D2962 is the CDT code for a labial veneer, porcelain laminate, fabricated in a laboratory. A thin porcelain shell bonded to the facial surface of a tooth, made by a lab from an impression or digital scan. The porcelain, lab-made counterpart to a resin or chairside veneer.
Last updated June 2026 · Reviewed by the PracticeAlpha billing team
Use D2962 when placing a porcelain laminate veneer that was fabricated in a laboratory and bonded to the facial surface of a tooth. The defining features are the material (porcelain or ceramic) and the workflow (lab-made, not chairside). The veneer covers the labial surface, not the full tooth.
Common clinical scenarios: Restoring a fractured or chipped incisal edge with a bonded porcelain shell. Covering enamel defects, discoloration, or malformation on anterior teeth. Closing small diastemas. Reshaping worn or peg-shaped laterals where a facial veneer restores form.
Do NOT use D2962 for: Laboratory resin veneers (use D2960). Chairside resin veneers placed in one visit (use D2961). Full-coverage crowns (use D2740 for porcelain/ceramic). Direct composite restorations on the facial surface (use the appropriate D2330-D2335 resin code).
Click any code to see the difference.
A porcelain or ceramic laminate fabricated by a lab and bonded to the facial surface. Best aesthetics and stain resistance. Requires an impression or scan and a lab turnaround.
Also lab-fabricated and bonded to the facial surface, but made of a resin material rather than porcelain. Lower cost than porcelain, generally less durable and more prone to staining over time.
Billing tip: The material picks the code. Both are lab veneers, but porcelain is D2962 and resin is D2960. If the lab slip says porcelain or ceramic and you billed D2960, that is a mismatch that can trigger an audit or denial. Match the code to the lab invoice.
Many plans classify veneers as cosmetic and exclude them entirely. If the only documented reason is appearance, the claim gets denied as a non-covered service. Coverage improves when the veneer restores a fractured, decayed, or malformed tooth. Document the functional indication clearly and verify whether the plan covers veneers at all before treatment.
Veneers frequently require pre-auth. Submitting the claim after treatment without an approved pre-auth often results in a denial or a reduced payment. Verify the requirement, then submit pre-auth with radiographs, photos, and a narrative explaining the functional need. Wait for a response before proceeding.
"Patient wants veneers" is not documentation. The note should describe the defect being restored, the extent of the fracture or enamel loss, and why a veneer is indicated. Pre-operative photos and radiographs that show the tooth condition are the strongest support for a functional veneer claim.
Billing D2962 when the lab slip says resin, or when the work was done chairside, is a coding error. D2962 is specifically a laboratory porcelain veneer. If the veneer was resin (D2960) or placed directly at the chair (D2961), the code is wrong. Material and workflow in the record must match the code on the claim.
Intraoral photos showing the fracture, enamel defect, discoloration, or malformation being addressed. For veneers, photos are often the most persuasive evidence that the procedure restores function rather than only improving appearance.
Document why the veneer is indicated beyond aesthetics. Describe the chipped incisal edge, the worn or peg-shaped tooth, or the enamel loss. Specific findings support coverage far better than a general request for veneers.
Confirm the lab slip or invoice specifies a porcelain or ceramic laminate. D2962 is the laboratory porcelain veneer code. If the lab record shows resin, the code should be D2960 instead.
Periapical images of the involved tooth help show structural defects, prior restorations, or the absence of pathology that would change the treatment plan. Include them when the case involves more than a surface chip.
Confirm whether the plan covers veneers and whether pre-auth is required. Document the response, the pre-auth number, and any cosmetic exclusion language so the patient understands their responsibility before treatment.
Veneer and restorative claims getting denied? We fix the coding, documentation, and follow-up patterns that cause it.
Learn about our billing servicesD2962 is the CDT code for a labial veneer, porcelain laminate, fabricated in a laboratory. It covers a thin porcelain shell bonded to the facial surface of a tooth, made by a lab from an impression or digital scan rather than at the chair.
D2962 is a laboratory porcelain laminate veneer. D2960 is a laboratory resin veneer. Both are lab-fabricated facial veneers, but the material differs. D2962 uses porcelain or ceramic, while D2960 uses a resin material.
D2962 is a laboratory porcelain veneer made by a lab. D2961 is a resin laminate veneer applied chairside in a single visit. D2962 involves a lab step and porcelain, while D2961 is direct resin placed by the dentist at the chair.
Common reasons: cosmetic exclusions, missing pre-authorization, insufficient documentation of a functional reason, frequency limitations on the same tooth, and the billed material not matching the lab slip.
Many plans treat veneers as cosmetic and exclude them. Coverage is more likely when the veneer restores fractured, malformed, or decayed enamel rather than improving appearance alone. Document the functional indication and verify benefits before treatment.
No. D2962 is a veneer that covers only the facial surface of a tooth. A crown such as D2740 covers the entire tooth. Use D2962 when only the facial surface is being restored, not full coverage.
Search all 206 CDT codes in our dental coding guide.