Summary & Overview
CDT D2393: Resin-Based Composite, Three Surfaces, Posterior
CDT code D2393 designates a resin-based composite restoration involving three surfaces on a posterior tooth. This restorative procedure is commonly used in general and specialty dental practices to treat multi-surface caries or structural damage while preserving tooth structure with a tooth-colored material. Nationally, composite restorations are a frequent component of routine dental care and influence provider billing patterns and benefit design due to material selection and surface-based code granularity.
Key payers covered in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, and UnitedHealthcare. Readers will find an overview of how D2393 fits within the CDT resin-based composite code series (D2391 through D2394), common clinical scenarios that map to D2393, and payer considerations that affect coverage determinations and claims processing. The publication summarizes typical sites of service and service definitions, common associated ICD-10 diagnoses used to justify restorative treatment, and related codes for one-, two-, and four-plus surface posterior composite restorations.
The content provides practical benchmarks for comparing utilization across surface-based restorative codes, highlights coding relationships within restorative dentistry, and identifies where information is unavailable in the input. Data not available in the input is explicitly noted where relevant.
Billing Code Overview
CDT code D2393 represents a resin-based composite restoration for three surfaces on a posterior tooth. This procedure is a restorative dental treatment using tooth-colored composite material to repair damage or decay affecting three surfaces of a posterior 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 35-year-old adult presents to a dental office with occlusal and proximal sensitivity on a mandibular molar. Clinical exam and bitewing radiographs reveal an occlusal plus one proximal carious lesion consistent with dental caries; the tooth is restorable. The dentist evaluates the tooth, obtains consent, administers local anesthesia, isolates the operative field with rubber dam or cotton roll isolation, removes carious tooth structure, prepares the cavity for a direct posterior resin restoration, places a resin-based composite in three surfaces (e.g., occlusal plus two proximal walls), contours and cures the material, finishes and polishes the restoration, and provides postoperative instructions. Billing is submitted from the dental office (POS 11) using CDT code D2393 for the three-surface posterior resin-based composite placement. If a same-day, significant separate evaluation occurs, the dentist documents the distinct service. If the procedure is performed in a teaching setting with resident participation, documentation indicates supervision level and resident involvement.
Coding Specifications
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Common Modifiers
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GC- Service performed in part by a resident under the direction of a teaching physician: appended when a resident provided part of the service and documentation supports supervision per payer policy. -
25- Significant, separately identifiable evaluation and management service by the same dentist on the same day of the procedure: appended when a distinct diagnostic or evaluation visit is documented in addition to the restorative procedure on the same date. -
Associated Provider Taxonomies