Summary & Overview
CDT D2750: Crown — Porcelain Fused to High Noble Metal
Headline: CDT D2750: Porcelain-Fused-to-High-Noble-Metal Crown Gains Focus in Dental Coverage
Lead: CDT code D2750 represents the placement of a crown combining a high noble metal substructure with a porcelain exterior to restore tooth structure, function, and appearance. It is a common restorative dentistry service with implications for benefit design, coverage policy, and clinical decision-making across major national payers.
What the code represents and why it matters: CDT code D2750 identifies a specific restorative crown type used when strength and esthetics are both priorities. Nationally, crowns of this type factor into coverage determinations, patient cost-sharing, and provider billing workflows because they sit between all-metal and all-ceramic options in cost and clinical application.
Key payers covered: Aetna; Blue Cross Blue Shield; Cigna Health; UnitedHealthcare. These payers commonly include CDT code D2750 in dental and dental-related coverage policies, influencing prior authorization, allowable amounts, and benefit categorizations.
Overview of reader takeaways: This publication provides a clinical and billing profile of CDT code D2750, including typical use cases, common associated diagnoses, comparable related CDT codes, and modifier and coding considerations where applicable. Readers will find benchmark context for restorative crown services, common clinical indications, and references to adjacent procedures used in crown workflows. Data not available in the input is identified where applicable.
Billing Code Overview
CDT code D2750 denotes a crown — porcelain fused to high noble metal. This procedure involves fabricating and placing a fixed dental crown that combines a high noble metal substructure with a porcelain exterior to restore form, function, and esthetics of a damaged or decayed tooth.
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Service type: Dentistry
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Typical site of service: Dental Office (POS 11)
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 52-year-old patient presents to the dental office for evaluation of a failing or extensively restored posterior tooth with a damaged or compromised existing restoration. Clinical examination and radiographs demonstrate remaining tooth structure insufficient for a direct restoration and recurrent caries or a history of endodontic therapy. After discussion of restorative options, the dentist elects to prepare the tooth and place a crown — porcelain fused to high noble metal (CDT code D2750). The clinical workflow includes: pre-operative assessment, diagnostic radiographs, caries removal and any necessary endodontic or periodontal treatment, tooth preparation and impression or digital scan, provisional crown placement, laboratory fabrication of the porcelain fused to high noble metal crown, and try-in/cementation at a subsequent appointment in the dental office (POS 11).
Coding Specifications
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Common Modifiers:
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22- Increased Procedural Services: used when the work required to complete the crown is substantially greater than typically required for CDT codeD2750due to complexity, limited access, or extensive tissue management. -
52- Reduced Services: used when the service for CDT codeD2750is partially reduced or not completed at the usual level, for example when a full crown procedure is performed in a limited manner. -
Associated Provider Taxonomies:
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1223G0001X— General Practice Dentist: represents general dentistry providers who perform routine restorative crown procedures. -
1223P0700X— Prosthodontics Dentist: represents prosthodontists who provide complex crown and fixed prosthetic treatment planning and fabrication oversight. -
1223D0001X— Dentist: general dentist taxonomy representing licensed dentists who may provide the service.
Related Diagnoses
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K08.5— Unsatisfactory restoration of tooth- Clinical relevance: A failing or unsatisfactory restoration can compromise tooth integrity and lead to the need for full coverage restoration such as CDT code
D2750.
- Clinical relevance: A failing or unsatisfactory restoration can compromise tooth integrity and lead to the need for full coverage restoration such as CDT code
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K02.9— Dental caries, unspecified- Clinical relevance: Extensive caries that cannot be predictably restored with direct restorative materials may require tooth preparation and placement of a crown such as CDT code
D2750.
- Clinical relevance: Extensive caries that cannot be predictably restored with direct restorative materials may require tooth preparation and placement of a crown such as CDT code
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K03.6— Deposits [accretions] on teeth- Clinical relevance: Heavy deposits and associated periodontal concerns may contribute to restorative failure or structural loss that leads to consideration of a crown like CDT code
D2750.
- Clinical relevance: Heavy deposits and associated periodontal concerns may contribute to restorative failure or structural loss that leads to consideration of a crown like CDT code
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K04.7— Periapical abscess without sinus- Clinical relevance: Teeth with periapical pathology often undergo endodontic therapy prior to full coverage restoration; after endodontic treatment the definitive restoration may be CDT code
D2750.
- Clinical relevance: Teeth with periapical pathology often undergo endodontic therapy prior to full coverage restoration; after endodontic treatment the definitive restoration may be CDT code
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K08.8— Other specified disorders of teeth and supporting structures- Clinical relevance: Miscellaneous structural or developmental disorders affecting tooth prognosis can necessitate full coverage restoration with CDT code
D2750.
- Clinical relevance: Miscellaneous structural or developmental disorders affecting tooth prognosis can necessitate full coverage restoration with CDT code
Related Codes
| Code | Description |
|---|---|
D2740 | Crown - porcelain/ceramic substrate |
D2790 | Crown - full cast high noble metal |
D2950 | Core buildup, including any pins |
D2954 | Prefabricated post and core in addition to crown |
D2391 | Resin-based composite - one surface, posterior |
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D2740serves as an alternative crown material option (porcelain/ceramic substrate) when an all-ceramic or ceramic-substrate crown is selected instead of porcelain fused to high noble metal for the same clinical tooth preparation. -
D2790is a related metal crown option (full cast high noble metal) that may be chosen instead ofD2750when a fully metal restoration is preferred for strength or occlusal considerations. -
D2950(core buildup) is commonly performed prior toD2750when there is insufficient coronal tooth structure; it is frequently billed in the same episode of care when indicated. -
D2954(prefabricated post and core) is used when additional intraradicular retention is required before placing the crown and is often used together withD2750when indicated. -
D2391(resin-based composite one surface, posterior) may be used as an interim or alternative restorative procedure for smaller defects; it is not a crown but may precede definitive crown therapy when minimal tooth structure repair is needed.
National Reimbursement Benchmarks
Nationwide, Medicare-equivalent commercial averages (BUCA) have a mean allowed rate of $604.45 compared with Medicare benchmarks included in the data appendix (if present). The commercial mean for BUCA sits between lower commercial payers like Aetna and Cigna and higher payers such as Blue Cross Blue Shield and UnitedHealthcare.
Rate dispersion (P75 minus P25) varies across payers: Blue Cross Blue Shield shows a wide spread ($254.00), UnitedHealthcare also shows a large spread ($144.33), while Aetna ($79.00) and Cigna Health ($87.00) are comparatively tighter. The table and chart below present the full numerical breakdown for national mean rates and percentiles.
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