D5937 — Trismus appliance (not for TMD treatment)
D5937 is the trismus appliance, used to stretch a mouth that cannot open — for scarring or radiotherapy rather than for TMD.
This code belongs to a set of eleven covering obturator and resection prosthesis. The clinical detail lives in the obturator and resection prosthesis guide; the code-level detail is here.
The detail below covers what the code obliges the record to show, the range of fees, the likely insurance outcome, and a comparison drawn code by code.
Where the line falls between D5937 and the rest
D5936 — Obturator prosthesis, interim: It is the interim version.
D5935 — Mandibular resection prosthesis without guide flange: It is that same post-resection prosthesis without a guide flange, for a jaw that still closes along the right path.
D5934 — Mandibular resection prosthesis with guide flange: It is the prosthesis for a jaw that has had part of it removed, with a flange that guides what remains into a usable bite.
D5933 — Obturator prosthesis, modification: It is a modification to an obturator already in use, as the defect or the remaining teeth change.
D5937 sits in a group of eleven codes in total; the remainder are linked at the foot of this page. These distinctions exist because they change what was actually done. A claim for D5937 when the record describes one of the others is not a technicality — it is the difference between a paid claim and a returned one.
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 D5937
What does dental code D5937 mean?
Trismus appliance, not for tmd treatment. It belongs to the maxillofacial prosthetics section of the code set.
How much does D5937 cost?
Plan for $800–$2,500 as the full fee. Two practices a few miles apart can sit at opposite ends of that range for the same work.
Will my plan pay for D5937?
Usually yes, as medical / maxillofacial treatment at variable — but coverage turns on your own policy, its annual maximum and any waiting period.
What is the difference between D5937 and D5936?
D5936 is obturator prosthesis, interim: it is the interim version. Nothing else separates them, which is exactly why a claim submitted under the wrong one of the two is such a common correction.
Also known as: obturator, palatal defect, oral cancer prosthesis, maxillary resection, speech aid.