D3332 is the CDT code for incomplete endodontic therapy when a tooth is determined to be inoperable, unrestorable, or fractured during the procedure. It is used when endodontic treatment is started but cannot be completed because a clinical finding discovered intraoperatively makes the tooth untreatable. This code documents the work performed before treatment was terminated, not a failed root canal.
Get help with D3332 claims →Last updated June 2026 · Reviewed by the PracticeAlpha billing team
D3332 is appropriate when endodontic access is initiated and a vertical root fracture is identified during the procedure. The fracture may not have been visible on pre-operative radiographs. Once identified, treatment is terminated because the fracture makes the tooth unrestorable. The work performed before that discovery is documented under D3332.
If access reveals extensive internal or external resorption, severe bone loss, or other findings that make the tooth unrestorable despite the initial plan to treat it, D3332 covers the aborted endodontic procedure. The clinical note must document what was found and why treatment could not continue.
D3332 is used only when treatment is genuinely terminated due to an inoperable condition. It is not a code for a root canal that was simply difficult or required multiple appointments. Do not use D3332 for a tooth where treatment is planned to resume at a future visit.
The plan requires clinical evidence that the tooth was found to be inoperable or unrestorable. A vague note saying "treatment could not be completed" will not support the claim. The specific intraoperative finding (fracture, severe resorption, inability to locate canals, etc.) must be clearly described.
Some plans view any incomplete root canal treatment, regardless of reason, as billable only when it can be completed later. If the tooth is ultimately extracted, the payer may reconsider the D3332 claim. Submit a narrative explaining the objective clinical reason treatment was terminated permanently.
A periapical radiograph taken before, during, or after the procedure should support the clinical finding that terminated treatment. Without radiographic evidence, the payer cannot verify the inoperable status from the records alone.
Clearly describe the clinical finding that made the tooth inoperable: fracture, resorption, severe bone loss, inability to negotiate canals, or other specific condition.
Include a radiograph supporting the finding. A bitewing may be supplemented by a periapical taken with a file or cone in place to confirm the intraoperative situation.
Document that the decision to terminate treatment was based on the clinical finding and was not a patient preference or scheduling issue.
Note the recommended next step: extraction, observation, or referral. This confirms that endodontic treatment was permanently discontinued, not merely deferred.
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Learn about our billing servicesD3332 is the CDT code for incomplete endodontic therapy on a tooth that is inoperable, unrestorable, or fractured. It is used when endodontic treatment is begun but cannot be completed because a clinical finding made the tooth untreatable.
D3332 applies when a vertical root fracture, severe resorption, or other inoperable condition is discovered during endodontic access, causing the clinician to terminate treatment. It is not for multi-appointment root canal procedures.
D3331 is for non-surgical management of a canal obstruction, with intent to continue endodontic treatment. D3332 is for cases where treatment is permanently terminated because the tooth is inoperable. They serve different clinical scenarios.
Common reasons: the intraoperative finding is not clearly documented, no radiograph supports the inoperable finding, or the plan bundles incomplete treatment into the endodontic benefit without distinguishing inoperable cases.
Describe the specific intraoperative finding that terminated treatment, include a supporting periapical radiograph, document the clinical rationale for permanently stopping treatment, and note the recommended next step for the tooth.
No. D3332 applies when the tooth itself is inoperable or unrestorable, not when treatment stops for non-clinical reasons. Patient preference is not a qualifying reason to use D3332.
Search all CDT codes in our dental coding guide.