D2980 is the CDT code for crown repair necessitated by restorative material failure. It covers fixing an existing crown that has chipped or fractured, not placing a new one. The crown stays in the mouth and the failed material is repaired in place.
Last updated June 2026 · Reviewed by the PracticeAlpha billing team
Use D2980 when you repair an existing crown that has failed because of restorative material failure. The defining feature is that the crown stays in place and the damaged material is repaired. This is not a new crown and not a recement. The crown was structurally sound enough to keep, and the failure was localized.
Common clinical scenarios: A porcelain chip on the facial or occlusal surface of an existing crown that can be restored with bonded material. A small fracture in the crown veneer that does not compromise the underlying restoration. Repair of a localized defect where replacing the entire crown is not warranted.
Do NOT use D2980 for: Replacing the crown with a new one (use the appropriate crown code such as D2740 or D2750). Recementing a crown that came off intact (use D2920). Repairing a denture or partial (use the relevant prosthodontic repair code). Repairing a crown that is part of a bridge where a different repair code applies.
Click any code to see the difference.
Keeps the crown that is already in the mouth and fixes a localized material failure such as a chip or fracture. No lab-fabricated replacement. The original crown remains the restoration.
A brand new full-coverage crown. The old crown is removed and replaced with a newly fabricated one. Used when the crown is failing broadly or cannot be repaired in place.
Billing tip: D2980 is a repair, D2740 is a replacement. If you fabricate and seat a new crown, that is a crown code, not D2980. Billing D2980 when the crown was actually replaced understates the service. Billing a crown code for a chip repair overstates it. The note must match.
Some plans will not pay to repair a crown that was placed recently. If the crown is still under a warranty window or the payer expects the original restoration to hold, a repair claim shortly after placement can be denied. Check when the crown was seated and whether the plan applies a waiting period to repairs of the same restoration.
The code is specifically for repair necessitated by restorative material failure. If the note does not describe what failed, where, and why repair was needed, the payer has nothing to justify the claim. Document the chip or fracture, its location on the crown, and the repair performed.
Some plans bundle minor crown repairs into other services or simply do not list D2980 as a covered benefit. The claim is denied as included or non-covered. Verify whether the plan recognizes crown repair as a standalone benefit before treatment so the patient understands their responsibility.
If the crown was actually replaced, D2980 is the wrong code. A repair claim that the payer believes should have been a replacement, or a record that shows a new crown was seated, creates a mismatch. The clinical note must make clear that the original crown was kept and only the failed material was repaired.
State what failed and where. A chipped facial porcelain margin, a fractured occlusal surface, or a localized defect in the crown veneer. The specific failure is the justification for the repair.
Intraoral photos of the chip or fracture before repair are the strongest evidence. They show the failure was real and localized, supporting repair rather than full replacement.
Document why the crown was repaired instead of replaced. Note that the crown was otherwise sound, the margins were intact, and there was no recurrent decay or structural compromise warranting a new crown.
Record when the crown was originally placed if known. This helps address frequency or waiting-period questions and shows the crown is an established restoration being repaired, not a recent placement.
Confirm whether the plan covers crown repair as a standalone service, whether it is bundled, and whether any waiting period applies. Document the response so the patient understands coverage before treatment.
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Learn about our billing servicesD2980 is the CDT code for crown repair necessitated by restorative material failure. It covers fixing an existing crown that has chipped, fractured, or partially failed, rather than fabricating and placing a new crown.
No. D2980 is a repair of a crown that is already in place. If the existing crown is replaced with a new one, you bill the appropriate crown code such as D2740, not D2980. D2980 keeps the original crown and repairs it.
Use D2980 when a localized chip or fracture in the crown material can be repaired and the crown is otherwise sound. If the crown is broadly compromised, has recurrent decay underneath, or is failing structurally, replacement with a new crown code is more appropriate.
Common reasons: claims filed too soon after the original crown was placed, missing documentation of the material failure, payer policies that bundle minor repairs, and notes that do not establish the repair was necessary.
Coverage varies by plan. Some plans cover crown repair, some bundle it, and some apply a waiting period after the crown was placed. Verify benefits and document the nature of the material failure with photos or radiographs before submitting.
Document the existing crown, the type and location of the material failure, why repair rather than replacement was chosen, and the repair performed. Pre-operative photos of the chip or fracture make the strongest case that the repair was warranted.
Search all 206 CDT codes in our dental coding guide.