D6240 is the CDT code for a pontic of porcelain fused to high noble metal — the artificial replacement-tooth portion of a fixed bridge, built on a high-gold-content metal substructure with a tooth-colored porcelain overlay. It reports the pontic only, not the bridge's retainer crowns.
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 D6240 Code
Report D6240 for the pontic unit of a fixed bridge when that pontic is porcelain fused to high noble metal (a substructure of at least 60% noble metal, with at least 40% gold, veneered with porcelain). It's a common choice because it combines metal strength with a natural-looking surface.
Pick the code by material and component. D6240 is high-noble PFM; D6241 is porcelain fused to noble metal and D6242 is porcelain fused to base (predominantly base) metal — the difference is the alloy. A full-cast metal pontic is D6210, and an all-ceramic pontic is D6245. It applies to tooth-supported bridges, not implant-supported ones. Each bridge unit is coded separately, so the pontic (D6240) and each retainer crown appear as their own line items.
Documentation & Clinical Scenarios
Bridges are major, frequently reviewed benefits, so documentation should justify the fixed restoration and the metal type:
- Tooth numbers for the missing tooth (pontic) and the abutment teeth, plus the bridge span.
- A narrative noting the pontic material (porcelain fused to high noble metal) and why a fixed bridge was chosen.
- Pre-operative radiograph(s) showing the edentulous space and abutment teeth.
- Dates — preparation and seat dates, since many payers tie the benefit to the seat date.
The metal classification matters for reimbursement, so document that the substructure is high noble. Each retainer crown is billed under its own code. Keep the supporting evidence in the chart even when no pre-authorization is required, in case of post-payment review.
Insurance & Billing Tips
- Verify bridge benefits and missing-tooth clauses. Coverage may hinge on whether the tooth was missing before the plan's effective date.
- Expect possible alternate benefits. Some plans reimburse a high-noble PFM at the rate of a base-metal alternative; knowing this avoids surprises.
- Pre-authorize when in doubt. A pre-estimate with radiographs is common for bridges and sets accurate patient expectations.
- Document the metal type. D6240 (high noble), D6241 (noble), and D6242 (base metal) are reimbursed differently, so code by the actual alloy.
- Check frequency and waiting periods. Bridges often carry replacement frequency limits and may have waiting periods on new plans.
Example Case
A 50-year-old patient is missing an upper premolar that shows when they smile and wants a natural-looking fixed replacement. The dentist plans a three-unit bridge with a porcelain-fused-to-high-noble-metal pontic and PFM retainer crowns. The office submits a pre-estimate with a radiograph; the plan confirms coverage with the tooth documented as missing after the effective date but applies an alternate benefit at the base-metal rate. Knowing this up front, the office quotes the patient an accurate portion. The bridge is seated and filed with D6240 for the pontic and separate retainer-crown codes, using the seat date, and pays as expected.
Patients call about "getting a bridge" for a missing front tooth, not D6240. DentalReception AI answers and books those calls 24/7, captures insurance details, and routes clinical and billing questions to your team. See how it handles crown calls, or book a demo.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between D6240, D6241, and D6242?
The metal alloy. All three are porcelain-fused-to-metal pontics, but D6240 uses high noble metal (at least 60% noble, 40% gold), D6241 uses noble metal, and D6242 uses predominantly base metal. The porcelain surface looks similar, but the substructure differs, and plans frequently reimburse them at different rates. Code by the alloy actually used so the claim reflects the real material and the patient estimate is accurate.
Does D6240 cover the whole bridge?
No. D6240 is the pontic only — the false-tooth unit. The retainer crowns anchoring the bridge to the abutment teeth are billed separately under their own codes (such as D6750). A typical three-unit bridge appears on the claim as a pontic plus two retainer crowns, each coded and documented individually rather than as one bundled bridge charge.
Will insurance cover a D6240 bridge pontic?
Usually under major services, with conditions. Many plans cover bridges subject to a missing-tooth clause, frequency limits, and waiting periods, and some apply an alternate benefit that reimburses high-noble PFM at a base-metal rate. Coverage often depends on whether the tooth was missing before the plan's effective date. Verify bridge benefits and the metal-reimbursement rule before treatment so the estimate holds.
Do I need a pre-authorization for a D6240 bridge?
Many plans recommend or require a pre-estimate for bridges, submitted with radiographs showing the space and abutment teeth and a narrative noting the high-noble PFM pontic. Because bridges are major benefits often subject to missing-tooth clauses, alternate benefits, and frequency limits, getting the pre-estimate back before the prep lets you quote an accurate out-of-pocket amount and avoid a billing surprise.
Confirm the current CDT descriptor and your specific payer policies before billing — browse the full dental code library or see our insurance verification feature.