D5951 — Feeding aid
D5951 is the feeding aid that closes a cleft or defect so that an infant can feed.
14 codes describe maxillofacial appliance, and this is one of them. What separates it from the other 13 is the subject of this page; the maxillofacial appliance guide covers the treatment itself.
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.
Told apart from the codes it is confused with
D5952 — Speech aid prosthesis, pediatric: It is the speech aid for a child, an appliance closing the gap between palate and throat so that speech is not nasal.
D5953 — Speech aid prosthesis, adult: It is the adult version of that same speech aid prosthesis.
D5960 — Speech aid prosthesis, modification: It is the modification of an existing speech aid as a child grows or the tissues change around it.
D5982 — Surgical stent: It is the surgical stent that holds a graft or a dressing in position while the site heals.
D5951 sits in a group of 14 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 D5951
D5951 — what is it?
It is the maxillofacial prosthetics code for feeding aid, and it means that specific procedure and no other.
What is the typical fee for D5951?
Usually somewhere in $500–$1,500 as a gross fee. The code fixes what was done, not what it costs, so ask for the practice's own figure in writing.
Does dental insurance cover D5951?
Yes on most policies, treated as medical / maxillofacial work at variable. A waiting period on a new policy is the commonest reason it is not.
What is the difference between D5951 and D5952?
D5952 is speech aid prosthesis, pediatric: it is the speech aid for a child, an appliance closing the gap between palate and throat so that speech is not nasal. These are not two versions of one procedure: they are separate treatments, and a plan assesses each on its own merits.
Also known as: radiation carrier, fluoride tray, surgical stent, speech aid, feeding appliance.