D6750 — Bridge retainer crown — porcelain fused to metal
A retainer is the crown at the end of a bridge, cemented onto a natural tooth. D6750 is the version in porcelain fired over a metal core.
Among the two codes in this group it is the workhorse — the one most practices report by default. The procedure behind it is explained at length in the bridge retainer crown guide.
The rest of this page deals with the specifics: the requirements written into the code, the usual range of fees, the typical benefit outcome, and how to tell it apart from its closest relatives.
What D6750 specifies
Material — porcelain fired over a metal core. A porcelain-fused-to-metal restoration is built in two layers: a thin metal shell for strength, with porcelain fired over it for appearance. It was the default crown for forty years because it fails gracefully — the metal keeps the tooth covered even if the porcelain chips — and because it fits precisely. Its weakness is optical: the opaque metal has to be masked, so it never has the depth of all-ceramic, and a grey margin can show at the gum line as the gum recedes. The material is part of the code rather than a choice made afterwards, so D6750 is only the right code if that is what was actually used.
The nearby codes and how they differ
D6740 — Bridge retainer crown — porcelain/ceramic: It specifies all-ceramic, with no metal underneath rather than porcelain fired over a metal core.
That code and D6750 are the whole group — nothing else in the code set describes this procedure. Reviewers compare the narrative against the code rather than the other way round, so the question worth asking is what the notes will say.
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 |
|---|---|
| D6750 | Bridge retainer crown — porcelain fused to metal — this page |
| D6740 | Bridge retainer crown — porcelain/ceramic |
Questions about D6750
What procedure is D6750?
Bridge retainer crown, porcelain fused to metal. It belongs to the prosthodontics, fixed section of the code set.
How much does D6750 cost?
The usual range is $950–$2,200. Anything well outside it is worth a question rather than an assumption.
Is D6750 a covered benefit?
Usually yes, as major prosthodontic treatment at typically 50% — but coverage turns on your own policy, its annual maximum and any waiting period.
Also known as: bridge retainer, abutment crown, fixed bridge, bridge anchor.