The short version
# D3310 Dental Code: Anterior Tooth Endodontic Therapy
D3310 reports completed endodontic therapy on an anterior tooth. It includes the appointments and intraoperative radiographs needed to complete the root canal, but it excludes the final coronal restoration. Tooth type, completion status, and image attachments drive the claim.
- Bill D3310 when root canal therapy is completed on an anterior tooth.
- Use D3320 for a premolar and D3330 for a molar. The number of canals doesn't move an anterior tooth into a posterior code.
- The AAE says endodontic therapy includes treatment planning, clinical procedures, follow-up care, and intraoperative radiographs.
- Diagnostic evaluation and diagnostic images are separate when they're independently delivered.
- Delta requests preoperative and postoperative periapical radiographs for D3310 through D3330 claims.
- In a worked claim, a $1,100 office fee becomes an $800 allowable. The plan pays $640 at 80%, the patient owes $160, and the office adjusts $300.
What is D3310?
D3310 is the anterior-tooth code for primary endodontic therapy. It covers complete treatment of the canal system in an incisor or canine.
| Fact | D3310 |
|---|---|
| CDT category | Endodontics |
| Tooth type | Anterior tooth |
| Treatment status | Completed primary root canal therapy |
| Included imaging | Intraoperative radiographs |
| Public fee references | Oregon Medicaid: $454.05; Washington Medicaid: $395.69 or $351.94 by program in 2025 |
When do you bill D3310?
Use D3310 on the completed treatment date for an anterior tooth.
- Record pulpal and periapical diagnoses.
- Document working length, instrumentation, irrigation, and obturation.
- Capture a postoperative image that shows the full root and apex.
- Record the coronal seal and restoration plan.
D3310 vs D3320 and D3330
Tooth class selects the code after root canal therapy is complete.
| D3310 | D3320 | D3330 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tooth class | Incisor or canine | Premolar | Molar |
| Final restoration included | No | No | No |
| Intraoperative images included | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Oregon Medicaid example | $454.05 | $526.76 | $670.58 |
What does insurance actually do with D3310?
Delta's endodontic claim guide requires preoperative and postoperative periapical images for D3310 through D3330. The images must depict the complete tooth. Plans can also apply waiting periods, deductibles, annual maximums, and once-per-tooth treatment rules.
- Office fee: $1,100
- Contracted allowable: $800
- Contractual adjustment: $300
- Plan payment at 80%: $640
- Patient balance: $160
Why does D3310 get denied?
- The required periapical images aren't attached.
- Tooth type or tooth number doesn't match D3310.
- The claim isn't tied to root canal completion.
- The plan doesn't pay because of the annual maximum or deductible.
What documentation gets D3310 paid?
- Don't omit the tooth number or endodontic diagnoses.
- Attach complete preoperative and postoperative periapical images.
- Document canal treatment, obturation, and completion date.
- Don't omit the coronal seal or final-restoration plan.
- Check prior endodontic treatment on the tooth.
- Separate the final restoration and any supported core buildup.
Common questions about D3310
Does D3310 include the final filling or crown?
No. The endodontic code covers the completed anterior root canal procedure, but it excludes the final restoration. Report the filling, buildup, or crown only when that separate work is delivered and supported. Keep the endodontic completion record distinct from the restorative note.
Are working-length radiographs billed separately?
No. The AAE says intraoperative radiographs, including working-length views, are included in endodontic therapy. Don't add a separate image line for views taken as part of the procedure. Diagnostic images from the evaluation can follow their own rules when they're separately necessary and documented.
When is D3310 billed?
Bill D3310 when the anterior root canal therapy is completed, not simply when access begins. If treatment spans visits, document each stage and the final completion date. If care stops before completion, report only the service actually delivered under the applicable current code.
Can D3310 be billed with D0140?
A separate problem-focused evaluation can be reported when performed and documented. The D0140 guide covers that exam. The evaluation record should clearly show the complaint, diagnostic work, findings, and decision, while the endodontic note supports the completed root canal procedure.
Close the endodontic record before filing
Before filing, match the anterior tooth, completion date, and full postoperative view.
Sources
- AAE, Endodontists' Guide to CDT 2026
- AAE, Endodontists' Guide to CDT 2024
- AAE, Guide to CDT endodontic therapy
- Delta Dental, endodontic X-ray submission guide
- Georgia Medicaid, 2025 dental manual and fee material
- Washington Medicaid, July 2025 dental fee schedule
- Oregon Medicaid, June 2025 fee schedule
- AAE, dental insurance FAQ
CDT codes and nomenclature are copyright © American Dental Association. This guide explains the code in plain language; the current CDT manual is the authoritative source.
