D8660 — Pre-orthodontic treatment visit
D8660 is the visit before orthodontic treatment starts, where the case is assessed and the plan discussed.
This code belongs to a set of five covering orthodontic visits, retention and appliances. The clinical detail lives in the orthodontic visits, retention and appliances guide; the code-level detail is here.
The detail below covers what the code obliges the record to show, the range of fees, the likely insurance outcome, and a comparison drawn code by code.
The specifics of D8660
Counted — per visit, so the number of teeth treated at that appointment does not change the fee.
How D8660 differs from its neighbours
D8670 — Periodic orthodontic treatment visit: It is the same procedure specified for periodic orthodontic rather than for pre-orthodontic.
D8680 — Orthodontic retention (retainers): It is the retention phase: the retainers made once the braces come off, and the visits to fit them.
D8220 — Fixed appliance to control a habit: It is the fixed version of that habit appliance, cemented in so that the child cannot take it out.
D8210 — Removable appliance to control a habit: It is the removable appliance fitted to break a habit such as thumb sucking or tongue thrusting.
Those four codes and D8660 are the whole group — nothing else describes this procedure. Because the wording of these codes is so close, substituting one for another is a routine cause of rejected claims and of unexpected balances. If D8660 is on your estimate, it is worth confirming that the detail it specifies matches what is actually planned.
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 |
|---|---|
| D8660 | Pre-orthodontic treatment visit — this page |
| D8210 | Removable appliance to control a habit |
| D8220 | Fixed appliance to control a habit |
| D8670 | Periodic orthodontic treatment visit |
| D8680 | Orthodontic retention (retainers) |
Questions about D8660
D8660 — what is it?
D8660 records pre-orthodontic treatment visit — one of the orthodontics codes.
What is the typical fee for D8660?
Usually somewhere in $150–$500 as a gross fee. The code fixes what was done, not what it costs, so ask for the practice's own figure in writing.
Does dental insurance cover D8660?
Expect orthodontic handling — variable. Submitting an estimate first turns that percentage into a number you can rely on.
What is the difference between D8660 and D8670?
D8670 is periodic orthodontic treatment visit: it is the same procedure specified for periodic orthodontic rather than for pre-orthodontic. Because that is the only difference, a reviewer who disagrees with it simply reprices the claim to D8670 rather than refusing it.
Also known as: retainer, orthodontic visit, habit appliance, thumb sucking, bracket repair.