D5986 — Fluoride gel carrier
D5986 is the custom tray that holds fluoride gel against the teeth, made for patients at very high decay risk after radiotherapy.
It is the default code in a group of 14, and the one whose fee is normally quoted when this treatment is discussed. Our maxillofacial appliance guide covers the procedure in depth.
Everything on this page is about the code itself — its conditions, its fee, its benefit handling, and the precise point at which it stops applying and a neighbouring code starts.
Not to be confused with
D5985 — Radiation cone locator: It is the cone locator that reproduces the same beam position at every radiotherapy appointment.
D5987 — Commissure splint: It is the commissure splint that holds the corner of the mouth open while a burn or wound heals, so that scarring does not close it.
D5984 — Radiation shield: It is the shield that keeps radiation off healthy tissue during treatment.
D5988 — Surgical splint: It is the surgical splint that holds jaw segments in the planned position during and after surgery.
D5986 sits in a group of 14 codes in total; the remainder are linked at the foot of this page. The safest question to ask is not "what does this cost" but "which code is going on the claim". The first answer changes; the second decides the first.
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 D5986
What does dental code D5986 mean?
On a claim, D5986 tells the insurer that what was performed was fluoride gel carrier.
How much does D5986 cost?
Plan for $200–$600 as the full fee. Two practices a few miles apart can sit at opposite ends of that range for the same work.
Does dental insurance cover D5986?
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 D5986 and D5985?
D5985 is radiation cone locator: it is the cone locator that reproduces the same beam position at every radiotherapy appointment. 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.