D2950 — Core buildup, including any pins when required
D2950 rebuilds the missing bulk of a tooth in filling material, with pins where needed, so there is enough shape left to hold a crown.
Among the three codes in this group it is the workhorse — the one most practices report by default. The procedure behind it is explained at length in the build-up and pin retention guide.
Four things follow: the conditions, the cost, the coverage, and the difference between this code and each one it sits beside.
D2950 against the codes beside it
D2949 — Restorative foundation for an indirect restoration: It blocks out and levels a broken-down tooth so that an inlay, onlay or crown has a sound foundation to be built on.
D2951 — Pin retention — per tooth, in addition to restoration: It is the pin itself, a threaded post screwed into dentine to help anchor a large filling, billed per tooth on top of the restoration.
Those two codes and D2950 are the whole group — nothing else describes this procedure. Reviewers compare the narrative against the code rather than the other way round, so the question worth asking is what the notes will say.
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 |
|---|---|
| D2950 | Core buildup, including any pins when required — this page |
| D2949 | Restorative foundation for an indirect restoration |
| D2951 | Pin retention — per tooth, in addition to restoration |
Questions about D2950
D2950 — what is it?
Core buildup, including any pins when required. It belongs to the restorative section of the code set.
What is the typical fee for D2950?
$150–$420 is the realistic range before benefits. Your own share depends on your plan's percentage, deductible and remaining annual maximum.
Is D2950 a covered benefit?
Most plans include it under major benefits, 0–50%. A pre-treatment estimate is the only way to know your own number in advance.
What is the difference between D2950 and D2949?
D2949 is restorative foundation for an indirect restoration: it blocks out and levels a broken-down tooth so that an inlay, onlay or crown has a sound foundation to be built on. Because they describe different work, D2950 and D2949 can legitimately appear on the same treatment plan — they are not alternatives to choose between.
Also known as: core build-up, buildup, crown foundation, pin retention.