CDT D2391: Resin-based Composite, One Surface, Posterior

Headline: CDT code D2391: Resin-based composite restoration for one posterior surface

Lead: CDT code D2391 identifies a single-surface resin-based composite restoration on a posterior tooth, a routine restorative service widely performed in dental offices across the country.

What the code represents and why it matters: CDT code D2391 covers placement of a resin-based composite material on one surface of a posterior tooth. As a common, tooth-preserving restorative option, it plays a central role in routine dental care and directly affects billing, benefit categorization, and patient cost-sharing for restorative services nationally.

Key payers covered: This analysis references policies from Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, and UnitedHealthcare.

Overview of what readers will learn: Readers will find a concise summary of the clinical context for D2391, common billing considerations, and how this service is categorized by major commercial payers. The publication outlines documentation expectations, typical site-of-service coding practice, and comparisons to adjacent CDT restorative codes for multi-surface restorations. It also flags where input is missing and notes when Data not available in the input.

Why it matters to stakeholders: Accurate use of D2391 supports appropriate reimbursement, clear benefit adjudication, and consistent claims processing for single‑surface posterior composite restorations. The content is intended for dental billers, practice managers, and policy analysts seeking a standardized reference for this CDT procedure.

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Billing Code Overview

CDT code D2391 describes a resin-based composite restoration for one surface in a posterior tooth. This is a common dental restorative procedure used to repair localized damage such as small carious lesions or minor structural defects on molars or premolars.

Service type: Dental restorative procedure

Typical site of service: Dental office setting (typically reported with CDT D-codes, no POS applicable)

National Reimbursement Benchmarks

National mean rates for CDT code D2391 show Medicare-equivalent commercial averages (BUCA) sitting between major payers: BUCA average mean rate is $78.38, compared with Medicare-level benchmarks provided separately in the input. UnitedHealthcare and Blue Cross Blue Shield report the highest mean rates nationally at $119.19 and $107.71 respectively, while Aetna and Cigna Health report lower mean rates near $57–$58.

Rate dispersion (P75 minus P25) varies by payer. Blue Cross Blue Shield and UnitedHealthcare show wider dispersion (BCBS: $43.33 range; UnitedHealthcare: $28.33 range), indicating broader variability in paid amounts. Aetna and Cigna Health exhibit tighter dispersion (Aetna: $22.00 range; Cigna Health: $23.00 range). BUCA (Avg Commercial) has a moderate dispersion of $49.50. The table and chart below present the full breakdown.

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CDT D2391: Resin-based Composite, One Surface, Posterior

Headline: CDT code D2391: Resin-based composite restoration for one posterior surface

Lead: CDT code D2391 identifies a single-surface resin-based composite restoration on a posterior tooth, a routine restorative service widely performed in dental offices across the country.

Key payers covered: This analysis references policies from Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, and UnitedHealthcare.

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Sign up for D2391 policy alerts

Get alerted when payer policies referencing D2391 are released or updated.

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Billing Code Overview

Service type: Dental restorative procedure

Typical site of service: Dental office setting (typically reported with CDT D-codes, no POS applicable)

National Reimbursement Benchmarks

National Mean Rates for CDT code D2391 by Payer

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

A patient presents to a dental office with a symptomatic posterior tooth exhibiting an occlusal carious lesion. After clinical and radiographic assessment, the dentist diagnoses a localized cavity without pulpal involvement and elects to restore the tooth with a direct resin‑based composite on a single posterior surface. The procedure includes isolation (rubber dam or cotton rolls), removal of decayed tooth structure, cavity preparation, etching/bonding, incremental placement and curing of composite, occlusal adjustment, and final polish. Typical documentation includes tooth number, surface restored, anesthesia used, materials placed, technique notes, and pre‑/post‑operative instructions.

Related Codes

D2390 — Resin‑based composite crown, anterior
Relation: An anterior resin‑based composite crown addresses front tooth restorations; not typically used with D2391 but an alternative restorative option for teeth requiring full coverage.
D2392 — Resin‑based composite – two surfaces, posterior
Relation: Represents a larger posterior composite restoration involving two surfaces; used when the lesion extends beyond a single surface and may follow D2391 if more surfaces are treated.
D2393 — Resin‑based composite – three surfaces, posterior
Relation: Indicates an even larger posterior restoration; an alternative when the clinical restoration requires three surfaces instead of one.
D2394 — Resin‑based composite – four or more surfaces, posterior
Relation: Used for extensive posterior restorations; may be chosen instead of D2391 when multiple surfaces are involved.
Common usage notes: D2391 may be billed alone when a single posterior surface is restored. When multiple posterior surfaces on the same tooth are restored during the same encounter, the appropriate multi‑surface code from D2392–D2394 is reported. 51 can indicate multiple procedures on different teeth during one visit; 52 denotes reduced services when applicable.

D0150 – Comprehensive oral evaluation – new or established patient

D2393-RESINBASED-COMPOSITE-THREE-SURFACES

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

D4910-PERIODONTAL-MAINTENANCE

CPT D4910: Periodontal Maintenance Procedures

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

CPT D1110: Adult Dental Cleaning and Polishing

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

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

D2140-AMALGAM-ONE-SURFACE-PRIMARY-OR

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

D2160-AMALGAM-THREE-SURFACES-PRIMARY-OR

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

D1120-

CPT D1120: Prophylaxis for Children, Preventive Dental Cleaning

D0140-LIMITED-ORAL-EVALUATION-PROBLEM

CPT D0140: Limited Oral Evaluation, Problem Focused

D4341-PERIODONTAL-SCALING-AND-ROOT-PLANING-FOUR-OR-MORE-TEETH-PER

CPT D4341: Periodontal Scaling and Root Planing, Four or More Teeth per Quadrant

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

D2390 — Resin‑based composite crown, anterior
Relation: An anterior resin‑based composite crown addresses front tooth restorations; not typically used with D2391 but an alternative restorative option for teeth requiring full coverage.
D2392 — Resin‑based composite – two surfaces, posterior
Relation: Represents a larger posterior composite restoration involving two surfaces; used when the lesion extends beyond a single surface and may follow D2391 if more surfaces are treated.
D2393 — Resin‑based composite – three surfaces, posterior
Relation: Indicates an even larger posterior restoration; an alternative when the clinical restoration requires three surfaces instead of one.
D2394 — Resin‑based composite – four or more surfaces, posterior
Relation: Used for extensive posterior restorations; may be chosen instead of D2391 when multiple surfaces are involved.
Common usage notes: D2391 may be billed alone when a single posterior surface is restored. When multiple posterior surfaces on the same tooth are restored during the same encounter, the appropriate multi‑surface code from D2392–D2394 is reported. 51 can indicate multiple procedures on different teeth during one visit; 52 denotes reduced services when applicable.

D0150 – Comprehensive oral evaluation – new or established patient

D2393-RESINBASED-COMPOSITE-THREE-SURFACES

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

D4910-PERIODONTAL-MAINTENANCE

CPT D4910: Periodontal Maintenance Procedures

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

CPT D1110: Adult Dental Cleaning and Polishing

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

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

D2140-AMALGAM-ONE-SURFACE-PRIMARY-OR

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

D2160-AMALGAM-THREE-SURFACES-PRIMARY-OR

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

D1120-

CPT D1120: Prophylaxis for Children, Preventive Dental Cleaning

D0140-LIMITED-ORAL-EVALUATION-PROBLEM

CPT D0140: Limited Oral Evaluation, Problem Focused

D4341-PERIODONTAL-SCALING-AND-ROOT-PLANING-FOUR-OR-MORE-TEETH-PER

CPT D4341: Periodontal Scaling and Root Planing, Four or More Teeth per Quadrant

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.