Dental Code Lookup

Search CDT procedure codes by code number, name, or keyword. Covers the most commonly billed codes — Diagnostic (D0), Preventive (D1), Restorative (D2), Endodontics (D3), Periodontics (D4), Prosthodontics (D5/D6), Oral surgery (D7), Orthodontics (D8), and Adjunctive (D9).

What are CDT codes?

CDT stands for Code on Dental Procedures and Nomenclature. Published annually by the American Dental Association (ADA), CDT codes are the standardized language dental offices use to communicate with insurance payers. Every code starts with the letter D followed by four digits, grouping procedures into ten categories — D0000 through D9999.

The ADA introduced the first edition in 1969 and updates it every year to reflect new procedures and materials. Dental front-office teams, billing specialists, and insurance coordinators use the current-year CDT to fill out the ADA Dental Claim Form (J400) accurately. Using the wrong code — or a code from a prior year that has been retired or revised — is a leading cause of claim denials.

The D0–D9 category structure

CDT codes are organized into ten ranges. Here is what each range covers:

D0000–D0999: Diagnostic

Exams, X-rays, and diagnostic imaging. Common codes include D0120 (periodic recall exam), D0150 (comprehensive exam for new patients), D0210 (full-mouth X-ray series / FMX), D0330 (panoramic X-ray), and D0367 (CBCT / cone-beam CT).

D1000–D1999: Preventive

Prophylaxis (cleanings), fluoride treatments, sealants, and space maintainers. D1110 and D1120 are among the most frequently billed codes in any dental practice — adult and child cleanings respectively.

D2000–D2999: Restorative

Fillings, crowns, veneers, posts, and core buildups. Key codes: D2140–D2394 for amalgam and composite fillings (billed per surface), D2740 for all-ceramic crowns, D2750 for PFM crowns, and D2962 for lab-made porcelain veneers.

D3000–D3999: Endodontics

Root canal therapy and pulp treatments. D3310 (anterior RCT), D3320 (premolar RCT), and D3330 (molar RCT) are billed per tooth; D3220 covers therapeutic pulpotomy, often used for primary teeth.

D4000–D4999: Periodontics

Gum disease treatment and periodontal surgery. D4341 (scaling and root planing, 4+ teeth per quadrant) and D4910 (periodontal maintenance) are the workhorses of any perio-heavy practice.

D5000–D5899: Prosthodontics (removable)

Complete and partial dentures, flippers (D5820/D5821), and related repairs. These codes cover removable prosthetics — devices the patient can take out.

D6000–D6999: Prosthodontics (fixed) and Implants

Fixed bridges, implant placement (D6010), abutments, and implant-supported crowns (D6065). Fixed prosthetics are cemented or screwed into place and are not removable by the patient.

D7000–D7999: Oral surgery

Extractions, impaction removal, bone grafts, and incision and drainage. Extraction codes hinge on complexity: D7140 for simple erupted-tooth removal versus D7210 for surgical access, versus D7220–D7240 for impactions.

D8000–D8999: Orthodontics

Comprehensive and limited orthodontic treatment. D8080 covers adolescent comprehensive treatment and D8090 covers adult comprehensive treatment — both typically billed as a single fee that includes all treatment visits.

D9000–D9999: Adjunctive

Anesthesia, occlusal guards (night guards), palliative treatment, bleaching, and other services that do not fit neatly into another category. D9944 (hard night guard) and D9230 (nitrous oxide) are frequently billed adjunctive codes.

How CDT codes are used on the ADA claim form

The ADA Dental Claim Form (J400) has a line-item procedure section where each CDT code appears along with the tooth number (or surface, quadrant, or arch as applicable), the date of service, the fee, and any supporting narrative. Most practice management software generates this form automatically when the provider charts a procedure code.

Accurate code selection requires matching the code to the documented procedure, not the fee or the diagnosis. If the documented treatment does not match the submitted code, the claim may be denied or flagged for audit.

Tips for accurate code selection

Always use the current-year CDT manual. The ADA publishes updates annually; a code number that existed in a prior year may have been revised, split into multiple codes, or retired. Most payers have edits that automatically reject outdated codes.

Document the procedure before selecting the code. For example, composite fillings are billed per surface and per arch (anterior vs. posterior) — the code you pick depends on how many surfaces were restored and whether the tooth is anterior or posterior. Selecting the wrong surface count is a common billing error.

Check payer-specific policies. Even within a valid CDT code, individual insurance plans may have frequency limitations, age restrictions, or alternative benefit clauses that affect reimbursement. The CDT manual describes the procedures; individual payer contracts govern payment.

This page covers the most commonly searched CDT codes, not the full set. The complete CDT code set contains over 600 codes. For complete and authoritative code descriptions, refer to the current-year CDT manual published by the ADA.

Frequently asked questions