D5987 — Commissure splint
D5987 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.
This is one of 14 closely related maxillofacial appliance codes. The treatment is explained in full in the maxillofacial appliance guide — this page is about what makes this particular code different.
The sections below cover the conditions built into the code, what it tends to cost, what a dental plan is likely to pay, and where the line falls between this code and the ones next to it.
D5987 compared with its closest relatives
D5986 — Fluoride gel carrier: It is the custom tray that holds fluoride gel against the teeth, made for patients at very high decay risk after radiotherapy.
D5988 — Surgical splint: It is the surgical splint that holds jaw segments in the planned position during and after surgery.
D5985 — Radiation cone locator: It is the cone locator that reproduces the same beam position at every radiotherapy appointment.
D5984 — Radiation shield: It is the shield that keeps radiation off healthy tissue during treatment.
D5987 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 D5987
What procedure is D5987?
D5987 records commissure splint — one of the maxillofacial prosthetics codes.
What is the typical fee for D5987?
Between $600–$1,800 in most practices — and that is the figure before any benefit is applied, not what you would pay at the desk.
How do dental plans handle D5987?
Plans generally pay it as medical / maxillofacial treatment, variable, subject to whatever is left of your maximum for the year.
What is the difference between D5987 and D5986?
D5986 is fluoride gel carrier: it is the custom tray that holds fluoride gel against the teeth, made for patients at very high decay risk after radiotherapy. The two are neighbours by number rather than by treatment, so seeing both on a plan usually means both were genuinely planned.
Also known as: radiation carrier, fluoride tray, surgical stent, speech aid, feeding appliance.