D5811 — Interim complete denture (mandibular)
An interim denture is a temporary appliance worn during a transitional period. D5811 is the version for the lower jaw.
This is one of four closely related interim denture codes. The treatment is explained in full in the interim denture guide — this page is about what makes this particular code different.
What the code requires, what it costs, how it is paid, and how to tell it from its neighbours — each in its own section below.
The specifics of D5811
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.
How D5811 differs from its neighbours
D5810 — Interim complete denture (maxillary): It is the upper-jaw version.
D5820 — Interim partial denture (maxillary): It is the upper-jaw version.
D5821 — Interim partial denture (mandibular): It is the same procedure with one word changed: partial rather than complete.
Those three codes and D5811 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 |
|---|---|
| D5811 | Interim complete denture (mandibular) — this page |
| D5810 | Interim complete denture (maxillary) |
| D5820 | Interim partial denture (maxillary) |
| D5821 | Interim partial denture (mandibular) |
Questions about D5811
What procedure is D5811?
On a claim, D5811 tells the insurer that what was performed was interim complete denture, mandibular.
What is the typical fee for D5811?
Most private fees fall in $700–$1,600. Geography accounts for more of that spread than anything clinical.
Will my plan pay for D5811?
Usually yes, as major prosthodontic treatment at typically 50% — but coverage turns on your own policy, its annual maximum and any waiting period.
What is the difference between D5811 and D5810?
D5810 is interim complete denture, maxillary: 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: interim denture, temporary denture, transitional denture, healing denture.