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.

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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.

Service Type: Dentistry
Typical Site of Service: Dental Office (POS 11)

National Reimbursement Benchmarks

National commercial mean rates vary notably: UnitedHealthcare and Blue Cross Blue Shield have the highest mean rates at $188.28 and $176.30 respectively, while Cigna Health and Aetna are lower at $106.72 and $114.32. The BUCA commercial average sits between those groups at $141.74. Medicare data is not provided in the input.

Rate dispersion (P75 minus P25) is widest for Blue Cross Blue Shield (208.67 - 142.00 = $66.67) and UnitedHealthcare (211.00 - 169.00 = $42.00), indicating greater variability in allowed amounts; Cigna Health is the tightest (115.00 - 100.00 = $15.00) with Aetna also relatively tight (120.00 - 98.00 = $22.00). The table and chart below present the full breakdown.

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CDT D2393: Resin-Based Composite, Three Surfaces, Posterior

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Billing Code Overview

Service Type: Dentistry
Typical Site of Service: Dental Office (POS 11)

National Reimbursement Benchmarks

National Mean Rates for CDT code D2393 by Payer

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.

Related Codes

Code	Description
`D2391`	Resin‑based composite – one surface, posterior
`D2392`	Resin‑based composite – two surfaces, posterior
`D2394`	Resin‑based composite – four or more surfaces, posterior

D2391 and D2392 represent restorations of fewer surfaces and are alternatives when the operative surfaces treated are limited to one or two; they may be selected instead of D2393 when documentation supports fewer surfaces.
D2394 represents a restoration of greater complexity (four or more surfaces) and is an alternative when documentation supports a larger restoration than three surfaces.
In clinical workflow, a clinician selects the specific code that matches the documented number of restored surfaces; adjacent codes are commonly considered during charting and claim submission to ensure the procedure code accurately reflects the service performed.

D2750 – Crown - porcelain fused to high noble metal

D4910-PERIODONTAL-MAINTENANCE

CPT D4910: Periodontal Maintenance Procedures

D1206-TOPICAL-FLUORIDE-TREATMENT-EXCEPT-VARNISH-THERAPEUTIC

CPT D1206: Topical Fluoride Treatment for Moderate to High Caries Risk Patients

D1110-PROPHYLAXIS-ADULT-CLEANING-AND-POLISHING-OF-THE

CPT D1110: Adult Dental Cleaning and Polishing

D2140-AMALGAM-ONE-SURFACE-PRIMARY-OR

CPT D2140: Amalgam Restoration, One Surface, Primary or Permanent Tooth

D2391-RESINBASED-COMPOSITE-ONE-SURFACE

CPT D2391: Resin-Based Composite Restoration, One Surface, Posterior Tooth

D2790-CROWN-FULL-CAST-HIGH-NOBLE

CPT D2790: Full Cast High Noble Metal Crown Placement

D7210-EXTRACTION-ERUPTED-TOOTH-REQUIRING-REMOVAL-OF-BONE-ANDOR

CPT D7210: Surgical Extraction of Erupted Tooth with Bone Removal

D0230-INTRAORAL-PERIAPICAL-EACH-ADDITIONAL-RADIOGRAPHIC

CPT D0230: Additional Intraoral Periapical Radiographic Image

D2160-AMALGAM-THREE-SURFACES-PRIMARY-OR

CPT D2160: Amalgam Filling, Three Surfaces, Primary or Permanent Tooth

Showing 1–10 of 24

References

1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.Maintains the CPT code set's official descriptions and guidelines, licensed from the American Medical Association, used as the definitional source for CPT codes on this page.
2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's quarterly release of HCPCS Level II codes and short/long descriptors, the source for HCPCS code definitions and update history.
3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's complete ICD-10-CM diagnosis code list, used to cross-reference diagnosis codes associated with this procedure or service.

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Trek Health ingests and normalizes Transparency in Coverage data and payer policy updates to give provider organizations a clear view of how commercial reimbursement behaves across markets, payers, and services. Our platform transforms raw payer disclosures into structured intelligence that supports contract evaluation, payer negotiations, and service line strategy. By combining market benchmarks with ongoing policy visibility, Trek helps teams identify variability, risk, and opportunity in commercial reimbursement. The result is faster insight, stronger negotiating positions, and more informed financial decisions.

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Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Related Codes

Code	Description
`D2391`	Resin‑based composite – one surface, posterior
`D2392`	Resin‑based composite – two surfaces, posterior
`D2394`	Resin‑based composite – four or more surfaces, posterior

D2391 and D2392 represent restorations of fewer surfaces and are alternatives when the operative surfaces treated are limited to one or two; they may be selected instead of D2393 when documentation supports fewer surfaces.
D2394 represents a restoration of greater complexity (four or more surfaces) and is an alternative when documentation supports a larger restoration than three surfaces.
In clinical workflow, a clinician selects the specific code that matches the documented number of restored surfaces; adjacent codes are commonly considered during charting and claim submission to ensure the procedure code accurately reflects the service performed.

D2750 – Crown - porcelain fused to high noble metal

D4910-PERIODONTAL-MAINTENANCE

CPT D4910: Periodontal Maintenance Procedures

D1206-TOPICAL-FLUORIDE-TREATMENT-EXCEPT-VARNISH-THERAPEUTIC

CPT D1206: Topical Fluoride Treatment for Moderate to High Caries Risk Patients

D1110-PROPHYLAXIS-ADULT-CLEANING-AND-POLISHING-OF-THE

CPT D1110: Adult Dental Cleaning and Polishing

D2140-AMALGAM-ONE-SURFACE-PRIMARY-OR

CPT D2140: Amalgam Restoration, One Surface, Primary or Permanent Tooth

D2391-RESINBASED-COMPOSITE-ONE-SURFACE

CPT D2391: Resin-Based Composite Restoration, One Surface, Posterior Tooth

D2790-CROWN-FULL-CAST-HIGH-NOBLE

CPT D2790: Full Cast High Noble Metal Crown Placement

D7210-EXTRACTION-ERUPTED-TOOTH-REQUIRING-REMOVAL-OF-BONE-ANDOR

CPT D7210: Surgical Extraction of Erupted Tooth with Bone Removal

D0230-INTRAORAL-PERIAPICAL-EACH-ADDITIONAL-RADIOGRAPHIC

CPT D0230: Additional Intraoral Periapical Radiographic Image

D2160-AMALGAM-THREE-SURFACES-PRIMARY-OR

CPT D2160: Amalgam Filling, Three Surfaces, Primary or Permanent Tooth

Showing 1–10 of 24

References

1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.Maintains the CPT code set's official descriptions and guidelines, licensed from the American Medical Association, used as the definitional source for CPT codes on this page.
2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's quarterly release of HCPCS Level II codes and short/long descriptors, the source for HCPCS code definitions and update history.
3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's complete ICD-10-CM diagnosis code list, used to cross-reference diagnosis codes associated with this procedure or service.

Published by

Trek Health powers OpenPayer with a leading commercial payer intelligence platform, seamlessly converting fragmented payer data into actionable insights for provider organizations.