D9910 — Desensitizing medicament application
D9910 applies a desensitising medicament to sensitive teeth, a quick chairside application.
six codes describe palliative and adjunctive treatment, and this is one of them. What separates it from the other five is the subject of this page; the palliative and adjunctive treatment guide covers the treatment itself.
The sections that follow deal with the requirements, the fee, the claim, and the neighbouring codes — the last of which is where most of the confusion starts.
Where the line falls between D9910 and the rest
D9911 — Desensitizing resin (gumline/root), per tooth: It bonds a desensitising resin onto an exposed root surface, tooth by tooth, which lasts longer than a medicament.
D9930 — Treatment of post-surgical complications: It is the appointment that deals with a complication after surgery: a dry socket, bleeding, or unusual swelling.
D9951 — Occlusal adjustment, limited (bite adjustment): It adjusts the bite on a small number of teeth, reshaping where they meet so that the load is shared.
D9120 — Fixed bridge sectioning: It cuts a bridge in two, usually to save the sound part when one supporting tooth has failed.
D9910 sits in a group of six codes in total; the remainder are linked at the foot of this page. The safest question to ask is not "what does this cost" but "which code is going on the claim". The first answer changes; the second decides the first.
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 |
|---|---|
| D9910 | Desensitizing medicament application — this page |
| D9110 | Palliative treatment for dental pain |
| D9120 | Fixed bridge sectioning |
| D9911 | Desensitizing resin (gumline/root), per tooth |
| D9930 | Treatment of post-surgical complications |
| D9951 | Occlusal adjustment, limited (bite adjustment) |
Questions about D9910
What procedure is D9910?
The procedure behind the number is desensitizing medicament application, filed under adjunctive general services.
What is the typical fee for D9910?
The usual range is $40–$120. Anything well outside it is worth a question rather than an assumption.
Does dental insurance cover D9910?
In most cases yes, at the basic / adjunctive rate: typically 50–80%. The annual maximum is what usually decides how much of that you actually see.
What is the difference between D9910 and D9911?
D9911 is desensitizing resin (gumline/root), per tooth: it bonds a desensitising resin onto an exposed root surface, tooth by tooth, which lasts longer than a medicament. 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: emergency dental pain, palliative treatment, sensitive teeth, high filling, bite adjustment.