D0470 is the CDT code for diagnostic casts — also called study models — the stone or printed models made from impressions of a patient's teeth and arches to analyze the occlusion, plan treatment, and document the starting condition in three dimensions.
Informational only — confirm the official CDT descriptor and your payers' rules independently. This is general guidance, not billing, coding, or clinical advice.
When to Use the D0470 Code
Use D0470 when diagnostic casts are produced for analysis and treatment planning — commonly in orthodontics, prosthodontics, and complex restorative cases where the dentist needs to study the bite, alignment, and spacing outside the mouth before beginning work. The casts let the provider view occlusal relationships that are hard to assess clinically and track changes over time.
D0470 is a diagnostic record, not a treatment step. It is separate from the impressions taken to fabricate a crown, denture, or appliance — those are part of the prosthetic procedure, not reported as D0470. It is also not a 2D photographic image (D0350) or any radiograph. Note that some payers and code sets distinguish traditional poured-stone casts from digital 3D scans; confirm which descriptor applies when a digital workflow is used.
Documentation & Clinical Scenarios
The record should show the casts were made for diagnosis and planning, not as part of a lab-fabrication step:
- The diagnostic purpose — occlusal analysis, growth/development study, treatment planning, or pre-treatment documentation.
- The arches captured and the date the records were taken.
- A note that the casts are study/diagnostic models, distinct from any working impressions for a prosthesis.
- The provider responsible for the records.
What's billed separately: the evaluation, any radiographs or photographs, and any subsequent restorative or orthodontic treatment carry their own codes. D0470 covers only the diagnostic casts.
Insurance & Billing Tips
- Verify the benefit. Coverage for diagnostic casts varies; many plans cover them only in connection with orthodontic treatment, and some bundle them into the case fee.
- Document the diagnostic intent. A note explaining why study models were needed supports the claim and any appeal.
- Watch orthodontic bundling. When casts are part of an orthodontic records package, some payers expect them under the ortho benefit, not as a separate line.
- Don't confuse with prosthetic impressions. Working impressions for a crown or denture are part of that procedure, not a separate D0470.
- Confirm digital vs. physical. If you scan rather than pour models, check whether the payer expects a different code.
Example Case
A patient is starting an orthodontic workup. To analyze the bite and plan tooth movement, the office takes impressions and produces diagnostic casts of both arches, documenting them as study models for treatment planning. The records are coded D0470, alongside the appropriate evaluation and any imaging. Because the office verified how the patient's plan handles orthodontic records and documented the diagnostic purpose, the claim is submitted cleanly.
Patients call about braces, Invisalign, or a treatment plan — not D0470. DentalReception AI answers and books those consults 24/7, captures insurance details, and routes clinical and billing questions to your team. See how it handles orthodontic consultation calls, or book a demo.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between D0470 casts and impressions for a crown or denture?
D0470 covers diagnostic casts — study models made to analyze the bite and plan treatment. Impressions taken to fabricate a crown, denture, or appliance are part of that restorative or prosthetic procedure and are not reported separately as D0470. The distinction is purpose: diagnosis and planning versus building a specific restoration.
Does insurance cover diagnostic casts?
It depends on the plan. Coverage for D0470 is often tied to orthodontic treatment, and some plans bundle study models into a records package or the overall case fee rather than paying a separate line. Verify the specific benefit before taking the records, and document the diagnostic purpose so you can support the claim if it's questioned.
Does D0470 apply to digital scans?
Sometimes, but confirm. D0470 has traditionally described physical stone casts poured from impressions. With digital intraoral scanning, some payers and code sets distinguish a 3D digital model from a poured cast. If you use a digital workflow, check whether the payer expects D0470 or a different code before billing.
Can D0470 be billed at the same visit as an exam or X-rays?
Yes. Diagnostic casts (D0470), the evaluation, and any radiographs or photographs (D0350) are separate procedures reported under their own codes. Just ensure the chart documents the diagnostic purpose of the casts and that they're distinct from any working impressions taken for a planned restoration.
Confirm the current CDT descriptor and your specific payer policies before billing — browse the full dental code library or see our insurance verification feature.