Understanding a Dental Code for an Implant Bridge
Dental codes for an implant bridge can be confusing. First of all there are the different ways an implant bridge can be made. Second of all there are the different kinds of materiel that we can use. Each way and material type has it’s own ADA dental cade. To add to the confusion there are gray areas in the codes and the methods. If you want the codes fast skip to the bottom to see the most common codes we use.
What Is a dental implant bridge?
A dental implant bridge is a restorative dental procedure we use to replace multiple missing teeth. It consists of artificial teeth (pontics) anchored by crowns placed on adjacent dental implants. Dental bridges restore function, aesthetics, and oral health by preventing adjacent teeth from shifting.
Types of dental codes
There are different types of dental bridges, each with specific ADA CDT (Current Dental Terminology) codes. Here are the most commonly used codes:
1. ADA dental code for the abutment supported retainer for a dental implant bridge
This is the crown that goes onto the abutment of a dental implant. It retains the bridge. There will be two of these in a standard dental implant bridge, one on each end. There will also be an abutment dental code if this is the crown code you are using.
- D6068 – Abutment-supported retainer for porcelain/ceramic bridge. This would be the dental code to use for a standard zirconia implant bridge
- D6069 – Abutment-supported retainer for porcelain fused to high noble metal bridge
- D6070 – Abutment-supported retainer for porcelain fused to base metal bridge
- D6071 – Abutment-supported retainer for porcelain fused noble metal bridge. This would be the dental code to use for a standard PFM implant bridge.
- D6195 – Abutment-supported retainer for porcelain fused to titanium metal bridge.
- D6072 – Abutment-supported retainer for cast high noble metal bridge.
- D6073 – Abutment-supported retainer for cast base metal bridge
- D6074 – Abutment-supported retainer for cast noble metal bridge
- D6194 – Abutment-supported retainer for titanium bridge
2. ADA dental code for the implant supported retainer for a dental implant bridge
These are the codes for the crown portion of an implant bridge that screws into the implant directly. Dental implant bridges can typically only have one of these because no two implants will line up exactly parallel. Unless the bridge is non-hexed, then it is easier to have more than one of these in a dental bridge. An implant bridge with one hexed screw retained implant supported retainer and one abutment supported retainer is a screwmentable bridge.
- D6075 – Implant-supported retainer crown for ceramic bridge. This is the dental code for a zirconia bridge.
- D6076 – Implant-supported retainer crown for porcelain fused to high noble metal bridge
- D6098 – Implant-supported retainer crown for porcelain fused to base metal bridge
- D6099 – Implant-supported retainer crown for porcelain fused to noble metal bridge. This is the dental code for a standard PFM dental implant bridge.
- D6120 – Implant-supported retainer crown for porcelain fused to titanium and titanium alloys
- D6077 – Implant-supported retainer crown for high noble metal
- D6121 – Implant-supported retainer crown for base metal
- D6122 – Implant-supported retainer crown for noble metal
- D6123 – Implant-supported retainer crown for titanium
3. Pontic dental codes for a bridge
These dental codes are what we use for each missing tooth. If there is only one tooth on the dental implant bridge then use only one of these codes. If multiple teeth then use multiple codes. These can be cantilever teeth that attach to an implant bridge. Yes these are the same dental codes for an implant bridge and a traditional tooth bridge.
- D6210 – Pontic, full cast high noble metal
- D6211 – Pontic, full cast base metal
- D6212 – Pontic, full cast noble metal
- D6214 – Pontic, titanium and titanium alloys
- D6240 – Pontic, porcelain fused to high noble metal
- D6241 – Pontic, porcelain fused to base metal
- D6242 – Pontic, porcelain fused to noble metal. This is the standard dental code for most PFM dental implant bridges.
- D6243 – Pontic, porcelain fused to titanium and titanium alloys
- D6245 – Pontic, porcelain/ceramic. This is the standard dental code for zirconia dental implant bridges.
Making it really simple for you! Here are all the dental codes to use for an implant bridge.
If you are doing a 3 unit zirconia bridge on two custom abutments, these are the dental codes.
- D6068 and D6057 for each end of the bridge. So there will be 2 of each of these codes.
- D6245 for each pontic. In a 3 unit bridge you will have one of these dental codes.
For example a case like this below, the dental codes we would use to restore this area in the future are:
- Implant site #19 has D6068 and D6057
- Edentulous site #20 has D6245
- Implant site #21 has D6068 and D6057
If you are doing a 3 unit PFM bridge on two custom abutments, these are the dental codes:
- D6071 and D6057 for each end of the bridge. So there will be 2 of each of these codes.
- D6242 for each pontic. In a 3 unit bridge you will have one of these dental codes.
Still confused?
Well it’s confusing. You may have noticed the dental codes are not even in numerical order. As new materials have come out, the codes were thrown in. The system needs an overhaul.
