D2740 is the CDT code for a crown made of porcelain or ceramic substrate. Full coverage, no metal. Covers all-ceramic, all-porcelain, eMax, and zirconia crowns on a natural tooth. This is now the most commonly used crown code in the US.
Use D2740 when placing a full-coverage crown made entirely of porcelain, ceramic, eMax, or zirconia. The tooth must be a natural tooth (not an implant abutment) and the restoration must have no metal substructure. This is the standalone crown code. Not part of a bridge.
Common clinical scenarios: Tooth with extensive decay that can't be restored with a filling. Fractured tooth requiring full coverage. Post-endodontic restoration after root canal therapy. Tooth with large failing restoration. Aesthetic restoration in the anterior zone.
Do NOT use D2740 for: Crowns with any metal substructure (use D2750-D2752). Crown retainers on bridge abutments (use D6740). Provisional or temporary crowns (use D2799). Implant-supported crowns (use D6065 or D6058). Resin-based crowns (use D2710).
Click any code to see the difference.
No metal at all. Made entirely of ceramic, porcelain, eMax, or zirconia. Best aesthetics. Commonly used on anterior teeth but increasingly used on posteriors with modern materials.
Metal substructure (60%+ noble metal, at least 40% gold) with porcelain overlay. Stronger than all-ceramic in some applications. Still common on posterior teeth and bridges. PFM crown.
Billing tip: The material determines the code, not the tooth location. If you place an all-ceramic crown on a molar, it's still D2740. If you place a PFM on an anterior tooth, it's still D2750. Mismatching the code and the material is an audit trigger.
Most plans allow crown replacement every 5-7 years. If the patient had a crown on the same tooth within that window, the claim gets denied regardless of clinical need. Check the patient's history before starting. If it's within the frequency limit, submit a narrative explaining why replacement is necessary (fracture, recurrent decay, etc.). Some plans will override the limitation with sufficient documentation.
Many plans require pre-auth for crowns. If you skip it and submit the claim after treatment, the payer may deny or reduce reimbursement. Always verify pre-auth requirements before starting. Submit pre-auth with x-rays and clinical notes. Wait for approval before scheduling the prep appointment.
Some PPO plans downgrade all-ceramic crowns on posterior teeth to amalgam or base metal reimbursement. The claim isn't denied. It's paid at a lower rate. The patient is responsible for the difference. If you don't tell the patient about the downgrade before treatment, you end up having an uncomfortable conversation about an unexpected balance.
Pre-operative x-rays and clinical notes showing the need for full coverage are baseline requirements. "Patient needs a crown" isn't documentation. The note should describe the extent of decay or fracture, why a filling won't work, and why full coverage is indicated. Include intraoral photos when possible.
Billing D2740 when the crown has a metal substructure. If the lab used PFM and you billed D2740, that's a coding error. If the crown is on a bridge abutment and you billed D2740 instead of D6740, that's a coding error. Either one triggers a denial or audit. Material and function must match the code.
Periapical or bitewing showing the tooth condition. Extent of decay, fracture lines, previous restoration size, or post-endodontic status. The x-ray is the primary justification for the crown.
Document the diagnosis and clinical rationale. What's wrong with the tooth, why a filling won't restore it adequately, and why full coverage is indicated. Be specific. "Large fracture extending subgingivally" is better than "needs crown."
Confirm the crown material matches the code. D2740 = porcelain, ceramic, eMax, or zirconia. No metal. If the lab slip says PFM, the code should be D2750 or D2751, not D2740.
Not required by every payer but significantly strengthens the claim. A photo of the fractured tooth or the extent of decay is hard to argue with. Include them when you have them.
Check the patient's plan before treatment. Submit pre-auth with radiographs and clinical notes. Wait for approval. Document the pre-auth number in the patient record and include it on the claim.
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Learn about our billing servicesD2740 is the CDT code for a crown made of porcelain or ceramic substrate. It covers full-coverage restorations using all-ceramic, all-porcelain, eMax, or zirconia materials on a natural tooth. No metal substructure.
D2740 is all-porcelain/ceramic with no metal. D2750 is porcelain fused to high noble metal (PFM). The material composition determines the code. If there's any metal substructure, it's not D2740.
D2740 is a standalone single-unit crown. D6740 is a crown retainer that's part of a bridge. Same material, different function. A crown supporting a pontic is D6740. A crown standing alone is D2740.
Common reasons: frequency limitation (replacement within 5 years), missing pre-authorization, insufficient documentation, posterior downgrade policies, and material not matching the billed code.
Many dental plans require pre-auth for crowns. Check the patient's specific plan. Submitting pre-auth with x-rays and clinical notes before treatment prevents most denials.
Yes. D2740 covers all-porcelain, all-ceramic, eMax, and zirconia. Any full-coverage crown made entirely of ceramic material without a metal substructure falls under D2740.
Search all 206 CDT codes in our dental coding guide.