D2644 Dental Code
D2644 Dental Code is the dental procedure for Onlay – Porcelain/Ceramic – Four Or More Surfaces.
The D2644 dental code refers to the CDT (Current Dental Terminology) procedure code used for billing an onlay restoration involving porcelain or ceramic materials that covers four or more surfaces of a tooth. This restorative procedure is designed to repair and protect teeth that have sustained significant structural damage due to decay, fractures, or previous restorations, but where a full crown is not yet necessary. Onlays are bonded to the remaining tooth structure to restore function, aesthetics, and strength, and D2644 specifically applies to complex cases requiring coverage over four or more tooth surfaces.
When utilizing D2644 for dental billing purposes, it’s critical to evaluate the specifics of the dental treatment and confirm that this CDT code best describes the work completed. Because onlay restorations may vary in material (e.g., porcelain, ceramic, resin, or metal) and the number of tooth surfaces involved, careful code selection is essential to avoid claim denials or reimbursement issues.
Before submitting a claim using D2644 Dental Code, we highly recommend reviewing alternative CDT codes to ensure you’re selecting the most accurate and compliant code for the specific dental service rendered. There are other related codes for onlays involving different materials or fewer surfaces, and choosing the most appropriate code will ensure accurate dental insurance processing and successful reimbursement.
D2644 Dental Code Definition
What is D2644 Dental Code?
The D2644 dental code is a CDT (Current Dental Terminology) procedure code that refers to an onlay restoration using porcelain or ceramic materials that covers four or more surfaces of a tooth. This restorative dental procedure is performed when a tooth has sustained significant structural damage—such as from decay, wear, or fracture—but does not require a full dental crown. Instead, a porcelain or ceramic onlay is custom-fabricated to fit the damaged portion of the tooth and is bonded securely to restore its shape, strength, and function.
D2644 is used specifically for onlays involving four or more tooth surfaces, making it a procedure that addresses more complex cases of tooth restoration. Porcelain and ceramic materials are often chosen for their durability and highly aesthetic, tooth-colored appearance, making this code particularly relevant for visible teeth where both function and cosmetic appearance are important.
This code is recognized and standardized by the American Dental Association (ADA) and is widely accepted by dental insurance providers across the United States for billing and reimbursement purposes. Understanding the correct use of the D2644 CDT code is essential for dental professionals, billing specialists, and coders to ensure proper documentation, claim submission, and insurance processing.
Whether you are a dental provider looking to bill for a porcelain onlay or a dental billing professional verifying CDT code accuracy, it is essential to understand the scope and application of D2644. Always compare this code with similar onlay codes that may differ based on material type (such as resin or metal) or the number of surfaces being restored.
D2644 Dental Code & CDT Codes Explained
What are CDT Codes (Current Dental Terminology)?
CDT Codes, short for Current Dental Terminology codes, are a standardized set of dental procedure codes published and maintained by the American Dental Association (ADA). These codes are used by dental professionals, billing coordinators, insurance providers, and regulatory agencies across the United States to document and report dental services accurately and consistently. Each code corresponds to a specific dental procedure or service, allowing for efficient communication, record-keeping, insurance claims processing, and treatment planning.
The D2644 dental code, for example, falls under the category of restorative procedures and refers specifically to an onlay made of porcelain or ceramic that covers four or more surfaces of a tooth. Like all CDT codes, D2644 ensures that this complex procedure is clearly and correctly identified in both dental records and insurance claims. The code helps dental professionals justify the treatment performed while allowing insurance carriers to assess coverage and reimbursement accurately.
CDT codes are updated annually by the ADA to reflect changes in clinical practices, technological advancements, and insurance policy trends. Revisions may include new codes, deleted codes, descriptor changes, and editorial updates, which is why it is critical for dental offices and billing staff to stay informed about the latest edition of the CDT codebook.
Understanding the structure and application of CDT dental procedure codes, including D2644, is essential for:
- Ensuring proper billing and reimbursement for dental services
- Reducing claim denials due to coding errors or outdated codes
- Enhancing patient records and treatment documentation
- Complying with federal and state dental coding standards
Dental insurance carriers rely on these CDT codes to determine coverage eligibility, process claims efficiently, and apply policy-specific limitations. Therefore, choosing the most accurate code—such as D2644 for a multi-surface porcelain onlay—is a crucial step in the billing cycle.
What professionals use D2644 Dental Code and Other CDT Codes?
The D2644 dental code, along with all other CDT codes (Current Dental Terminology), is an essential tool used daily by a wide range of professionals in the dental and healthcare industries. These procedure codes are published and updated annually by the American Dental Association (ADA) in the official Code on Dental Procedures and Nomenclature, and they serve as the standardized language for documenting and reporting dental services across the United States.
Dentists are the primary users of D2644 and other CDT codes, utilizing them to accurately chart procedures, document patient care, and communicate the nature of treatments to insurance providers. In particular, D2644 is used when a patient receives a porcelain or ceramic onlay covering four or more tooth surfaces, a procedure that falls under the restorative category of dental services.
Dental specialists—such as prosthodontists, restorative dentists, and cosmetic dentists—also rely on CDT codes like D2644 to bill for complex restorations that require aesthetic precision and functional durability.
Dental office managers and billing coordinators use CDT codes to prepare and submit insurance claims. They must select the correct codes, like D2644, to ensure that claims are not delayed, denied, or under-reimbursed due to coding errors or mismatches. Their role is crucial in maximizing reimbursement and ensuring compliance with industry standards.
Dental hygienists and assistants, while not directly responsible for coding, benefit from understanding CDT terminology to maintain accurate patient records and support the clinical documentation process.
In addition, dental insurance companies and third-party payers depend heavily on CDT codes to interpret claim submissions, assess coverage, determine reimbursement amounts, and manage preauthorization processes. These entities accept and recognize CDT codes—including D2644—as the universal reference for dental procedures.
Even outside of clinical settings, regulatory agencies, state Medicaid programs, educational institutions, and dental consultants use CDT codes for compliance, training, auditing, and research purposes.
Because CDT codes are updated annually by the ADA, it’s essential that all professionals involved in the dental billing cycle remain informed of changes to ensure correct usage of codes like D2644 and maintain alignment with current dental standards.
Do you need expert assistance with the D2644 Dental Code or any other CDT dental procedure codes? Our highly knowledgeable and experienced team is here to help you with any questions or concerns related to dental coding, billing procedures, code descriptions, claim submissions, and insurance verifications. Whether you’re a dental professional, office manager, billing coordinator, or simply looking for accurate information on the D2644 CDT code, we are committed to providing the support and guidance you need.
At CDT-Codes.com, we pride ourselves on being a trusted, leading online resource that offers detailed, accurate, and up-to-date information for the D2644 dental code and every other CDT (Current Dental Terminology) code. Our website is designed to help dental professionals easily navigate the complexities of dental billing by providing essential coding explanations, billing tips, and code definitions that align with the latest updates from the American Dental Association (ADA).
The D2644 CDT code specifically refers to a porcelain or ceramic onlay restoration involving four or more tooth surfaces. This is a common restorative procedure that must be billed correctly to ensure proper insurance reimbursement. We are constantly updating our resources to reflect the most recent code revisions, insurance carrier changes, and ADA clarifications to make sure our users always have access to the best information available.
If you discover new updates, edits, or relevant notes related to the D2644 Dental Code or any other CDT codes, we would greatly appreciate your contribution. Please take a moment to notify us through our contact us form or by leaving a message in the comment section below. Once we receive your submission, our team will review and verify the information, and publish any confirmed updates to help the entire dental billing community.
CDT-Codes.com is an independent educational and informational platform with no affiliation to the American Dental Association (ADA), any professional dental or medical organization, or any federal or state government department, agency, board, or licensing commission. Our mission is to empower dental professionals with easy access to high-quality, reliable dental procedure code information—so you can work more efficiently, code more accurately, and get reimbursed more reliably.
For all your dental coding questions—from D2644 to any other CDT dental billing code—you can count on CDT-Codes.com to be your go-to resource for excellence in dental coding and compliance.
Additional CDT Codes (Code on Dental Procedures and Nomenclature)
D2650 Dental Code
D2651 Dental Code
D2652 Dental Code
D2662 Dental Code
D2663 Dental Code
D2664 Dental Code
D2710 Dental Code
D2712 Dental Code
D2720 Dental Code
D2721 Dental Code