D8210 — Removable appliance to control a habit
D8210 is the removable appliance fitted to break a habit such as thumb sucking or tongue thrusting.
five codes describe orthodontic visits, retention and appliances, and this is one of them. What separates it from the other four is the subject of this page; the orthodontic visits, retention and appliances guide covers the treatment itself.
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.
Told apart from the codes it is confused with
D8220 — Fixed appliance to control a habit: It is the same procedure with one word changed: fixed rather than removable.
D8660 — Pre-orthodontic treatment visit: It is the visit before orthodontic treatment starts, where the case is assessed and the plan discussed.
D8670 — Periodic orthodontic treatment visit: It is one routine adjustment visit during active orthodontic treatment, usually billed monthly against the total case fee.
D8680 — Orthodontic retention (retainers): It is the retention phase: the retainers made once the braces come off, and the visits to fit them.
Those four codes and D8210 are the whole group — nothing else describes this procedure. The descriptions differ by a few words and the fees differ by a great deal, which is why mixing them up is one of the commonest billing errors in dentistry. Ask which of these codes is being submitted and why.
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 |
|---|---|
| D8210 | Removable appliance to control a habit — this page |
| D8220 | Fixed appliance to control a habit |
| D8660 | Pre-orthodontic treatment visit |
| D8670 | Periodic orthodontic treatment visit |
| D8680 | Orthodontic retention (retainers) |
Questions about D8210
What does dental code D8210 mean?
The procedure behind the number is removable appliance to control a habit, filed under orthodontics.
How much does D8210 cost?
Expect $300–$800. Ask for the number in writing, because the code carries no fee of its own and every practice sets its own.
How do dental plans handle D8210?
Plans generally pay it as orthodontic treatment, variable, subject to whatever is left of your maximum for the year.
What is the difference between D8210 and D8220?
D8220 is fixed appliance to control a habit: it is the same procedure with one word changed: fixed rather than removable. Because that is the only difference, a reviewer who disagrees with it simply reprices the claim to D8220 rather than refusing it.
Also known as: retainer, orthodontic visit, habit appliance, thumb sucking, bracket repair.