What D5913 means

D5913 covers a nasal prosthesis. "D" is dental, "59" places it in the maxillofacial prosthetics area, and "13" is this nasal prosthesis. A 'nasal prosthesis' is an artificial nose — a custom-made prosthetic replacement for a nose that's been partially or completely lost. So D5913 is providing a custom artificial nose to restore the patient's facial appearance.

So it's a custom prosthetic nose, made to replace a nose lost to surgery, trauma, or a congenital condition.

When a patient loses the nose (or a significant part of it) — most often to cancer (resection of a nasal tumor/skin cancer), trauma, or a congenital absence — the resulting facial defect is disfiguring and affects appearance and (to some extent) function. A nasal prosthesis restores the nose: it's a custom-fabricated artificial nose, typically made of medical-grade silicone (skin-like, flexible), individually sculpted to recreate the patient's nasal anatomy and meticulously colored to match the patient's skin tone (often with intrinsic and extrinsic pigments, and details like texture and fine features) so it blends naturally. It's made through the maxillofacial prosthetic process (starting with an impression/moulage of the area, then sculpting, fabricating, and fitting). Retention (how it stays in place) is by either: adhesives — medical adhesive holds the prosthesis to the skin; or implant retention — craniofacial/extra-oral implants (e.g., placed in the bone, as in D7993) with attachments (magnets or clips) anchor the prosthesis securely (often preferred for stability). The nasal prosthesis restores the patient's facial appearance (profoundly important for psychological wellbeing and social function) and provides some functional benefit (e.g., directing airflow, supporting glasses). D5913 specifically is the nasal prosthesis (the replacement version is D5926). It's specialized maxillofacial prosthetic work (a maxillofacial prosthodontist/anaplastologist), part of reconstructive care. Coverage is usually medical/reconstructive (by report/medical necessity). This code is in the maxillofacial prosthetics area. Documentation supports the claim.

When it's typically used

D5913 is reported for a nasal prosthesis — a custom artificial nose made to restore a nose lost (partially or completely) to cancer surgery, trauma, or a congenital condition. It's used to rehabilitate the patient's facial appearance (and some function) after loss of the nose, via a skin-like silicone prosthesis color-matched and fitted to the patient (retained by adhesives or implants). The replacement version is D5926.

How much does D5913 cost?

A nasal prosthesis's cost reflects highly specialized, custom artistic/technical fabrication (silicone, individualized sculpting and color-matching) — a significant prosthesis. Sample fee-schedule values (e.g., some state programs) place it in the four-figure range (around a thousand-plus dollars), varying by region/setting/complexity (and not counting any implant surgery for retention). It's typically a reconstructive (medical) benefit. Verify coverage with the relevant plan.

Is D5913 covered by insurance?

Coverage for a nasal prosthesis is usually handled as a reconstructive/medical benefit (it restores a facial structure lost to cancer, trauma, or a congenital condition), determined by report and medical necessity. Documentation of the defect/diagnosis (e.g., the resection), the reconstructive need, and the prosthesis supports the claim. If implant retention (e.g., D7993 craniofacial implants) is involved, that's coordinated too. Coordination with medical coverage is often needed. Verifying coverage helps.

Restoring a lost nose

A custom silicone nose blends with the face, and understanding this clarifies the code.

Understanding the nasal prosthesis clarifies D5913. Losing the nose (to cancer resection, trauma, or congenital absence) leaves a central, highly visible facial defect — profoundly affecting appearance and, with it, a patient's confidence and social interactions. A nasal prosthesis restores the nose with a custom artificial replacement: material — typically medical-grade silicone, which is skin-like (soft, flexible, translucent in a tissue-like way) and can be colored realistically; custom sculpting — the prosthesis is individually sculpted to recreate the patient's own nasal shape/anatomy (referencing photographs, the surrounding anatomy, and esthetic norms), so it looks like a natural nose for that patient; color-matching — it's meticulously colored (intrinsic pigments mixed into the silicone, plus extrinsic surface coloring) to match the patient's skin tone, including subtle variations, so it blends with the surrounding skin; and detailing — fine details (texture, edges/margins that blend, even features like nostril contours) make it look natural.

The result is a lifelike artificial nose that restores the patient's facial appearance — often dramatically improving quality of life. So D5913 restores a lost nose with a lifelike custom prosthesis. Understanding this helps patients see that losing the nose (to cancer resection, trauma, or congenital absence) leaves a central highly visible facial defect (profoundly affecting appearance and with it a patient's confidence and social interactions), a nasal prosthesis restoring the nose with a custom artificial replacement — material (typically medical-grade silicone, skin-like/soft, flexible, translucent in a tissue-like way, and able to be colored realistically), custom sculpting (the prosthesis individually sculpted to recreate the patient's own nasal shape/anatomy, referencing photographs, the surrounding anatomy, and esthetic norms, so it looks like a natural nose for that patient), color-matching (meticulously colored/intrinsic pigments mixed into the silicone plus extrinsic surface coloring to match the patient's skin tone including subtle variations, so it blends with the surrounding skin), and detailing (fine details/texture, edges/margins that blend, even features like nostril contours making it look natural) — the result being a lifelike artificial nose that restores the patient's facial appearance (often dramatically improving quality of life).

How a nasal prosthesis stays in place

Adhesives or implant-anchored retention, and understanding this clarifies the practical side.

Understanding retention clarifies the practical side of D5913. A facial prosthesis like a nasal prosthesis must be held securely in place (and be removable for cleaning) — and there are two main retention methods: adhesive retention — a medical-grade skin adhesive is applied to attach the prosthesis to the surrounding skin; the patient places it daily and removes it for cleaning; it's non-surgical, but relies on the adhesive (which can be affected by skin oils, sweat, etc., and requires careful daily handling); and implant retention — craniofacial (extra-oral) implants are surgically placed in the underlying bone (e.g., as in D7993), and the prosthesis attaches to them via attachments (magnets or bar/clip systems); this provides secure, reliable retention (the prosthesis snaps/holds firmly), easier daily placement, and avoids adhesive issues — often the preferred method when implants are feasible.

The choice depends on the patient's situation (bone availability for implants, prior radiation, patient preference, etc.). Implant-retained prostheses are generally more stable and convenient, while adhesive retention is non-surgical. Either way, the nasal prosthesis (D5913) is made to work with the chosen retention. So the prosthesis stays in place via adhesive or implants. Understanding this helps patients see that a facial prosthesis like a nasal prosthesis must be held securely in place (and be removable for cleaning), with two main retention methods — adhesive retention (a medical-grade skin adhesive applied to attach the prosthesis to the surrounding skin, the patient placing it daily and removing it for cleaning, non-surgical but relying on the adhesive which can be affected by skin oils, sweat, etc., and requires careful daily handling) and implant retention (craniofacial/extra-oral implants surgically placed in the underlying bone, e.g., as in D7993, and the prosthesis attaching to them via attachments/magnets or bar/clip systems, providing secure reliable retention/the prosthesis snapping/holding firmly, easier daily placement, and avoiding adhesive issues, often the preferred method when implants are feasible) — the choice depending on the patient's situation (bone availability for implants, prior radiation, patient preference, etc.), implant-retained prostheses generally being more stable and convenient while adhesive retention is non-surgical, either way the nasal prosthesis being made to work with the chosen retention.

More than appearance: function and wellbeing

It aids function and psychological recovery, and understanding this clarifies the value.

Understanding the value clarifies D5913. While a nasal prosthesis's most visible benefit is restoring appearance, its impact goes further: appearance and identity — the nose is central to the face and identity; restoring it helps the patient look like themselves again, which is profoundly important for self-image, confidence, and social/professional life after a disfiguring loss; psychological wellbeing — facial disfigurement can cause significant distress, social withdrawal, and reduced quality of life; a natural-looking prosthesis can dramatically improve psychological wellbeing and reintegration; some functional benefit — the prosthesis can help with functions like directing/warming inhaled air to a degree, covering/protecting the defect, and providing support for eyeglasses (which otherwise have nothing to rest on); and protection — it covers the surgical defect/opening, offering some protection.

So a nasal prosthesis is reconstructive care that restores both appearance and a measure of function — and importantly, the patient's dignity and quality of life. This is why maxillofacial prosthetic rehabilitation is an essential part of care after facial structure loss (e.g., following cancer treatment). D5913 provides this restoration. So D5913 restores function and wellbeing, not just looks. Understanding this helps patients see that while a nasal prosthesis's most visible benefit is restoring appearance its impact goes further — appearance and identity (the nose being central to the face and identity, restoring it helping the patient look like themselves again, profoundly important for self-image, confidence, and social/professional life after a disfiguring loss), psychological wellbeing (facial disfigurement able to cause significant distress, social withdrawal, and reduced quality of life, a natural-looking prosthesis able to dramatically improve psychological wellbeing and reintegration), some functional benefit (the prosthesis able to help with functions like directing/warming inhaled air to a degree, covering/protecting the defect, and providing support for eyeglasses which otherwise have nothing to rest on), and protection (covering the surgical defect/opening, offering some protection) — so a nasal prosthesis being reconstructive care that restores both appearance and a measure of function and importantly the patient's dignity and quality of life, this being why maxillofacial prosthetic rehabilitation is an essential part of care after facial structure loss (e.g., following cancer treatment).

Where D5913 fits in the codes

D5913 is among the facial prosthesis codes, and understanding this clarifies the coding.

Understanding where D5913 sits clarifies the coding. D5913 is among the maxillofacial prosthetics codes (D5900s), specifically the facial prosthesis codes for individual features: D5913 (nasal prosthesis, this code), D5914 (auricular/ear prosthesis), D5915 (orbital prosthesis), D5916 (ocular/eye prosthesis), D5919 (facial prosthesis — for a facial prosthesis not otherwise specified/larger). Each has replacement versions: D5926 (nasal replacement), D5927 (auricular replacement), D5928 (orbital replacement), D5929 (facial replacement) — for replacing a worn-out prosthesis. Related: D5922 (nasal septal prosthesis — for an internal nasal/septal defect, distinct from the external nasal prosthesis), the moulage codes (D5911/D5912), and others.

So D5913 is precisely: a nasal prosthesis (custom artificial nose). Its replacement counterpart is D5926 (nasal prosthesis, replacement). It's distinguished from the nasal SEPTAL prosthesis (D5922 — an internal septal device) by being the external artificial nose. The prosthodontist codes D5913 when making the nasal prosthesis. So D5913 is the nasal prosthesis among the facial-prosthesis codes. Understanding this helps patients see that D5913 is among the maxillofacial prosthetics codes (D5900s), specifically the facial prosthesis codes for individual features — D5913 (nasal prosthesis, this code), D5914 (auricular/ear prosthesis), D5915 (orbital prosthesis), D5916 (ocular/eye prosthesis), D5919 (facial prosthesis, for a facial prosthesis not otherwise specified/larger) — each having replacement versions (D5926 nasal replacement, D5927 auricular replacement, D5928 orbital replacement, D5929 facial replacement, for replacing a worn-out prosthesis), related being D5922 (nasal septal prosthesis, for an internal nasal/septal defect, distinct from the external nasal prosthesis), the moulage codes (D5911/D5912), and others — so D5913 is precisely a nasal prosthesis (custom artificial nose), its replacement counterpart being D5926 (nasal prosthesis, replacement), distinguished from the nasal SEPTAL prosthesis (D5922, an internal septal device) by being the external artificial nose, the prosthodontist coding D5913 when making the nasal prosthesis.

Frequently asked questions

What is the D5913 dental code?

It's a nasal prosthesis — a custom artificial nose made to restore a nose (or part of it) lost to cancer surgery, trauma, or a congenital condition. It's typically a skin-like silicone replica, individually sculpted and color-matched to the patient and retained by adhesives or implant-anchored attachments, restoring facial appearance and some function. The replacement version is D5926.

What is a nasal prosthesis made of?

Typically medical-grade silicone — skin-like, soft, and flexible — individually sculpted to recreate the patient's nasal shape and meticulously colored (with pigments inside and on the surface) to match their skin tone, including subtle variations. Fine details like texture and natural margins make it blend with the surrounding skin for a lifelike result.

How does it stay on?

Two main ways: with medical-grade skin adhesive (non-surgical; applied daily and removed for cleaning), or with implant retention — craniofacial (extra-oral) implants placed in the bone (e.g., D7993) that the prosthesis attaches to via magnets or clips. Implant retention is more secure and convenient and is often preferred when feasible; adhesive retention avoids surgery. The choice depends on the patient's situation.

Why is a nasal prosthesis important?

The nose is central to the face and identity, so restoring it after a disfiguring loss profoundly helps the patient's self-image, confidence, and social life — psychological wellbeing matters enormously. It also provides some function (helping direct airflow, covering/protecting the defect, supporting eyeglasses). It's an essential part of reconstructive care after facial structure loss.

How is it different from a nasal septal prosthesis?

A nasal prosthesis (D5913) is the external artificial nose that restores the visible nose. A nasal septal prosthesis (D5922) is a different device for an internal defect of the nasal septum (the wall between the nostrils) — e.g., a septal perforation. So D5913 restores the outside nose; D5922 addresses an internal septal problem. They're distinct codes for distinct purposes.

Is it covered, and what does it cost?

Cost reflects highly specialized custom fabrication (silicone, individualized sculpting and color-matching) — often in the four-figure range, varying by region/setting/complexity (and not counting any implant surgery for retention). It's typically a reconstructive (medical) benefit, determined by report/medical necessity. Coordination with medical coverage is often needed. Verify your specific coverage.

This page is an independent, plain-language explanation for general information only. It is not billing, coding, or clinical advice. For the official CDT descriptor and current-year wording, refer to the American Dental Association.