D8220 — Fixed appliance to control a habit
D8220 is the fixed version of that habit appliance, cemented in so that the child cannot take it out.
One of five orthodontic visits, retention and appliances codes. If you are trying to understand the treatment, start with the orthodontic visits, retention and appliances guide; if you are trying to understand this line on your estimate, you are in the right place.
Everything below is specific to this code: what it pins down, what it is worth, how a payer handles it, and which codes it is not.
Not to be confused with
D8210 — Removable appliance to control a habit: It is the same procedure with one word changed: removable rather than fixed.
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 D8220 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 |
|---|---|
| D8220 | Fixed appliance to control a habit — this page |
| D8210 | Removable appliance to control a habit |
| D8660 | Pre-orthodontic treatment visit |
| D8670 | Periodic orthodontic treatment visit |
| D8680 | Orthodontic retention (retainers) |
Questions about D8220
What is D8220 on my dental bill?
It is the orthodontics code for fixed appliance to control a habit, and it means that specific procedure and no other.
What is the typical fee for D8220?
Between $350–$900 in most practices — and that is the figure before any benefit is applied, not what you would pay at the desk.
Will my plan pay for D8220?
Most plans include it under orthodontic benefits, variable. A pre-treatment estimate is the only way to know your own number in advance.
What is the difference between D8220 and D8210?
D8210 is removable appliance to control a habit: it is the same procedure with one word changed: removable rather than fixed. Because that is the only difference, a reviewer who disagrees with it simply reprices the claim to D8210 rather than refusing it.
Also known as: retainer, orthodontic visit, habit appliance, thumb sucking, bracket repair.