Published September 2026

Who usually does it

prosthodontist. Made by a specialist who makes custom replacement parts for the face and mouth, usually at a hospital or cancer center.

One question worth asking

Which plan does this go through, medical or dental?

Replacement artificial ear

Jaw and mouth surgeryNot usually coveredD5927

D5927. A new ear made from an existing mold.

Custom-made replacements for parts of the face after cancer surgery, injury or a birth condition, such as an artificial ear, nose or eye, a plate that closes an opening in the roof of the mouth, feeding and speech aids for cleft palate, and devices used during radiation treatment. Also the catch-all codes for surgery with no code of its own.

A specialist who makes custom replacement parts for the face and mouth takes impressions and builds a custom piece over several visits, matched to skin tone and shape: an ear, a nose, an eye, or a plate that closes an opening in the roof of the mouth. Other codes here support feeding and speech for a cleft palate and protect tissue during radiation treatment. The catch-all codes are used when a procedure has no code of its own and always need a written description. Most of this work happens at a hospital or cancer center and may be billed to medical rather than dental insurance.

Codes for this

D5911Not usually coveredPartial face impressionA mold of part of the face, the first step in making a facial prosthesis.per visit · Rarely doneD5912Not usually coveredFull face impressionA mold of the whole face.per visit · Rarely doneD5913Not usually coveredArtificial noseA custom-made nose prosthesis.per visit · Rarely doneD5914Not usually coveredArtificial earA custom-made ear prosthesis.per visit · Rarely doneD5915Not usually coveredEye socket prosthesisReplaces the eye and the surrounding socket area.per visit · Rarely doneD5916Not usually coveredArtificial eyeReplaces the eye only.per visit · Rarely doneD5919Not usually coveredOther facial prosthesisA custom replacement for a missing part of the face not covered by the other codes.per visit · Rarely doneD5922Not usually coveredPlug for a hole in the nasal septumCloses an opening in the wall between the nostrils.per visit · Rarely doneD5923Not usually coveredTemporary artificial eyeA short-term eye prosthesis worn while healing.per visit · Rarely doneD5924Not usually coveredSkull plateA prosthesis that replaces part of the skull.per visit · Rarely doneD5925Not usually coveredFacial contour implantAn implant that builds up the shape of the face.per visit · Rarely doneD5926Not usually coveredReplacement artificial noseA new nose made from an existing mold, cheaper than starting over.per visit · Rarely doneD5927Not usually coveredReplacement artificial earA new ear made from an existing mold.per visit · Rarely doneD5928Not usually coveredReplacement eye socket prosthesisA new socket prosthesis made from an existing mold.per visit · Rarely doneD5929Not usually coveredReplacement facial prosthesisA new facial prosthesis made from an existing mold.per visit · Rarely doneD5931MajorSurgical palate plate (obturator)A plate placed during jaw surgery to close an opening between mouth and sinus.per visit · Rarely doneD5932MajorLong-term palate plate (obturator)The final plate worn long term after part of the upper jaw is removed.per visit · Rarely doneD5933BasicAdjusting a palate plateA revision of an existing obturator.per visit · Rarely doneD5934MajorLower jaw prosthesis with a built-in guide rimReplaces part of the lower jaw with a built-in rim that guides the jaw as it closes.per visit · Rarely doneD5935MajorLower jaw prosthesis without a guide flangeThe same jaw prosthesis without a guide flange.per visit · Rarely doneD5936MajorInterim palate plate during healingWorn between the surgical plate and the final one.per visit · Rarely doneD5937Not usually coveredJaw-stretching applianceHelps stretch a jaw that will not open wide after surgery or radiation.per visit · Rarely doneD5951MajorFeeding plate for an infant with cleft palateA plate that lets a baby with a cleft palate feed.per visit · Rarely doneD5952MajorSpeech aid for a child with cleft palateA plate that helps a child speak clearly.per visit · Rarely doneD5953MajorSpeech aid for an adult with cleft palateThe adult version of the speech aid.per visit · Rarely doneD5954MajorPalate reshaping plateChanges the shape of the roof of the mouth to help speech or swallowing.per visit · Rarely doneD5955MajorLong-term soft palate liftA final appliance that lifts a weak soft palate.per visit · Rarely doneD5958MajorTemporary soft palate liftA short-term version of the palate lift.per visit · Rarely doneD5959BasicAdjusting a palate liftA revision of a palate lift appliance.per visit · Rarely doneD5960BasicAdjusting a speech aidA revision of a speech aid appliance.per visit · Rarely doneD5982MajorHealing stentA device that shapes tissue as it heals after surgery.per visit · Rarely doneD5983Not usually coveredRadiation carrierA custom device that holds radiation sources in place during treatment.per visit · Rarely doneD5984Not usually coveredRadiation shieldProtects healthy tissue during radiation treatment.per visit · Rarely doneD5985Not usually coveredRadiation beam locatorHelps aim the radiation beam the same way each visit.per visit · Rarely doneD5987Not usually coveredLip splintA splint between the lips to keep the mouth from tightening.per visit · Rarely doneD5991Not usually coveredMedicine tray for a blistering gum conditionA custom tray for applying medicine to the gums.per arch · Rarely doneD5992BasicAdjusting a facial or jaw prosthesisA revision of any maxillofacial prosthesis.per visit · Rarely doneD5993Not usually coveredCleaning a facial or jaw prosthesisProfessional cleaning and maintenance of a prosthesis.per visit · Rarely doneD5994Not usually coveredLab-made medicine tray for the gumsA tray made by a lab for gum medicine.per arch · Rarely doneD5999Not usually coveredOther facial prosthesis procedureThe catch-all code for a maxillofacial prosthetic procedure with no code of its own.per visit · Rarely doneD7990MajorEmergency surgical airwayAn opening made in the neck to breathe; a hospital procedure.per visit · Rarely doneD7999MajorOther oral surgery procedureThe catch-all code for an oral surgery step with no code of its own.per visit · Rarely done

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Replacement artificial ear (D5927): what happens, step by step | TruthMolar