D9219 — Evaluation for sedation/general anesthesia
D9219 is the assessment appointment that decides whether a patient can safely be sedated or anaesthetised.
This is one of eight closely related anaesthesia and sedation codes. The treatment is explained in full in the anaesthesia and sedation guide — this page is about what makes this particular code different.
This page explains what that code number commits the office to, what it usually costs, how plans treat it, and — the part that causes most of the confusion — how it differs from the codes sitting immediately either side of it.
D9219 compared with its closest relatives
D9222 — Deep sedation / general anesthesia, first 15 min: It covers the first fifteen minutes of deep sedation or general anaesthesia.
D9215 — Local anesthesia with a procedure: It is the local anaesthetic injection given with a procedure, normally included in that procedure's fee rather than billed separately.
D9223 — Deep sedation / general anesthesia (per 15 min): It covers each further fifteen minutes of deep sedation or general anaesthesia after the first.
D9230 — Nitrous oxide (laughing gas): It is nitrous oxide, the inhaled gas that takes the edge off anxiety without putting the patient under.
D9219 sits in a group of eight codes in total; the remainder are linked at the foot of this page. Where the codes sit this close together, the record of the appointment is what settles which one was earned. That is worth knowing before treatment rather than after.
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 |
|---|---|
| D9219 | Evaluation for sedation/general anesthesia — this page |
| D9215 | Local anesthesia with a procedure |
| D9222 | Deep sedation / general anesthesia, first 15 min |
| D9223 | Deep sedation / general anesthesia (per 15 min) |
| D9230 | Nitrous oxide (laughing gas) |
| D9239 | IV moderate (conscious) sedation — first 15 min |
| D9243 | IV moderate (conscious) sedation — each added 15 min |
| D9248 | Oral (non-IV) conscious sedation |
Questions about D9219
What does dental code D9219 mean?
Read literally, D9219 means evaluation for sedation/general anesthesia — and payers do read it literally.
What should I expect to pay for D9219?
$80–$250 covers most of the country. Specialist practices and big-city addresses tend to sit in the upper half.
Does dental insurance cover D9219?
Most plans include it under adjunctive benefits, 0–80%. A pre-treatment estimate is the only way to know your own number in advance.
What is the difference between D9219 and D9222?
D9222 is deep sedation / general anesthesia, first 15 min: it covers the first fifteen minutes of deep sedation or general anaesthesia. They share a section of the code set and very little else, so the comparison worth making is on what each involves rather than on which is cheaper.
Also known as: dental sedation, laughing gas, nitrous oxide, IV sedation, general anaesthesia, dental anxiety.