D3230 — Pulpal therapy (resorbable filling) — anterior, primary tooth (excluding final restoration)
This is root canal treatment for a baby tooth, sometimes called a pulpectomy. D3230 is the version for a front tooth.
Among the two 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 pulpal therapy, primary tooth guide.
Three things matter when this code turns up on paperwork: what it obliges the practice to have actually done, what it is worth, and which nearby code it is not. All three are set out below.
D3230 in detail
Tooth — an incisor or canine, so the work is visible every time you speak and the colour match is judged in daylight rather than under the dental light.
Dentition — a primary (baby) tooth. The restoration only has to survive until the tooth is shed naturally, which changes what counts as adequate treatment and usually rules out the more expensive alternatives.
The nearby codes and how they differ
D3240 — Pulpal therapy (resorbable filling) — posterior, primary tooth (excluding final restoration): It applies to back tooths rather than front tooths.
That code and D3230 are the whole group — nothing else in the code set describes this procedure. 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.
| Code | Procedure |
|---|---|
| D3230 | Pulpal therapy (resorbable filling) — anterior, primary tooth (excluding final restoration) — this page |
| D3240 | Pulpal therapy (resorbable filling) — posterior, primary tooth (excluding final restoration) |
Questions about D3230
What does dental code D3230 mean?
On a claim, D3230 tells the insurer that what was performed was pulpal therapy (resorbable filling), anterior, primary tooth, excluding final restoration.
How much does D3230 cost?
Plan for $280–$650 as the full fee. Two practices a few miles apart can sit at opposite ends of that range for the same work.
How do dental plans handle D3230?
Typically, yes — basic benefits, typically 70–80%. What varies between plans is the frequency limit rather than whether the procedure is covered at all.
What is the difference between D3230 and D3240?
D3240 is pulpal therapy (resorbable filling), posterior, primary tooth, excluding final restoration: it applies to back tooths rather than front tooths. The rest of the procedure is the same, which is why the two get substituted for one another on estimates.
Also known as: baby tooth root canal, pulpectomy, primary tooth endodontics, resorbable filling.