D2160 — Amalgam filling — three surfaces
Amalgam is the silver-grey filling material that generations of dentists used as the default for back teeth. D2160 is the three-surface version.
four codes describe amalgam restoration, and this is one of them. What separates it from the other three is the subject of this page; the amalgam restoration guide covers the treatment itself.
What the number specifies, what it costs, what your plan is likely to do with it, and the named differences between it and the codes around it — in that order.
What the code commits to
Extent — three surfaces. Three surfaces is the point at which a dentist starts weighing a filling against a crown or onlay, because the remaining tooth structure is thin enough to flex under load.
Material — silver-grey amalgam. Amalgam is an alloy of silver, tin and copper bound with mercury, mixed at the chairside and packed into the cavity, where it sets hard. It is not bonded to the tooth — it is held by the shape of the preparation — which is why amalgam cavities are cut with slightly undercut walls and take a little more healthy tooth with them. In exchange it tolerates moisture, costs less than anything else, and routinely lasts two decades under heavy load. The material is part of the code rather than a choice made afterwards, so D2160 is only the right code if that is what was actually used.
Where the line falls between D2160 and the rest
D2161 — Amalgam filling — four or more surfaces: It covers four or more surfaces instead of three surfaces.
D2150 — Amalgam filling — two surfaces: It covers two surfaces instead of three surfaces.
D2140 — Amalgam filling — one surface (silver filling): It covers a single surface instead of three surfaces.
Those three codes and D2160 are the whole group — nothing else describes this procedure. There is no penalty for asking which of these is planned, and there is a real cost to finding out from an explanation of benefits weeks later.
Every code in this group
These codes describe the same broad procedure and differ in one respect each. Each has its own page with its own fee range and coverage notes.
| Code | Procedure |
|---|---|
| D2160 | Amalgam filling — three surfaces — this page |
| D2140 | Amalgam filling — one surface (silver filling) |
| D2150 | Amalgam filling — two surfaces |
| D2161 | Amalgam filling — four or more surfaces |
Questions about D2160
What is D2160 on my dental bill?
It is the restorative code for amalgam filling, three surfaces, and it means that specific procedure and no other.
What is the typical fee for D2160?
Plan for $175–$465 as the full fee. Two practices a few miles apart can sit at opposite ends of that range for the same work.
Does dental insurance cover D2160?
In most cases yes, at the basic rate: typically 70–80% after deductible. The annual maximum is what usually decides how much of that you actually see.
What is the difference between D2160 and D2161?
D2161 is amalgam filling, four or more surfaces: it covers four or more surfaces instead of three surfaces. That one difference is the whole distinction; the chair time, the materials and the appointment sequence are the same either way.
Also known as: silver filling, amalgam, metal filling, back tooth filling.