D5211 — Partial denture — upper, resin base
A partial denture replaces some of the teeth in an arch and is held in place by the teeth that remain. D5211 is the version in an acrylic resin base, for the upper jaw.
This is one of 13 closely related partial denture codes. The treatment is explained in full in the partial denture guide — this page is about what makes this particular code different.
What follows: the specifics built into the number, the money, the benefit treatment, and the line separating it from the codes it is easiest to confuse it with.
What has to be true for D5211 to apply
Material — an acrylic resin base. An acrylic partial is made entirely from pink methacrylate resin, sometimes with wire clasps embedded in it. It is the cheapest option, it can be added to and relined easily as more teeth are lost, and it is quick to make. In exchange the base has to be thick to be strong, which most people notice for the first few weeks, and it carries its load on the gum rather than on the remaining teeth. The material is part of the code rather than a choice made afterwards, so D5211 is only the right code if that is what was actually used.
Arch — upper. The palate provides broad support for anything removable, but the sinuses sit directly above the back teeth, which constrains surgical work.
How D5211 differs from its neighbours
D5212 — Partial denture — lower, resin base: It is the lower-jaw version.
D5213 — Upper partial denture, cast metal framework: It specifies a cast metal framework rather than an acrylic resin base.
D5214 — Lower partial denture, cast metal framework: It specifies a cast metal framework rather than an acrylic resin base.
D5221 — Immediate upper partial denture (resin base): It is the interim version.
D5211 sits in a group of 13 codes in total; the remainder are linked at the foot of this page. It is worth asking the practice to point to which of these applies. The fees are not close, and the wording is, which is precisely the combination that produces disputed bills.
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 D5211
What is D5211 on my dental bill?
Partial denture, upper, resin base, reported under a single prosthodontics, removable code.
What is the typical fee for D5211?
Typically $900–$2,000 before insurance, depending on local fees and the complexity of the individual case.
How do dental plans handle D5211?
It is generally a covered benefit in the major prosthodontic category, typically 50%. Frequency limits and waiting periods are the usual reasons a claim is refused.
What is the difference between D5211 and D5212?
D5212 is partial denture, lower, resin base: it is the lower-jaw version. That one difference is the whole distinction; the chair time, the materials and the appointment sequence are the same either way.
Also known as: partial denture, removable partial, chrome denture, flexible denture, clasps.