D2930 is the CDT code for a prefabricated stainless steel crown placed on a primary (deciduous) tooth. It is used when decay or structural damage is too extensive for a direct filling on a baby tooth. This is one of the most common pediatric restorative codes and is routinely paired with pulpotomy procedures.
Last updated June 2026 · Reviewed by the PracticeAlpha billing team
Get help with D2930 claims →When decay involves three or more surfaces of a primary molar, or when the remaining tooth structure is insufficient to retain a filling, a stainless steel crown provides full coverage and long-term protection.
A stainless steel crown is the standard of care following pulp therapy on a primary tooth. The crown protects the weakened tooth structure and prevents fracture until the tooth naturally exfoliates.
When a previous filling on a primary tooth has failed or recurrent decay is present, or when the patient's caries risk makes a filling unlikely to succeed long-term, D2930 is the appropriate restorative choice.
Do NOT use D2930 for: Crowns on permanent teeth (use D2931 for stainless steel on permanent, or D2740/D2750/D2752 for cast/ceramic crowns). Prefabricated resin crowns on primary teeth (use D2934). Stainless steel crowns with resin windows (use D2933). Crown buildups or cores (use D2950). Provisional crowns (use D2799).
D2930 is strictly for primary teeth. Billing D2930 on a permanent tooth triggers an automatic denial. If the patient is older and the tooth number corresponds to a permanent tooth, use D2931 (stainless steel crown, permanent tooth) or the appropriate cast or ceramic crown code. Always confirm the tooth is a primary tooth before submitting.
Payers expect to see that a filling was not adequate. A clinical note that simply says "placed SSC" is not enough. Document the extent of decay (number of surfaces involved), clinical findings that preclude a filling (undermined cusps, proximity to pulp, post-pulpotomy status), and why full coverage was chosen.
Some plans have age limits for primary tooth coverage or frequency limits per tooth. If the plan covers primary teeth only up to age 14, a claim for a 15-year-old with a retained primary tooth may be denied. Similarly, if D2930 was billed on the same tooth within the plan's frequency window, the claim will be denied regardless of clinical need.
Some pediatric plans require prior authorization for crowns including stainless steel crowns. Verify authorization requirements before the appointment. Submit pre-auth with radiographs and a clinical narrative. Documenting the pre-auth number on the claim prevents downstream denials.
Periapical or bitewing showing the primary tooth and the extent of decay or structural compromise. The x-ray should clearly support that a filling was not a viable option.
Document the number of surfaces involved, the clinical rationale for full-coverage restoration, and any prior treatment on the tooth. If placed after pulpotomy, note that in the chart.
Confirm the tooth number corresponds to a primary tooth. Using the correct primary tooth designation (A-T) rather than a permanent tooth number prevents coding mismatches.
Verify the patient is within the plan's age eligibility for primary tooth coverage and that no frequency limitation applies for this tooth.
If the patient's plan requires pre-auth for crowns, include the authorization number on the claim form. Document it in the patient record as well.
Pediatric crown claims getting denied? We audit the codes, documentation, and plan requirements to fix the pattern.
Learn about our billing servicesD2930 is the CDT code for a prefabricated stainless steel crown placed on a primary (deciduous) tooth. It is a full-coverage restoration used when decay or damage is too extensive for a filling on a baby tooth.
D2930 is used when a primary tooth has extensive decay involving multiple surfaces, after pulpotomy or pulpectomy, when prior restorations have failed, or when the patient's caries risk makes a filling unlikely to last until natural exfoliation.
Most pediatric dental plans and plans with dependent child coverage include D2930 as a covered benefit. Coverage rates and age limits vary by plan. Verify eligibility and any age restrictions before treatment.
D2930 is for a prefabricated stainless steel crown on a primary (baby) tooth. D2931 is for a prefabricated stainless steel crown on a permanent tooth. The tooth type determines the code, not the age of the patient.
Common denial reasons include billing D2930 on a permanent tooth, patient age exceeding the plan's primary tooth eligibility, missing documentation of clinical necessity, frequency limitation for the same tooth, and missing pre-authorization when required by the plan.
Yes. D2930 is routinely billed on the same date as a pulpotomy (D3220). A stainless steel crown is the standard of care following pulp therapy on a primary tooth and most plans accept this combination when properly documented.
Search all 206 CDT codes in our dental coding guide.