D5212 — Partial denture — lower, resin base
A partial denture replaces some of the teeth in an arch and is held in place by the teeth that remain. D5212 is the version in an acrylic resin base, for the lower jaw.
One of 13 partial denture codes. If you are trying to understand the treatment, start with the partial denture guide; if you are trying to understand this line on your estimate, you are in the right place.
Read on for the conditions this code carries, the money involved, the way a payer is likely to treat it, and a plain comparison against each of the codes it is easily mistaken for.
What has to be true for D5212 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 D5212 is only the right code if that is what was actually used.
Arch — lower. The bone is denser, but there is far less surface area to support anything removable and the nerve running through the jaw limits how aggressive surgery can be.
D5212 against the codes beside it
D5211 — Partial denture — upper, resin base: It is the upper-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 upper-jaw version.
D5212 sits in a group of 13 codes in total; the remainder are linked at the foot of this page. 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.
Questions about D5212
What is D5212 on my dental bill?
Partial denture, lower, resin base, reported under a single prosthodontics, removable code.
How much does D5212 cost?
Typically $900–$2,000 before insurance, depending on local fees and the complexity of the individual case.
Does dental insurance cover D5212?
Typically, yes — major prosthodontic benefits, typically 50%. What varies between plans is the frequency limit rather than whether the procedure is covered at all.
What is the difference between D5212 and D5211?
D5211 is partial denture, upper, resin base: it is the upper-jaw version. The rest of the procedure is the same, which is why the two get substituted for one another on estimates.
Also known as: partial denture, removable partial, chrome denture, flexible denture, clasps.