D6245 is the CDT code for a pontic made entirely of porcelain or ceramic — the artificial replacement-tooth portion of a fixed bridge, with no metal substructure. It reports the pontic only, not the retainer crowns that anchor the bridge.
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 D6245 Code
Report D6245 for the pontic unit of a fixed bridge when that pontic is fabricated entirely of porcelain or ceramic — commonly high-strength materials like zirconia or lithium disilicate. It's frequently chosen for visible teeth because the all-ceramic material is the most natural-looking option.
Pick the code by material and component. D6245 is all-ceramic/porcelain — distinct from a porcelain-fused-to-metal pontic (D6240/D6241/D6242) and a full-cast metal pontic (D6210). It applies to a tooth-supported bridge pontic, not an implant-supported one, which has its own series. Each bridge unit is coded separately, so the pontic (D6245) and each retainer crown (such as D6740) appear as their own line items.
Documentation & Clinical Scenarios
Bridges are major, frequently reviewed benefits, so documentation should justify the fixed restoration:
- Tooth numbers for the missing tooth (pontic) and the abutment teeth, plus the bridge span.
- A narrative noting the pontic material (all porcelain/ceramic) and why a fixed bridge was chosen.
- Pre-operative radiograph(s) and often intraoral photos showing the edentulous space and abutment teeth.
- Dates — preparation and seat dates, since many payers tie the benefit to the seat date.
Each retainer crown is billed under its own code alongside the pontic. Document that the abutment teeth can support a bridge, and 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 an all-ceramic pontic at the rate of a less expensive (metal-based) alternative.
- Pre-authorize when in doubt. A pre-estimate with radiographs and photos is common for esthetic bridges and sets accurate patient expectations.
- Code each unit. The pontic (D6245) and each retainer crown are separate line items on the bridge claim.
- Check frequency and waiting periods. Bridges often carry replacement frequency limits and may have waiting periods on new plans.
Example Case
A 44-year-old patient is missing an upper lateral incisor in the smile line and wants the most natural-looking fixed replacement. The dentist plans a three-unit all-ceramic bridge with a porcelain/ceramic pontic and ceramic retainer crowns. The office submits a pre-estimate with a radiograph and a photo; the plan confirms coverage with the tooth documented as missing after the effective date but applies an alternate benefit at a metal-based rate. Knowing this, the office quotes an accurate patient portion. The bridge is seated and filed with D6245 for the pontic and separate ceramic retainer-crown codes, using the seat date, and pays as expected.
Patients call about "a natural-looking bridge" for a front tooth, not D6245. 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 D6245 and D6240?
Material. D6245 is an all porcelain/ceramic pontic with no metal, while D6240 is a pontic of porcelain fused to high noble metal — porcelain over a gold-based substructure. Both are bridge pontics and can look natural, but the construction differs and plans may reimburse them at different rates, sometimes applying an alternate benefit to the all-ceramic option. Code by what was actually fabricated so the claim matches the restoration.
Does D6245 cover the whole bridge?
No. D6245 is the pontic only — the single false-tooth unit. The retainer crowns that anchor the bridge to the abutment teeth are billed separately under their own codes (such as D6740). A three-unit ceramic bridge typically appears on the claim as a pontic plus two retainer crowns, each coded and documented individually rather than as one bundled charge.
Will insurance cover a D6245 ceramic 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 an all-ceramic pontic at a less expensive metal-based rate. Coverage often hinges on whether the tooth was missing before the plan's effective date. Verify bridge benefits and any alternate-benefit rule before treatment so the estimate is accurate.
Do I need a pre-authorization for a D6245 bridge?
Many plans recommend or require a pre-estimate for bridges, especially esthetic all-ceramic cases, submitted with radiographs and often intraoral photos. Because bridges are major benefits subject to missing-tooth clauses, alternate benefits, and frequency limits, getting the pre-estimate back before the prep appointment lets you quote the patient 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.