D5660 is the CDT code for adding a retentive clasp to an existing removable partial denture, reported per tooth. The clasp is added to improve retention or to engage an abutment tooth that was not clasped when the partial was first made. D5650 is the related code for adding a tooth rather than a clasp.
Last updated June 2026 · Reviewed by the PracticeAlpha billing team
Use D5660 when adding a retentive clasp to a partial denture the patient already wears. The clasp is fitted to an abutment tooth to improve how the partial holds in place, often because retention has loosened or because an abutment that was not originally clasped now needs to be engaged. The code is reported per tooth.
Common clinical scenarios: A removable partial denture that no longer seats firmly and would benefit from added retention on a particular abutment. A tooth that has become a useful anchor since the partial was made. Adding the clasp restores stable function without rebuilding the whole appliance.
Do NOT use D5660 for: Repairing or replacing a clasp that already existed and broke (use D5630). Adding a denture tooth rather than a clasp (use D5650). A brand new partial denture (use D5211 to D5214). A reline of the partial (use D5750 or D5751).
Click any code to see the difference.
Adds a retentive clasp to an existing partial, per tooth. Used to improve retention or engage an abutment that was not originally clasped. It adds a clasp, not a tooth.
Adds a replacement denture tooth to an existing partial, per tooth. Used after a natural tooth is lost and the framework is extended into the new space.
Billing tip: The two codes describe different additions to the same kind of partial. D5660 is a clasp, D5650 is a tooth. If a visit involves both, document and report each addition separately with the specific tooth numbers.
The most common error is mixing up D5660 and D5630. If the documentation does not make clear that the clasp is new rather than a repair of a broken one, the reviewer may apply the wrong code or deny outright. State plainly that no clasp existed at that abutment before and that a new clasp was added.
D5660 is reported per tooth, so the claim needs the specific tooth numbers. Submitting the code without identifying which abutments received clasps leaves the payer unable to confirm the work. List each tooth that received a clasp so the per-tooth reporting is supported.
Payers want to know why the clasp was needed. Without a short narrative explaining that retention had loosened or that a new abutment was being engaged, the addition looks elective or unsupported. Explain the retention problem and how the added clasp solves it.
Many plans tie modifications to the age and frequency limits of the existing partial. If the partial is recent or the plan recently paid for prosthetic work, the addition can be denied on timing alone. Check the partial's history and the plan's limits before scheduling the work.
Record the specific abutment tooth where the clasp is added and confirm which partial it belongs to. Because D5660 is per tooth, the tooth numbers drive how the claim is reported.
Note that no clasp existed at that abutment before. Making the new-versus-repair distinction explicit keeps the claim from being confused with D5630.
Document why the partial needs more retention, such as loosening over time or a newly useful abutment. This answers the payer's main question about the addition.
Note that the framework is sound and worth modifying. Showing the partial was kept rather than replaced supports the addition over a new partial.
Confirm the existing partial and the patient's plan history clear any frequency or age limits before treatment. Record what you verified so the timing does not surprise you at adjudication.
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Learn about our billing servicesD5660 is the CDT code for adding a clasp to an existing partial denture, per tooth. It covers fitting a retentive clasp assembly to a partial the patient already wears, usually to improve retention or engage an abutment tooth that was not originally clasped.
D5660 adds a retentive clasp to an existing partial, per tooth. D5650 adds a replacement denture tooth to an existing partial, per tooth. One adds a clasp, the other adds a tooth. They describe different additions and can both apply to the same partial.
D5660 adds a new clasp that was not there before. D5630 repairs or replaces a broken clasp that already existed on the partial. Adding versus repairing an existing clasp is the distinction that decides which code is correct.
Common reasons: confusing adding a clasp with repairing a broken clasp, a missing per-tooth specification, no narrative explaining why added retention was needed, and frequency or age limits on the existing partial.
Yes. D5660 is reported per tooth. If clasps are added at more than one abutment, the code is reported for each tooth with the specific tooth numbers documented, rather than as a single flat fee for the visit.
No. D5660 only adds a clasp to a partial the patient already has. A brand new partial is reported with a code in the D5211 to D5214 range. If the existing framework cannot be modified, a new partial is the correct path.
Search all 206 CDT codes in our dental coding guide.