It is a known fact that an adult person has 36 permanent teeth including wisdom teeth. However, according to the reports by National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, Americans aged between 20 and 64 had only 24.92 permanent teeth as of 2016. Likewise, according to the American College of Prosthodontists, about 120 million US citizens would have at least one missing tooth. These statistics show the importance of dental treatment as well as dental care. The best option for treating this dental condition could be dental bridge.
Dental bridge is false teeth that fill the missing gap between teeth. It is a form of dental restoration that replaces one or more missing teeth on either side of the gap. For this procedure, claim submission is crucial. Dental claim submission is a complex process; the dentists can rely upon dental billing services to submit claims on time with accurate codes. Let’s find out different types of dental bridges and the CDT codes for this procedure.
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Different Types of Dental Bridge
Dentists mainly offer four options for dental bridges depending on individual cases. The four dental bridge options are:
- Traditional Dental Bridge
Traditional dental bridge is the most common type of dental bridge. It consists of one dental crown attached to each of the two teeth on either side of the gap, and a false tooth or teeth fill in the space. This can be used when you have a gap created by missing a natural tooth. The dental bridge would improve the strength of the teeth, and that is the major advantage of a traditional dental bridge. Metal, porcelain fused metal, and ceramic are the common materials used to make such types of bridges.
- Cantilever Dental Bridge
Cantilever dental bridge has a slight deviation from the traditional dental bridge. Unlike traditional bridges, cantilever bridges use only a single anchor tooth. It cannot be used frequently like other types of bridges. It can be placed only towards the front of the mouth. It is not advisable to place it at the back of the mouth as it causes strain on the single tooth. It is a suitable option for people who have teeth on one side of the gap. If this category of bridge is placed safely, then it is considered an effective cost- and time-saving option.
- Maryland Bonded Bridge
Maryland bonded bridge and traditional dental bridge share the same structure. However, unlike traditional bridges, metal or porcelain framework is used as anchors. Thus, this would eliminate the need for the modification of adjacent teeth and can simply attach a frame on its back. It is considered more affordable than traditional bridges. However, its strength depends on the material attached to the teeth. Metal framework can cause tooth discoloration.
- Implant-supported Bridge
Implant-supported dental bridges are structurally similar to traditional bridges; however, they are supported by dental implants. As a result, implant-supported bridges do not require neighboring teeth and can fill large gaps where multiple teeth are missing. Dental implants are also known for their durability, strength, and ability to restore normal function. This type of dental bridge, however, necessitates more invasive placement procedure as well as a recovery period.
When it comes to medical documentation, accurate medical codes have to be used on the medical claims submitted to health insurers. Let’s check what the CDT codes for dental bridges are.
CDT Codes for Dental Bridge
D6245 Pontic, porcelain/ceramic (bridge units)
D6740 Retainer Crown – Porcelain/Ceramic With this dental procedure code, the prosthetic crown fitted over the tooth is made of porcelain or ceramic.
D6240 Pontic, porcelain fused to precious/high noble metal (bridge units)
D6241 Pontic, porcelain fused to predominantly base metal/non-precious metal (bridge units)
D6242 Pontic, porcelain fused to semi-precious/noble metal (bridge units)
D6750 Crown, porcelain fused to precious/high noble metal (bridge units)
D6751 Crown, porcelain fused to predominantly base metal/non-precious metal (bridge units)
D6752 Crown, porcelain fused to semi-precious/noble metal (bridge units)
D6210 Pontic for Maryland bridge, cast metal, precious/high noble metal
D6240 Pontic for Maryland bridge, porcelain fused to precious/high noble metal
D6245 Pontic for Maryland bridge, porcelain/ceramic
D6545 Wing retainer, cast metal for bonded fixed prosthesis
D6548 Wing retainer, porcelain/ceramic for bonded fixed prosthesis
D6549 Wing retainer, Composite or resin
D6245 Pontic, porcelain/ceramic (bridge units)
D6075 Implant supported retainer for ceramic FPD -A ceramic retainer for a fixed partial denture that gains retention, support and stability from an implant; may be screw retained or cemented.
D6076 Implant supported retainer for porcelain fused to metal FPD (titanium, titanium alloy, or high noble metal) -A metal-ceramic retainer for a fixed partial denture that gains retention, support and stability from an implant; may be screw retained or cemented.
D6077 Implant supported retainer for cast metal FPD (titanium, titanium alloy, or high noble metal) -A cast metal retainer for a fixed partial denture that gains retention, support and stability from an implant; may be screw retained or cemented.
D6791 Retainer Crown – Full Cast, Predominantly Base Metal Using this dental procedure code, the prosthetic crown is constructed predominantly of base metal and covers the entire remaining portion of the tooth.
D6790 Retainer Crown – Full Cast High Noble Metal This procedure code is used for a prosthetic crown that is constructed of high noble metal and covers the remaining portion of tooth.
Dental Recement Bridge
The installed dental bridge might sometimes detach or be damaged due to many reasons. This can be corrected using the process of bridge recement. For drafting claim documents, the CDT code used for dental bridge recement is D6930.
D6930 recements or rebonds fixed partial denture
Dental billing and claim submission can be rather complex. A simple error would result in claim denials. Some reasons like incomplete or incorrect demographic information of patients, error in verifying the eligibility and coverage of insurance, errors in coding, not filing claims on time, submitting reimbursement without sufficient supporting documents and so on would result in denial of claims. In addition, correcting these mistakes and resubmission would be costly and time-consuming.
The best option to draft accurate claim submission documents for an efficient and smooth dental billing process is to join hands with a reliable dental billing company. An experienced dental insurance verification service would provide comprehensive support including coding, billing and more with the support from experts and help to maintain a financially friendly practice.
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Amber Darst is our Solutions Manager in the Healthcare Division, Practice and RCM. With a rich background in dental services, her expertise ranges from insurance coordination to office management.