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, relevant descriptive details, and well-structured event sequences. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.7.3a – Engage and orient the reader by establishing a context and point of view and introducing a narrator and/or characters; organize an event sequence that unfolds naturally and logically. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.7.3b – Use narrative techniques, such as dialogue, pacing, and description, to develop experiences, events, and/or characters. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.8.3c – Use a variety of transition words, phrases, and clauses to convey sequence, signal shifts from one time frame or setting to another, and show the relationships among experiences and events. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.8.3d – Use precise words and phrases, relevant descriptive details, and sensory language to capture the action and convey experiences and events. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.8.3e – Provide a conclusion that follows from and reflects on the narrated experiences or events. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.9-10.3a – Engage and orient the reader by setting out a problem, situation, or observation, establishing one or multiple point(s) of view, and introducing a narrator and/or characters; create a smooth progression of experiences or events. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.11-12.3c – Use a variety of techniques to sequence events so that they build on one another to create a coherent whole and build toward a particular tone and outcome (e.g., a sense of mystery, suspense, growth, or resolution).

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Narrative Writing Worksheets

Language arts categories, free weekly worksheets, worksheets by email, what is narrative writing.

Narrative writing is one of the basic forms of English writing styles. Usually, this type of writing is categorized under fiction. Narrative writing is a form of storytelling and is considerably different from other forms of writing, such as expository, persuasive, and argumentative. The parts of narrative writing include character development, the narration of conflict, creating a plot, describing a setting, designing a theme. One important part of narrative writing is the narrative writing arc. It is the story structure that develops with the narrative. Key milestones, inciting incidents, the climax, twists, and turns. Telling the story to the audience is not easy as it sounds as it you will have work harder as compare to the narrative writing with more focus. We make stories with the help of joining multiple parts. If you focus, every story always consists of characters, conflict, friendship, life lesson, emotions, fun, entertainment, sadness, happiness, issues, and solutions. Conveying all of them with full understanding with a powerful force of attraction is narrative writing. If the story you read is synonymous, it will be the best example of narrative writing. There is a specific difference in other forms of writing as authors write for the textbooks, nonfiction, etc. You can work on narrative writing in multiple ways that are famous as it's specific parts. Character - It is an integral part of the story as there is no meaning of story without them. It is the best force to drive a narrative. - Conflict - When the story moves towards issues, and story seems battlefield, authors have to indulge this part in their writing material. You can its example like as people say that if you want more and more readers for your writing material, you will have added a pinch of spice.

Narrative Essays

These are great essays for students to work off with.

Events to Play With

A narrative is a story. It describes an event, feeling or experience in story form. Use this plan to organize your thoughts before writing. Write about a funny experience.

Here Is the Story

There are many different kind of paragraphs. One kind is called the narrative paragraph. A narrative paragraph tells the details of a story in story format. People do this all the time. You have probably come home from school on occasion and told your f that happened in chronological order.

Characteristics of a Well Written Narrative

Good writing or narrative constitutes of opinions on the topic. Clarity and Focus: When a reader does not get lost while reading, it is easier to understand what they are conveying. Focused writing sticks to the plot and the core of the subject. Organizations: A well-organized writing is clear and presented in a logical and aesthetically pleasing manner. Ideas and Themes: Do you think the topic of your work is relevant? And is the story covering all the themes? Will the reader visualize your poetry? To call your work well crafted, make sure you are covering all the ideas and the themes. Voice: The voice is what sets you apart from all the writers. It is your way of bringing words together, relating images and scenes, formulating ideas. In any piece of writing, the voice must be identifiable and consistent.

Tell Me a Story!

A series of writing prompts to help you learn how to frame a narrative.

Say hello to our free narrative writing checklists

FREE NARRATIVE WRITING CHECKLISTS

Teach your students to independently check their own narrative/story writing with these beautiful narrative writing checklist PDFs and rubrics. 

There are three age variations in the bundle Junior (Ages 5 – 7), Middle (7 – 11) and Senior (11 – 15). Each bundle contains both a student checklist for independent assessment and a student/teacher rubric for conferencing. Check the preview for a visual example. 

Each age group has been stylised and written to appeal to different age groups.

With six to a page, you can easily print these out and distribute to students and reuse them over and over. 

DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE NARRATIVE CHECKLISTS HERE

The version you are looking at is the free PDF version. If you are looking for the premium editable version, you can find it at

EDITABLE NARRATIVE CHECKLIST AND RUBRICS

Give your students the tools they need to write great stories.

Kevin has worked in education for over two decades. He has a Masters degree in Educational Technologies and runs two companies providing educational content to schools, students and teachers.

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• Oct 28, 2020

The Basics of Dental Insurance Claims

Updated: Aug 16, 2023

Part 1: Narratives and Attachments

To say this training was a labor of love is NO JOKE! I am so excited to share with you the best tips for getting your claims paid and a couple of tips and tricks we have found helpful over the years. (PLUS insurance company-specific requirements).

This hot topic is big and we never want content that takes more than 10 minutes to learn so, here is part ONE. Come back for part two soon.

First, dental billing is waaaayyyyy different than medical billing. The coding and sending of claims is a unique process. It requires specific attachments, narratives, and information not readily needed on medical claims. Dental coding is based on Current Dental Terminology codes which are governed by the American Dental Association. Each year, the ADA provides code updates, revisions, deletions, and more. Staying up to date with these will be the first step to ensuring your claims are always submitted properly.

Most dentists do not readily outsource their dental billing and coding procedures and we highly recommend this. Oftentimes, we see tiny breaks in processes of narratives, attachments, and claim submissions which can be avoided with just a few tweaks . Dental billing is a position that should be maintained by a specific position in the office rather than a blanket job for everyone to have a hand in. This training will provide your dental office with those very tweaks needed to improve claims and close the revenue cycle much faster.

Narratives + Attachments

Let's break this down by category and what you need to submit with claims.

You might be like me and find that our doctors do not always put a clinical note in that helps us get a claim paid. So, we are going to help you with some templates you can use. No, we don't guarantee anything however if clinical notes are sparse, these templates can work wonders. Always check with your owner before implementing anything you find here.

Alrighty... let's go...

O sseous Surgery:

Attachments: Intraoral photos if possible

Narrative: Necessary to detoxify the root surface and to prevent further bone loss.

4263 +/or 4265 Bone Graft Replacement:

Necessary to potentiate new attachment and to promote bone regeneration.

4341/4342 SRP- Scaling and Root Planing:

Attachments: FMS (Full Mouth Series) and Periodontal Charting/Perio Chart)

FMX and PERIO CHART attached.

Narrative: Scaling and Root Planing necessary to remove subgingival microbiota both alive microorganisms and dead to prevent further bone loss.

Optional Narrative: The patient has BOB, inflammation, unattached gingiva, with puffing interdental papilla, 5mm pockets in each quad or higher, sub and supra calc with tartar, poor OH. Needed due to gingival migration and bone loss. The patient presents heavy deposits and severe gingivitis. To treat patients needed to be anesthetized for a through S/RP. Radiographs show loss of crestal bone and to prevent further bone loss and attachment S/RP was diagnosed to which the patient agreed to treat.

4355 Full Mouth Debridement:

Attachments: FMS + Periodontal Charting)

Narrative: Full Mouth Debridement is necessary to remove heavy build-up of plaque and calculus in order to perform a comprehensive examination in the future.

D4910 Periodontal Maintenance Treatment:

Attachments : Periodontal Charting/Perio Chart

Narrative: For CIGNA AND METLIFE (mandatory documentation): Include the SPR Hx(history) as narrative.

Ex: SPR done on (mm/dd/yyyy) at UR and LR.

Gingivectomy:

Narrative: Gingivectomy is necessary due to excision of the soft tissue wall surrounding a gum pocket in [Teeth #'s ].

Inlay/Onlay (Code varies by material type):

Attachments: pre-op x-ray and post op x-ray

Narrative: Multiple fractures cusps, decay/recurrent decay, existing failing restoration minimally invasive procedure performed. Favorable prognosis and the patient has no further symptoms.

2740 Crown (Code varies by material type):

Attachments: pre-op and post-op x-ray

Narrative: Indicate if it is an initial placement or a replacement.

Initial placement or existing crown replacement [date] . (SEAT DATE NOT PREP DATE).

For replacement: Improper/poorly fitting EXISTING crown open margins, recurrent decay, the tooth requires full coverage support and favorable prognosis ….pt has no symptoms. Prior placement on [date] .

2931/ 2930 -Stainless Steel Crown/SSC:

Narrative: Stainless steel crown on #_____ to restore the tooth from decay for longer-term effectiveness in preventing recurrent caries.

More on Crowns...

Crown due to decay:

Narrative: [ Tooth # ] has been destroyed by caries/fracture and requires crown restoration.

Crown with core build-up due to composite failed:

Narrative: Initial placement of a crown on [ Tooth # ] due to large old composite filling that is broken & recurrent decay. <50% natural tooth left. A build-up & crown is necessary to properly restore the tooth .

Crown with core build-up due to amalgam failed:

Narrative: Initial placement of a crown on [ Tooth # ] due to a large old amalgam filling that is broken & recurrent decay. <50% natural tooth left. A build-up & crown is necessary to properly restore the tooth.

Crown for Implant:

Narrative: [ Tooth # ] was extracted on mm/dd/yyyy . A surgical implant was placed to replace the missing tooth on mm/dd/yyyy . Implant crown and custom abutment were placed to restore chewing function in the arch and to retain the integrity of the bone and facial structures.

Crown Lengthening:

Attachments: PA x-ray and BW x-ray

Narrative: Crown lengthening needed on [ Tooth # ] due to improper biological width. Without the procedure, the crown margin would have been placed too close to the bone.

Redo Crown/Core Build-up:

Narrative: [Tooth # ] date of original placement was mm/dd/yyyy . Needs build-up and new crown restoration due to excessive decay and/or margin opening.

Narrative: Large missing or damaged Enamel, or incisal, facial surfaces require coverage due to lack of support/structure, the only alternative would be a crown, DDS diagnosed least invasive procedure. Favorable prognosis and the patient has no further symptoms.

Narrative: Bridge prepped site [Tooth # ] and [Tooth # ] was extracted on mm/dd/yyyy or (cognitively missing). To preserve the site and occlusal plane. Favorable prognosis and the patient has no further symptoms.

(The wing or retainer is dental code D6548 for porcelain. The pontic tooth is dental code D6245 for porcelain.)

Root Canal Tx (Endodontic Therapy): Attachments: pre-op and post-op x-ray

Narrative: Gross decay into the nerve and Root Canal performed unto the pulp and apex of the tooth, all decay removed, build up space will be required. Favorable prognosis and the patient has no further symptoms.

Core Build-up after Root Canal:

Narrative: Build-up required due to previous root canal therapy and tooth structure loss upon removal of decay. Build-up performed to restore occlusal plane and successful final restoration support. Favorable prognosis and the patient has no further symptoms.

Extraction:

Narrative: Due to Gross Decay [Tooth # ] required extraction to preserve sight and surrounding teeth. Favorable prognosis and the patient has no further symptoms. Extraction site to be restored at a later date.

Extraction of Wisdom Teeth (1, 16, 17, 32):

Attachments: Panoramic x-ray

Narrative: Extraction of wisdom teeth number(s) 1,16,17 and 32 due to the patient is having pain/swelling. Teeth are difficult to clean - preventive measures to avoid serious problems in the future.

Bone Graft:

Attachments: Full Mouth Series x-ray(s) +/or Panoramic x-ray

Narrative: Bone graft placed at site [Tooth # ] to preserve the site and occlusal planes for future restoration. Favorable prognosis and the patient has no symptoms.

Extraction and Bone Graft Placement :

Narrative: [Tooth # ] extracted due to extensive decay and non-restorability . Bone graft needed for ridge preservation for future restoration.

Extraction of Primary Tooth:

Attachments: PA x-ray +/or BW x-ray

Narrative: Over-retained [Tooth # ] causing inflammation of the gingiva

Narrative: Barrier use to protect and promote ridge preservation and success of the graft site.

Frenulectomy:

Narrative: Frenectomy performed increases the range of motion of the tongue and will allow the child to position the tongue normally in the palate. This can help with chewing, swallowing, and speech.

6010 Implant:

Attachments: Full Mouth Series x-ray(s) +/or Panoramic x-ray + date tooth # was extracted.

Narrative: Implant placed at site [Tooth # ] of which was extracted on mm/dd/yyy .

To preserve the site and occlusal plane for future restoration with favorable prognosis. The procedure was medically necessary for patient to chew and masticate food properly. Favorable prognosis and the patient has no symptoms.

Narrative: Custom abutment [Tooth # ] placed to restore chewing function in the arch and to retain the integrity of the bone and facial structures.

Narrative: Denture on [Teeth #'s ] or Maxillary or Mandibular for the replacement of missing teeth necessary for pt to chew and masticate food properly. [Teeth #'s ] extracted on mm/dd/yyyy . ***If replacement denture include the initial date of delivery for prior denture(s).

5820 Interim Partial Denture:

Narrative: Interim partial denture needed to replace [Teeth #'s ]. The patient plans to get an implant placed in the future and the interim partial denture is intended to be in place for the next 12 months. [Teeth #'s ] extracted on mm/dd/yyyy .

9920 Behavior Management:

Narrative: The patient is uncooperative and difficult to manage resulting in dental staff providing additional time, skill, and/or assistance to render treatment.

9230 Analgesia:

Narrative: Analgesia needed to reduce anxiety.

Night/Occlusal Guard:

Narrative: Acute bruxism and occlusal wear with head, neck, and jaw pain. Occlusal guard diagnosed with favorable prognosis.

Narrative: PPE per levels required by the CDC for transmission-based precautions

ORAL CAVITY CODE GUIDE (used for coding on Dental Insurance Claim Forms)

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Disclaimer:

These materials are intended to provide helpful information to dentists and dental team members. They are in no way a substitute for actual professional advice based upon your unique facts and circumstances. This content is not intended or offered, nor should it be taken, as legal or other professional advice. You should always consult with your own professional advisors (e.g. attorney, accountant, insurance carrier). To the extent Dentistry Support has included links to any third party web site(s), Dentistry Support intends no endorsement of their content and implies no affiliation with the organizations that provide their content. Further, Dentistry Support makes no representations or warranties about the information provided on those sites.

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Awesome Descriptive Writing Checklist and Cheat Sheet for Students

What is descriptive writing? The real question is this: How do student writers use descriptive writing effectively in real writing? When teachers can answer this question, they know how to use their time wisely to teach descriptive writing.

I mention this because the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) uses three text types: 1) Argument/Opinion, 2) Informational/Explanatory, and 3) Narrative. And another thing to consider is this: When is the last time you wrote or read an entire descriptive essay?

While the CCSS does not include description as a main text type, it does mention description throughout the standards using these terms:

!   description, descriptive details, descriptions of actions, narrative descriptions, and write precise enough descriptions of the step-by-step procedures.

In short, the CCSS emphasizes two types of descriptive writing:

1.   Descriptive writing as a tool in narrative, expository, and argument writing.

2.   Expository Descriptive Writing: This kind of description is really expository writing. Sometimes it’s called General Description or Scientific Description.

The following list focuses on the first type of descriptive writing.

========================================================

Descriptive Writing Tips, Checklist, and Cheat Sheet

1.   The writer creates vivid pictures of people, places, things, and events in the mind of the reader using description and sensory details.

2.   The writer vividly describes experiences and events bringing them to life.

3.   The writer effectively describes processes in detail.

4.   The writer’s description follows a logical pattern of organization: e.g., general outline or impression to specific details.

5.   The writer creates powerful descriptions using sensory details and imagery. The writer’s language appeals to the five senses: sight, hearing, touch, taste, and smell.

6.   The writer’s description contains an effective use of figurative language: simile, metaphor, alliteration, personification, etc.

7.   The writer skillfully uses description with purpose. The writer describes things that help the reader visualize and understand. The writer describes things that the reader needs to visualize in order to understand.

8.   The writer skillfully chooses things that need description:

a.   The writer chooses nouns (people, places, things, ideas) that need description. b.   The writer chooses events (things that happen) that need description. c.   The writer chooses processes (actions and steps that outline how things happen) that need description.

9.   The writer describes things that are noticeable, memorable, important, or interesting. The writer avoids describing things that are trivial or unimportant.

10.   The writer avoids purple-prose descriptive writing. The writer avoids descriptive writing that distracts from and breaks the flow of the composition’s main purpose and main message. The descriptive writing is not too elaborate, too extravagant, or too flowery. Furthermore, the writer does not provide too much description.

11.   Without the writer’s descriptions, the piece of writing would be bland and lacking. The word pictures that the writer paints are necessary and fascinating.

12.   The writer skillfully and appropriately navigates between using descriptive details, descriptive passages, and descriptive paragraphs. If the piece of writing is a descriptive whole composition (i.e., a descriptive essay), the writer’s purpose is clear.

13.   The writer skillfully uses adjectives, adverbs, and figurative language (similes, metaphors, etc.) to bring the description to life. The writer does not underuse them or overuse them.

14.   The writer finds interesting and novel ways to include description:

a.   The writer combines description with action. b.   The writer uses dialogue as a tool for description. c.   The writer uses quotes to describe.

15.   The writer uses description as an effective tool that is appropriate for the genre:

a.   Main Genre: 1) argument, 2) expository, 3) narrative, 4) descriptive. b.   Narrative-Story Genre: mystery, personal narrative, action-adventure story, tale (folktale, fairy tale, tall tale, etc.), historical fiction, etc. c.   Format Genre: essay, story, report, article, letter, advertisement, daily school work, etc.

16.   The writer uses description to “Show, Don’t Tell.” As Anton Chekhov (1860–1904) famously said, “Don’t tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass.”

The fastest, most effective way to teach clear, organized paragraph and multi-paragraph writing… Guaranteed!

Create academic or professional success today by improving your critical thinking, logical arguments, and effective communication.

Narrative Essay Cheat Sheet

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