Guide · CDT · vintage 2024
How dental CDT D-codes work
According to ADA Current Dental Terminology (2024), every US dental claim rides a D-code (D plus four digits). The code is what makes two estimates in this archive comparable.
- 62
- Codes in archive
- 12
- Categories
- $121
- D1110 cleaning avg
- $1,312
- D2740 crown avg
Why the code matters
This portal tracks 62 CDT procedures across 12 categories, the same code can still span a wide private-estimate range by state (porcelain crown D2740 averages $1,312 nationally in this file).
- 62
- Tracked CDT codes
- 12
- Categories
- $121
- Adult cleaning (D1110)
- $1,312
- Porcelain crown (D2740)
Ask for the CDT on every line of a treatment plan. Category words like filling or crown are not enough to compare quotes.
Tracked codes by CDT category
Source: ADA CDT procedure catalog compiled in PlainDentalCost procedures.category · 2024
Every dental procedure billed to Medicaid, dental insurance, or a self-pay patient in the United States uses a code from the same code set: CDT (Current Dental Terminology), maintained by the American Dental Association. CDT codes are five characters, the letter D followed by four digits, and they cover everything from a routine cleaning (D1110) to a dental implant (D6010) to a wisdom-tooth extraction (D7240).
The category structure
CDT codes are grouped into major categories by the leading digit. This archive's category mix is charted above; clinically the common buckets are:
- D0xxx, Diagnostic. Exams, X-rays, and tests.
- D1xxx, Preventive. Cleanings, fluoride, sealants.
- D2xxx, Restorative. Fillings and crowns.
- D3xxx, Endodontics. Root canals.
- D4xxx, Periodontics. Gum-disease treatment.
- D5xxx / D6xxx, Prosthodontics & implants. Dentures, implants, bridges.
- D7xxx, Oral surgery. Extractions and biopsies.
- D8xxx / D9xxx, Orthodontics & adjunctive. Braces, anesthesia, emergency pain treatment.
Why the codes matter for cost
When you ask a dentist "how much does a filling cost?", the right follow-up is "which CDT code is that?". Same procedure type, different surface counts, different codes, different prices. Medicaid fee schedules list each CDT and the dollar amount the state pays, when adult dental is covered.
Reading a treatment plan
Always ask for a written treatment plan that lists each CDT code, description, fee, insurance allowance, and your out-of-pocket. A plan that only says "$3,200 for crown work" is hard to verify against PlainDentalCost's state rows.
CDT vs ICD-10 vs CPT
Medical procedures use CPT; diagnoses use ICD-10; dental procedures use CDT. Oral surgery sometimes crosses into medical billing when medically necessary, ask which path applies.
Where to look up an unfamiliar code
Browse /procedures/ for the codes in this archive. For official clinical definitions, use the ADA's published Current Dental Terminology manual.
State private-estimate benchmarks (from our database)
Figures below are live averages across the 51 state rows in PlainDentalCost's
procedure_costs table (private-pay estimates scaled by BEA regional price
parity - see methodology). They are not ADA Survey of Dental
Fees medians and not quoted practice prices.
| CDT | Procedure | Avg private est. | State range |
|---|---|---|---|
| D2740 | Crown - Porcelain/Ceramic | $1,312 | $1,156 - $1,572 |
| D3330 | Endodontic Therapy - Molar Tooth | $1,459 | $1,286 - $1,748 |
| D6010 | Surgical Placement of Implant Body | $2,312 | $2,037 - $2,771 |
| D6056 | Prefabricated Abutment | $496 | $437 - $595 |
| D6057 | Custom Fabricated Abutment | $677 | $597 - $812 |
| D6058 | Abutment-Supported Porcelain/Ceramic Crown | $1,606 | $1,415 - $1,925 |
| D6065 | Implant-Supported Porcelain/Ceramic Crown | $1,843 | $1,624 - $2,209 |
| D7240 | Removal of Impacted Tooth - Completely Bony | $424 | $374 - $509 |
Worked example: single-tooth implant stack (D6010 + D6057 + D6065)
Same three CDT codes, two ends of our state private-estimate file - not invented practice quotes. Mississippi ( MS ): implant body $2,037, custom abutment $597, implant-supported crown $1,624, stack $4,259. New York ( NY ): $2,771 + $812 + $2,209 = $5,792 (36% above MS). The gap tracks regional price parity and overhead in the estimate model, not a claim that one clinical outcome is superior.
Start with the state cost variation guide and state fee tables to benchmark a quote. Coverage gaps: Medicaid by state. Affordability paths: affordability guide. None of these figures is dental advice.