D2780 — Crown — 3/4 cast high noble metal
A crown is a custom-made cap that covers the entire visible part of a tooth. D2780 is the version in cast high noble alloy, with no porcelain over it, which leaves one wall of the tooth uncovered.
It is one of 15 codes covering crown. For the procedure itself rather than the code, see the crown guide; for the code, read on.
The rest of this page deals with the specifics: the requirements written into the code, the usual range of fees, the typical benefit outcome, and how to tell it apart from its closest relatives.
D2780 in detail
Material — cast high noble alloy, with no porcelain over it. This is a restoration cast in one piece from a gold-rich alloy, with nothing fired over it. Full-gold restorations remain, by a clear margin, the longest-lasting option in dentistry: the alloy wears at close to the rate of enamel, so it neither grinds down the opposing tooth nor dents, it is gentle at the margins, and it can be made in very thin section — meaning less tooth has to be removed than for any other crown. The only real objection to it is that it is gold-coloured. The material is part of the code rather than a choice made afterwards, so D2780 is only the right code if that is what was actually used.
Coverage — three-quarter rather than full. One wall of the tooth, usually the visible one, is left uncovered. That preserves sound tooth structure and keeps a natural surface on display, but it needs a tooth with enough healthy structure left on that wall to be worth keeping.
How D2780 differs from its neighbours
D2783 — Crown — 3/4 porcelain/ceramic: It specifies all-ceramic, with no metal underneath rather than cast high noble alloy, with no porcelain over it.
D2790 — Crown — full cast high noble metal: It wraps the whole tooth rather than leaving a wall of it uncovered, which is the stronger option and the dearer one.
D2791 — Crown — full cast predominantly base metal: It specifies cast predominantly base-metal alloy rather than cast high noble alloy, with no porcelain over it.
D2792 — Crown — full cast noble metal: It specifies cast noble alloy, with no porcelain over it rather than cast high noble alloy, with no porcelain over it.
D2780 sits in a group of 15 codes in total; the remainder are linked at the foot of this page. None of these are interchangeable, even though they sound as though they might be. Checking that the code on your estimate is the one that matches the planned treatment takes a minute and prevents most billing surprises.
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.
Questions about D2780
D2780 — what is it?
It is the restorative code for crown, 3/4 cast high noble metal, and it means that specific procedure and no other.
What should I expect to pay for D2780?
$1,275–$2,950 is the realistic range before benefits. Your own share depends on your plan's percentage, deductible and remaining annual maximum.
Will my plan pay for D2780?
It is generally a covered benefit in the major category, typically 50% after deductible. Frequency limits and waiting periods are the usual reasons a claim is refused.
What is the difference between D2780 and D2783?
D2783 is crown, 3/4 porcelain/ceramic: it specifies all-ceramic, with no metal underneath rather than cast high noble alloy, with no porcelain over it. Apart from that, the two describe the same treatment — which is why the notes for the visit matter more here than the code itself.
Also known as: dental crown, cap, full coverage restoration, crown and bridge.