D3960 — Bleaching of discolored tooth (non-vital, internal)
D3960 bleaches a discoloured tooth from the inside after root canal treatment, the only way to lighten a tooth that darkened from within.
It is the default code in a group of three, and the one whose fee is normally quoted when this treatment is discussed. Our endodontic adjuncts guide covers the procedure in depth.
What follows is the detail behind the number: the conditions the code sets, its typical fee, its usual benefit treatment, and a code-by-code comparison with its closest neighbours.
Not to be confused with
D3950 — Canal preparation and fitting of preformed dowel/post: It prepares the canal and fits a preformed post, the step between finishing a root canal and building the tooth back up.
D3910 — Surgical isolation of tooth with rubber dam: It is the surgical isolation needed when a tooth cannot be sealed off with a rubber dam normally, because the gum has to be moved or the tooth built up first.
Those two codes and D3960 are the whole group — nothing else describes this procedure. Two of these codes on one estimate is not necessarily an error, but it is always worth asking what each line is for.
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 |
|---|---|
| D3960 | Bleaching of discolored tooth (non-vital, internal) — this page |
| D3910 | Surgical isolation of tooth with rubber dam |
| D3950 | Canal preparation and fitting of preformed dowel/post |
Questions about D3960
What is D3960 on my dental bill?
D3960 records bleaching of discolored tooth, non-vital, internal — one of the endodontics codes.
What is the typical fee for D3960?
Usually somewhere in $300–$800 as a gross fee. The code fixes what was done, not what it costs, so ask for the practice's own figure in writing.
Will my plan pay for D3960?
In most cases yes, at the basic rate: variable. The annual maximum is what usually decides how much of that you actually see.
What is the difference between D3960 and D3950?
D3950 is canal preparation and fitting of preformed dowel/post: it prepares the canal and fits a preformed post, the step between finishing a root canal and building the tooth back up. One does not substitute for the other; if both are listed, ask what each appointment is actually for.
Also known as: internal bleaching, non-vital bleaching, discoloured tooth, rubber dam isolation.