D4249 - Crown Lengthening
Clinical crown lengthening - hard tissue.
- Procedure Code
- D4249
- Clinical Category
- Periodontics
- Primary ICD-10 Justification
- K03.81 (Cracked tooth)
- Reference Fee & Claim Types
- BOTH
Insurance Verification Benchmarks & Billing Guidelines
Payer policy benchmarks, pre-submission attachment requirements, and denial prevention rules for D4249.
- Frequency Limitation
- Subject to group/individual contract frequency limitations (none)
Required Claim Attachments & Pre-Submission Checklist
- Full-mouth periodontal charting with 6-point probing depths and bleeding points
Bill When (Allowable Clinical Criteria)
- Indicated for medically and clinically necessary treatment as documented in patient's dental record.
Restrictions & Clinical Exclusions
- Periodontal surgical procedures include all necessary postoperative care, finishing procedures, oral evaluations for three months. Soft tissue grafts may be allowed on the same teeth/sites within 36 months with supporting documentation. When a surgical procedure is billed within three months of the initial surgical procedure in relation to both natural teeth and implants by the same dentist/dental office, the fee for the surgery is not billable to the patient. In the absence of documentation of extraordinary circumstances, the fee for additional surgery by the same dentist/dental office for three years is not billable to the patient. If extraordinary circumstances are present, the benefits will be denied and is chargeable to the patient up to the approved amount for the surgery. not billable to the patient
- Periodontally involved teeth which would qualify for surgical pocket reduction benefits under these procedure codes must be documented to have at least 5 mm pocket depths and bone loss beyond 1-1.5 millimeters. If pocket depths are under 5 mm, then benefits are denied.
- If surgery is performed less than four weeks after scaling and root planing, fees for the surgical procedure or the scaling and root planning by the same dentist/dental office are not billable to the patient following consultant review.
- Periodontal surgical procedures include all necessary postoperative care, finishing procedures, oral evaluations for three months, as well as any surgical re-entry for three years. When a surgical procedure is billed within three months of the initial surgical procedure by the same dentist/dental office, the fee for the surgery is not billable to the patient. In the absence of documentation of extraordinary circumstances, fees for additional surgery are not billable to the patient for three years.
- When performed in conjunction with osseous surgery, fees for crown lengthening are not billable to the patient.
- Crown lengthening is a benefit per site and not per tooth when adjacent teeth are included. If D4249 is performed on the same date of service as restoration placement, fees for D4249 are not billable to the patient.
Common Claim Denial Codes & Overturn Strategies
| Denial Code | Denial Reason | Appeal & Overturn Strategy |
|---|---|---|
| CO-119 | Benefit maximum or frequency limitation exceeded for procedure | Submit clinical narrative detailing extraordinary circumstances, active recurrent pathology, or exception criteria. |
ICD-10-CM Justification & Crosswalk Mappings for D4249 (4)
Click any ICD-10-CM diagnosis code below to inspect its reverse procedure mappings and differential coding guide.
| ICD-10 Code | Diagnosis Name | Category | Primary Justification | Claim Type | Clinical Scenario |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| K03.81 | Cracked tooth | Other diseases of hard tissues of teeth | ★ Yes (Primary) | BOTH | clinical crown lengthening – hard tissue indicated for Cracked tooth |
| K02.9 | Dental caries, unspecified | Dental caries | Secondary | BOTH | clinical crown lengthening – hard tissue indicated for Dental caries, unspecified |
| K05.5 | Other periodontal diseases | Gingivitis and periodontal diseases | Secondary | BOTH | clinical crown lengthening – hard tissue indicated for Other periodontal diseases |
| S02.5XXA | Fracture of tooth (traumatic), initial encounter for closed fracture | Fracture of skull and facial bones | Secondary | BOTH | clinical crown lengthening – hard tissue indicated for Fracture of tooth (traumatic), initial encounter for closed fracture |
Frequently Asked Questions — D4249 (Crown Lengthening)
Quick answers for dental billers and treatment coordinators submitting claims for D4249.
What ICD-10 diagnosis codes link to dental procedure D4249?▾
Common ICD-10-CM justification codes for CDT D4249 (Crown Lengthening) include: K03.81 - Cracked tooth (Primary); K02.9 - Dental caries, unspecified; K05.5 - Other periodontal diseases; S02.5XXA - Fracture of tooth (traumatic), initial encounter for closed fracture.
Can CDT code D4249 be billed to medical insurance?▾
Billing CDT D4249 (Crown Lengthening) to medical insurance depends on the underlying clinical necessity and trauma/pathology documentation. Supported claim types across linked diagnoses: BOTH.
What attachments and documentation are required for billing CDT D4249?▾
Required claim attachments for CDT D4249 (Crown Lengthening) include: Full-mouth periodontal charting with 6-point probing depths and bleeding points.
What is the insurance frequency limitation for CDT D4249?▾
Standard commercial insurance frequency for D4249: Subject to group/individual contract frequency limitations (none).
What are common insurance denial reasons and appeal tips for CDT D4249?▾
Denial Code CO-119 (Benefit maximum or frequency limitation exceeded for procedure): Overturn appeal strategy - Submit clinical narrative detailing extraordinary circumstances, active recurrent pathology, or exception criteria.