D2910 is the CDT code for re-cementing or re-bonding an existing inlay, onlay, veneer, or partial coverage restoration that has come loose but is otherwise intact. It covers re-attaching a previously placed restoration — not making a new one and not re-cementing a full crown.
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 D2910 Code
Report D2910 when an existing inlay, onlay, veneer, or partial coverage restoration has debonded or fallen out and the dentist cleans and re-cements or re-bonds the same restoration. The restoration must be intact and the tooth restorable; if either the restoration or the tooth is compromised, a new restoration — not a re-cement — is indicated.
Choose the re-cement code by what's being re-attached:
- D2910 — re-cement an inlay, onlay, veneer, or partial coverage restoration (this code).
- D2920 — re-cement or re-bond a full crown.
- D6092 / D6093 — re-cement implant- or abutment-supported restorations.
Don't bill D2910 when you actually fabricate and place a new restoration — that's coded as the new inlay, onlay, or veneer, not a re-cement. The distinction is whether the original restoration is being reused.
Documentation & Clinical Scenarios
Re-cements are low-cost but still need a clear chart entry:
- Tooth number and the type of restoration re-attached (inlay, onlay, veneer, or partial coverage).
- Why it loosened — normal wear, sticky food, or cement failure — and confirmation the restoration and margins are intact.
- Whether the patient brought the piece and that it seated fully and the bite was checked.
- The original placement date if known, since some plans limit re-cement coverage within a window after the restoration was first placed.
If examination shows recurrent decay, a fractured restoration, or an open margin, document that a new restoration — not a re-cement — is needed, and code accordingly.
Insurance & Billing Tips
- Verify the post-placement window. Many plans won't pay a re-cement within a set period (often 6–12 months) after the original restoration was placed, treating it as part of the original service.
- Check frequency limits. Some plans limit how often a re-cement is covered per tooth.
- Code by restoration type. Use D2910 for inlays, onlays, veneers, and partial coverage; use D2920 for full crowns — mixing them up causes denials.
- Don't bill a re-cement as new work. If a new restoration is made, bill that procedure, not D2910.
- Keep a brief note. Why it loosened and that margins were intact supports the claim if reviewed.
Example Case
A 38-year-old patient calls because a ceramic onlay on an upper molar (tooth #14) came off while eating, and they still have the piece. The dentist examines the tooth, finds no decay or fracture and intact margins, cleans the onlay and the preparation, and re-bonds the original restoration, then checks the bite. Because the same restoration was re-attached and the tooth was sound, the office files D2910 with tooth #14. Benefits were checked first, confirming the onlay was placed more than a year earlier, so the re-cement fell outside the plan's post-placement exclusion.
Patients call in a panic because "my veneer fell off" — not about D2910. DentalReception AI answers those calls 24/7, books the re-cement visit live into your schedule, captures whether the patient still has the piece, and collects insurance details, while clinical questions route to your team. See how it handles lost crown calls, or book a demo.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between D2910 and D2920?
The restoration being re-attached. D2910 re-cements or re-bonds an inlay, onlay, veneer, or partial coverage restoration, while D2920 re-cements or re-bonds a full crown. Both reuse an existing, intact restoration rather than making a new one, but they're separate codes — billing D2910 for a loose full crown (or vice versa) is a common cause of denials, so confirm the restoration type before coding and document it in the chart.
Does D2910 cover making a new restoration if mine is broken?
No. D2910 is strictly for re-attaching an intact, existing restoration. If the inlay, onlay, or veneer is fractured, or if there's recurrent decay or an open margin, a new restoration is needed — and you bill the new procedure, not a re-cement. Document the finding that the original restoration couldn't be reused so the claim and chart agree on why a different, higher-level code was used.
Will insurance pay for a re-cement?
Sometimes, with limits. Many plans exclude a re-cement within a set window after the original restoration was placed (often 6–12 months), treating it as part of that service, and some cap how often a re-cement is covered per tooth. Verifying the original placement date and the plan's policy before the visit tells you whether D2910 is payable or whether the patient should expect to cover it out of pocket.
Do I need a pre-authorization for D2910?
Pre-authorization is rarely required for a routine re-cement, but it's worth a quick benefit check because of the post-placement exclusion many plans apply. Confirming when the restoration was originally placed and whether the plan covers re-cements lets you tell the patient up front whether the visit is likely covered, so a simple, fast appointment doesn't turn into an unexpected balance after the explanation of benefits arrives.
Confirm the current CDT descriptor and your specific payer policies before billing — browse the full dental code library or see our insurance verification feature.