CDT D2790: Crown – Full Cast High Noble Metal

Headline: CDT code D2790: Full Cast High Noble Metal Crown for Restorative Dental Care

Lead: CDT code D2790 designates a full cast crown made from high noble metal used to restore severely damaged or structurally compromised teeth. The code is widely used in restorative dentistry and factors into coverage determinations, clinical planning, and benefit management across major national payers.

What the code represents and why it matters: CDT code D2790 covers a definitive restorative crown procedure—a durable, full-coverage restoration fabricated from high noble metal. At a national level, this code matters because crowns are common restorative services with implications for dental benefit design, prior authorization practices, and allowed services under both commercial dental plans and integrated medical-dental programs.

Key payers covered: Analysis addresses major national payers including Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, and UnitedHealthcare, which together represent dominant commercial dental and medical-dental plan administrators.

What readers will learn: The publication provides clinical context for when a high noble metal full-cast crown is indicated, alignment with related restorative procedures, and typical site-of-service considerations for dental offices. It summarizes common billing relationships to adjacent restorative codes and identifies data gaps where information was not provided. Benchmarks, reimbursement patterns, and payer policy nuances are summarized where available; when input data is absent, the report notes that specifics are not available.

Scope and limitations: Content is written for a national audience. Data not available in the input is explicitly noted where applicable.

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Billing Code Overview

CDT code D2790 represents a full cast crown fabricated from high noble metal used in restorative dentistry to restore a damaged or decayed tooth. The service is classified as a restorative dental procedure performed to reestablish tooth form, function, and occlusal relationships when a full-coverage crown is indicated.

Typical site of service: Dental office (non‑facility).

Data not available in the input.

National Reimbursement Benchmarks

National mean commercial rates for CDT code D2790 vary substantially versus the BUCA average and Medicare. BUCA (average commercial) posts a mean of $571.17, which is higher than Aetna ($423.47) and Cigna Health ($431.92) but lower than Blue Cross Blue Shield ($759.42) and UnitedHealthcare ($773.81). Medicare is not provided in the input and is represented separately in the chart and table.

Rate dispersion (interquartile range, P75 − P25) is widest for Blue Cross Blue Shield (range $260.00) and UnitedHealthcare (range $142.97), indicating broader variability at the national level. Cigna Health shows one of the tightest distributions (range $107.00) and Aetna is relatively tight as well (range $70.00). The table and chart below present the full breakdown.

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CDT D2790: Crown – Full Cast High Noble Metal

Headline: CDT code D2790: Full Cast High Noble Metal Crown for Restorative Dental Care

Scope and limitations: Content is written for a national audience. Data not available in the input is explicitly noted where applicable.

Customize your policy alerts

Sign up for D2790 policy alerts

Get alerted when payer policies referencing D2790 are released or updated.

Monitor payer policy activity

Receive email alerts as soon as relevant payer policies are published or updated.

Billing Code Overview

Typical site of service: Dental office (non‑facility).

Data not available in the input.

National Reimbursement Benchmarks

National Mean Rates for CDT code D2790 by Payer

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

A 56-year-old patient presents to a dental office with a fractured posterior tooth and extensive coronal destruction from chronic caries and previous restorations. Clinical assessment and radiographs reveal insufficient tooth structure to support a direct restoration and the need for full coverage. Treatment planning includes crown preparation, fabrication of a laboratory-fabricated full cast high noble metal crown, and cementation at a subsequent visit. Pulp status is evaluated; if endodontic therapy or post/core is required, those procedures are documented separately. Typical workflow: diagnosis and treatment planning visit with radiographs and bite records, tooth preparation appointment, impression and provisional crown fabrication, laboratory fabrication of the full cast high noble metal crown, and final cementation appointment in the dental office (non‑facility). Documentation includes informed consent, preoperative and postoperative photographs or radiographs, tooth-specific charting, materials used, and any adjunctive procedures such as core buildup or post placement when performed.

Related Codes

D2920 — Recement crown

Relation: Used when an existing crown becomes loose; distinct from fabrication of a new D2790. May occur after initial cementation if retention issues arise.
D2930 — Prefabricated stainless steel crown‑primary tooth

Relation: Alternative full coverage option for primary teeth; not a substitute for D2790, which is a full cast high noble metal crown for permanent dentition.
D2931 — Prefabricated stainless steel crown‑permanent teeth

Relation: Prefabricated option for permanent teeth; used in different clinical situations compared with laboratory-fabricated D2790 crowns.
D2932 — Prefabricated resin crown

Relation: Chairside prefabricated restorative alternative; differs in materials and indications from D2790.
D2933 — Prefabricated stainless steel crown with resin window

Relation: Prefabricated aesthetic variant; alternative to a custom D2790 crown when appropriate.
D2940 — Protective restoration

Relation: Temporary measure to protect a tooth until definitive crown treatment like D2790 can be completed.
D2950 — Core buildup, including any pins when required

Relation: Often performed prior to crown preparation when substantial coronal tooth structure is missing; may be required before D2790 placement.
D2951 — Pin retention‑ per tooth, in addition to restoration

Relation: Ancillary service used during core buildup to retain restorative material prior to crown fabrication like D2790.
D2952 — Post and core in addition to crown, indirectly fabricated

Relation: When endodontic therapy leaves insufficient coronal structure, an indirect post and core may be fabricated prior to placing a D2790 crown.
D2954 — Prefabricated post and core in addition to crown

Relation: Prefabricated post/core option used in the workflow before final D2790 crown placement.
D2960 — Labial veneer (resin laminate)‑ Chair side

Relation: Veneer procedures are restorative alternatives for anterior aesthetics; not typically combined with D2790 which is a full cast crown.
D2980 — Crown repair necessitated by restorative material failure

Relation: Used when an existing crown fails and repair is feasible; if irreparable, replacement with a new D2790 may be indicated.
D2981 — Inlay repair necessitated by restorative material failure

Relation: Repair of inlays; separate from full crown services like D2790.
D2982 — Onlay repair necessitated by restorative material failure

Relation: Onlay repairs are restorative alternatives or interim treatments relative to full coverage crowns such as D2790.
D2983 — Veneer repair necessitated by restorative material failure

Relation: Repair of veneer restorations; not directly combined with D2790.
D2999 — Unspecified restorative procedure, by report

Relation: Used when a restorative service does not fall under a specific code; documentation and narrative are required if billing instead of D2790.
D3220 — Therapeutic pulpotomy

Relation: Pulp therapy that may be performed prior to core buildup and subsequent crown placement with D2790 if pulpal involvement is present.

D3310 – Endodontic therapy, anterior tooth (excluding final restoration)

D0150-COMPREHENSIVE-ORAL-EVALUATION-NEW-OR-ESTABLISHED

D0150 – Comprehensive oral evaluation – new or established patient

D2150-AMALGAM-TWO-SURFACES-PRIMARY-OR

D2150 – Amalgam - two surfaces, primary or permanent

D4910-PERIODONTAL-MAINTENANCE

CPT D4910: Periodontal Maintenance Procedures

D2393-RESINBASED-COMPOSITE-THREE-SURFACES

CPT D2393: Resin-Based Composite Restoration, Three Surfaces, Posterior

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

D0140-LIMITED-ORAL-EVALUATION-PROBLEM

CPT D0140: Limited Oral Evaluation, Problem Focused

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

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

D2920 — Recement crown

Relation: Used when an existing crown becomes loose; distinct from fabrication of a new D2790. May occur after initial cementation if retention issues arise.
D2930 — Prefabricated stainless steel crown‑primary tooth

Relation: Alternative full coverage option for primary teeth; not a substitute for D2790, which is a full cast high noble metal crown for permanent dentition.
D2931 — Prefabricated stainless steel crown‑permanent teeth

Relation: Prefabricated option for permanent teeth; used in different clinical situations compared with laboratory-fabricated D2790 crowns.
D2932 — Prefabricated resin crown

Relation: Chairside prefabricated restorative alternative; differs in materials and indications from D2790.
D2933 — Prefabricated stainless steel crown with resin window

Relation: Prefabricated aesthetic variant; alternative to a custom D2790 crown when appropriate.
D2940 — Protective restoration

Relation: Temporary measure to protect a tooth until definitive crown treatment like D2790 can be completed.
D2950 — Core buildup, including any pins when required

Relation: Often performed prior to crown preparation when substantial coronal tooth structure is missing; may be required before D2790 placement.
D2951 — Pin retention‑ per tooth, in addition to restoration

Relation: Ancillary service used during core buildup to retain restorative material prior to crown fabrication like D2790.
D2952 — Post and core in addition to crown, indirectly fabricated

Relation: When endodontic therapy leaves insufficient coronal structure, an indirect post and core may be fabricated prior to placing a D2790 crown.
D2954 — Prefabricated post and core in addition to crown

Relation: Prefabricated post/core option used in the workflow before final D2790 crown placement.
D2960 — Labial veneer (resin laminate)‑ Chair side

Relation: Veneer procedures are restorative alternatives for anterior aesthetics; not typically combined with D2790 which is a full cast crown.
D2980 — Crown repair necessitated by restorative material failure

Relation: Used when an existing crown fails and repair is feasible; if irreparable, replacement with a new D2790 may be indicated.
D2981 — Inlay repair necessitated by restorative material failure

Relation: Repair of inlays; separate from full crown services like D2790.
D2982 — Onlay repair necessitated by restorative material failure

Relation: Onlay repairs are restorative alternatives or interim treatments relative to full coverage crowns such as D2790.
D2983 — Veneer repair necessitated by restorative material failure

Relation: Repair of veneer restorations; not directly combined with D2790.
D2999 — Unspecified restorative procedure, by report

Relation: Used when a restorative service does not fall under a specific code; documentation and narrative are required if billing instead of D2790.
D3220 — Therapeutic pulpotomy

Relation: Pulp therapy that may be performed prior to core buildup and subsequent crown placement with D2790 if pulpal involvement is present.

D3310 – Endodontic therapy, anterior tooth (excluding final restoration)

D0150-COMPREHENSIVE-ORAL-EVALUATION-NEW-OR-ESTABLISHED

D0150 – Comprehensive oral evaluation – new or established patient

D2150-AMALGAM-TWO-SURFACES-PRIMARY-OR

D2150 – Amalgam - two surfaces, primary or permanent

D4910-PERIODONTAL-MAINTENANCE

CPT D4910: Periodontal Maintenance Procedures

D2393-RESINBASED-COMPOSITE-THREE-SURFACES

CPT D2393: Resin-Based Composite Restoration, Three Surfaces, Posterior

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

D0140-LIMITED-ORAL-EVALUATION-PROBLEM

CPT D0140: Limited Oral Evaluation, Problem Focused

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.