Summary & Overview
CDT D2391: Resin-based Composite, One Surface, Posterior
Headline: CDT code D2391: Resin-based composite restoration for one posterior surface
Lead: CDT code D2391 identifies a single-surface resin-based composite restoration on a posterior tooth, a routine restorative service widely performed in dental offices across the country.
What the code represents and why it matters: CDT code D2391 covers placement of a resin-based composite material on one surface of a posterior tooth. As a common, tooth-preserving restorative option, it plays a central role in routine dental care and directly affects billing, benefit categorization, and patient cost-sharing for restorative services nationally.
Key payers covered: This analysis references policies from Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, and UnitedHealthcare.
Overview of what readers will learn: Readers will find a concise summary of the clinical context for D2391, common billing considerations, and how this service is categorized by major commercial payers. The publication outlines documentation expectations, typical site-of-service coding practice, and comparisons to adjacent CDT restorative codes for multi-surface restorations. It also flags where input is missing and notes when Data not available in the input.
Why it matters to stakeholders: Accurate use of D2391 supports appropriate reimbursement, clear benefit adjudication, and consistent claims processing for single‑surface posterior composite restorations. The content is intended for dental billers, practice managers, and policy analysts seeking a standardized reference for this CDT procedure.
Billing Code Overview
CDT code D2391 describes a resin-based composite restoration for one surface in a posterior tooth. This is a common dental restorative procedure used to repair localized damage such as small carious lesions or minor structural defects on molars or premolars.
Service type: Dental restorative procedure
Typical site of service: Dental office setting (typically reported with CDT D-codes, no POS applicable)
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A patient presents to a dental office with a symptomatic posterior tooth exhibiting an occlusal carious lesion. After clinical and radiographic assessment, the dentist diagnoses a localized cavity without pulpal involvement and elects to restore the tooth with a direct resin‑based composite on a single posterior surface. The procedure includes isolation (rubber dam or cotton rolls), removal of decayed tooth structure, cavity preparation, etching/bonding, incremental placement and curing of composite, occlusal adjustment, and final polish. Typical documentation includes tooth number, surface restored, anesthesia used, materials placed, technique notes, and pre‑/post‑operative instructions.
Coding Specifications
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CDT code:
D2391— Resin‑based composite – one surface, posterior -
Common Modifiers:
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51— Multiple Procedures -
Use when more than one dental procedure is performed during the same visit and billing requires identification of multiple procedures for payer processing.
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52— Reduced Services -
Use when the service was partially reduced or not performed to its full extent but still constitutes a reportable service.
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Associated Provider Taxonomies:
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1223G0001X— General Practice Dentist -
1223D0001X— Dentist -
1223E0200X— Endodontics Dentist
Related Diagnoses
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K02.9— Dental caries, unspecified -
Relevance: Represents carious lesions that commonly necessitate a posterior one‑surface composite restoration such as
D2391when the lesion is confined to a single surface. -
K02.3— Arrested dental caries -
Relevance: Describes caries that are inactive; documentation may support restorative decisions or monitoring, and may be present in the chart when a conservative restoration like
D2391is performed for a discrete lesion. -
K03.81— Cracked tooth -
Relevance: A cracked tooth may present with localized structural compromise requiring restoration;
D2391may be appropriate if the crack and restorative need are limited to a single posterior surface. -
K08.89— Other specified disorders of teeth and supporting structures -
Relevance: Captures miscellaneous tooth disorders that can lead to indications for posterior composite restoration when coded specifically; supports medical necessity for
D2391when applicable.
Related Codes
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D2390— Resin‑based composite crown, anterior -
Relation: An anterior resin‑based composite crown addresses front tooth restorations; not typically used with
D2391but an alternative restorative option for teeth requiring full coverage. -
D2392— Resin‑based composite – two surfaces, posterior -
Relation: Represents a larger posterior composite restoration involving two surfaces; used when the lesion extends beyond a single surface and may follow
D2391if more surfaces are treated. -
D2393— Resin‑based composite – three surfaces, posterior -
Relation: Indicates an even larger posterior restoration; an alternative when the clinical restoration requires three surfaces instead of one.
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D2394— Resin‑based composite – four or more surfaces, posterior -
Relation: Used for extensive posterior restorations; may be chosen instead of
D2391when multiple surfaces are involved. -
Common usage notes:
D2391may be billed alone when a single posterior surface is restored. When multiple posterior surfaces on the same tooth are restored during the same encounter, the appropriate multi‑surface code fromD2392–D2394is reported.51can indicate multiple procedures on different teeth during one visit;52denotes reduced services when applicable.
National Reimbursement Benchmarks
National mean rates for CDT code D2391 show Medicare-equivalent commercial averages (BUCA) sitting between major payers: BUCA average mean rate is $78.38, compared with Medicare-level benchmarks provided separately in the input. UnitedHealthcare and Blue Cross Blue Shield report the highest mean rates nationally at $119.19 and $107.71 respectively, while Aetna and Cigna Health report lower mean rates near $57–$58.
Rate dispersion (P75 minus P25) varies by payer. Blue Cross Blue Shield and UnitedHealthcare show wider dispersion (BCBS: $43.33 range; UnitedHealthcare: $28.33 range), indicating broader variability in paid amounts. Aetna and Cigna Health exhibit tighter dispersion (Aetna: $22.00 range; Cigna Health: $23.00 range). BUCA (Avg Commercial) has a moderate dispersion of $49.50. The table and chart below present the full breakdown.
Trek Health ingests and normalizes Transparency in Coverage data and payer policy updates to give provider organizations a clear view of how commercial reimbursement behaves across markets, payers, and services. Our platform transforms raw payer disclosures into structured intelligence that supports contract evaluation, payer negotiations, and service line strategy. By combining market benchmarks with ongoing policy visibility, Trek helps teams identify variability, risk, and opportunity in commercial reimbursement. The result is faster insight, stronger negotiating positions, and more informed financial decisions.