D5224 — Immediate mandibular partial denture — cast metal framework
A partial denture replaces some of the teeth in an arch and is held in place by the teeth that remain. D5224 is the immediate version in a cast metal framework, for the lower 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.
The sections that follow deal with the requirements, the fee, the claim, and the neighbouring codes — the last of which is where most of the confusion starts.
What D5224 specifies
Material — a cast metal framework. A cast-framework partial is built around a thin, rigid metal skeleton — cobalt chromium, or occasionally gold — with acrylic and teeth added to it. Rigidity is the entire point: it spreads chewing load onto the remaining teeth through precisely fitted rests rather than pressing it into the gum, which both feels more stable and protects the ridge from resorbing. It is thinner and considerably stronger than acrylic, and it costs and lasts roughly twice as much. The material is part of the code rather than a choice made afterwards, so D5224 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.
Status — interim, not definitive. It is built to function for a limited period while something else is planned or healing, and many plans fold its fee into the definitive restoration if that follows within a few months.
The nearby codes and how they differ
D5223 — Immediate maxillary partial denture — cast metal framework: It is the upper-jaw version.
D5225 — Maxillary partial denture — flexible base: It specifies a flexible nylon-type base rather than a cast metal framework.
D5226 — Mandibular partial denture — flexible base: It specifies a flexible nylon-type base rather than a cast metal framework.
D5221 — Immediate upper partial denture (resin base): It specifies an acrylic resin base rather than a cast metal framework.
D5224 sits in a group of 13 codes in total; the remainder are linked at the foot of this page. The practical point: confirm which of these is going on the claim before treatment, not after. Corrections after submission mean a resubmission, a delay, and occasionally a fee you did not expect.
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 D5224
What is D5224 on my dental bill?
Immediate mandibular partial denture, cast metal framework, reported under a single prosthodontics, removable code.
What should I expect to pay for D5224?
Usually somewhere in $1,500–$3,500 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 D5224?
Most plans include it under major prosthodontic benefits, typically 50%. A pre-treatment estimate is the only way to know your own number in advance.
What is the difference between D5224 and D5223?
D5223 is immediate maxillary partial denture, cast metal framework: it is the upper-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.