What D3920 means

D3920 covers a hemisection (including any root removal), not including root canal therapy. "D" is dental, "39" is the other-endodontic-procedures group, and "20" is this hemisection. A multi-rooted tooth (a molar, with two, three, or four roots) can sometimes have a problem affecting one root/section (e.g., severe bone loss, a fracture, or decay around one root) while the other root(s)/section(s) are healthy. A hemisection is surgically dividing (sectioning) the multi-rooted tooth into separate sections — each containing a root and the overlying portion of the crown — and typically removing the diseased section/root while keeping the healthy section(s). This can save the healthy part of the tooth (rather than extracting the whole tooth). The code includes any root removal involved, but not the root canal therapy (the tooth usually needs a root canal, coded separately).

So it's dividing a multi-rooted tooth into sections and removing the diseased section/root, to save the healthy part of the tooth.

A hemisection lets a multi-rooted tooth with a localized problem (affecting one root/section) be partly saved — removing the bad section/root and keeping the good section(s), which can then be restored and function. It applies to multi-rooted teeth (any with two, three, or four roots) when a root and its corresponding crown portion are removed. (It's distinct from a root amputation, D3450, where a root is removed while leaving the crown intact — hemisection involves dividing the crown too.) Hemisections are often done in conjunction with root canal therapy on the same tooth (the retained section needing a root canal, coded separately, e.g., D3320 or D3330). The retained section is then restored (e.g., a crown). Coverage is under endodontic benefits; documentation supports the claim.

When it's typically used

D3920 is reported for a hemisection — surgically dividing a multi-rooted tooth into separate sections (each with a root and the overlying crown portion), typically to remove a diseased section/root while keeping the healthy section(s), to save part of the tooth. It includes any root removal but not the root canal therapy (coded separately).

How much does D3920 cost?

A hemisection is a moderate fee, often roughly 200 to 500 USD depending on region — for surgically dividing the tooth and removing the diseased section/root. It doesn't include the root canal therapy (the retained section usually needs a root canal, separate) or the final restoration (a crown, separate), so the complete treatment to save the section costs more.

Is D3920 covered by insurance?

Covered under endodontic benefits when a hemisection is performed. Documentation of the tooth's condition (the localized problem) and the procedure supports the claim. The root canal therapy (for the retained section) and the final restoration are coded separately. It's distinct from a root amputation (D3450, root removed with the crown left intact). Verifying coverage helps.

Saving part of a multi-rooted tooth

A hemisection saves part of a multi-rooted tooth, and understanding this clarifies its purpose.

A multi-rooted tooth (a molar) has multiple roots supporting it. Sometimes a problem affects one root/section of such a tooth while the other root(s)/section(s) remain healthy — for example, severe bone loss (periodontal disease) around one root, a fracture involving one root, decay or a problem at one root, or a furcation problem (disease in the area where the roots divide) affecting one root more than the others. In such cases, rather than extracting the entire tooth (losing the healthy part too), a hemisection can save the healthy part: the tooth is divided into sections (each with a root and its crown portion), the diseased section/root is removed, and the healthy section(s) are kept. The retained healthy section(s) can then be restored and function (like a smaller tooth). So a hemisection saves the salvageable part of a multi-rooted tooth with a localized problem.

This is valuable because it preserves part of the natural tooth (the healthy section), rather than extracting the whole tooth. The retained section, once restored, can continue to function and contribute to chewing and the bite (and can sometimes serve as an abutment for other restorations). Saving part of the tooth can be preferable to extraction (and replacement) in suitable cases — preserving natural tooth structure and avoiding or delaying the need for a replacement. So a hemisection is a tooth-conserving option for a multi-rooted tooth with a problem confined to one root/section. The dentist/specialist considers a hemisection when one root/section is diseased but the rest is salvageable. For patients, understanding that a hemisection saves part of a multi-rooted tooth — removing the diseased section/root while keeping the healthy section(s) — clarifies its purpose. It preserves the salvageable part rather than extracting the whole tooth. The dentist considers it when one section is diseased but the rest is healthy. Understanding this helps patients see that a hemisection saves the healthy part of a multi-rooted tooth with a localized problem — dividing the tooth and removing the bad section/root while keeping the good section(s) — preserving natural tooth structure (and its function) rather than extracting the entire tooth, a tooth-conserving option when a problem is confined to one root/section of a molar.

How a hemisection works

A hemisection involves dividing the tooth, and understanding the process clarifies what's involved.

A hemisection involves surgically dividing the multi-rooted tooth into separate sections and removing the diseased one. The process generally involves: assessment and planning — determining which section/root is diseased and which is salvageable, and planning the hemisection (often with the tooth having had, or about to have, a root canal); usually a root canal — the tooth (at least the section to be retained) typically needs root canal therapy (since dividing the tooth exposes the pulp/canals), done separately (e.g., before or in conjunction with the hemisection); sectioning the tooth — surgically cutting/dividing the tooth (through the crown and into the furcation, where the roots divide) into separate sections, each containing a root and its overlying crown portion; removing the diseased section — removing the diseased section/root (extracting that section), while leaving the healthy section(s) in place; and finishing — closing/managing the site as needed. So the tooth is divided, the bad section removed, and the good section(s) retained. The retained section is then restored (e.g., a crown, separately).

The code (D3920) includes any root removal involved in the hemisection (removing the diseased root/section), but not the root canal therapy (coded separately) or the final restoration (separately). The procedure is often done in conjunction with root canal therapy on the retained section (the section needs a root canal to be retained and restored). After the hemisection and the root canal, the retained section is restored (typically a crown) to function. The dentist/specialist (often a periodontist or endodontist, sometimes with the general dentist) performs the hemisection. For patients, understanding how a hemisection works — dividing the tooth into sections, removing the diseased section/root, and retaining the healthy section(s) (with a root canal and restoration for the retained part) — clarifies what's involved. It divides the tooth and removes the bad part. The dentist/specialist performs it. Understanding this helps patients see that a hemisection divides the multi-rooted tooth into sections and removes the diseased section/root while keeping the healthy section(s) — usually in conjunction with a root canal (for the retained section, coded separately) and followed by a restoration (a crown) — to save the salvageable part of the tooth, a procedure that surgically separates and removes the problematic root/section while preserving the rest of the tooth.

Hemisection vs root amputation

A hemisection differs from a root amputation, and understanding the distinction clarifies which applies.

Two related procedures address a diseased root of a multi-rooted tooth, differing in whether the crown is divided. A hemisection (D3920) divides the tooth into sections — each containing a root and its overlying crown portion — and removes the diseased section (the root and its corresponding crown portion). So the crown is divided too, and a section (root plus crown portion) is removed. A root amputation (D3450) removes a diseased root while leaving the crown intact — just the root is removed (resected), and the crown remains whole (supported by the remaining roots). So the distinction is: hemisection divides the crown and removes a root-plus-crown-portion section, while root amputation removes just a root (leaving the crown intact).

The choice depends on the situation. A hemisection is used when it's appropriate to divide the tooth and remove a whole section (root and the corresponding crown portion) — e.g., when the problem and the planned restoration call for separating the tooth into sections. A root amputation is used when just a root needs removal but the crown can stay intact (supported by the other roots) — e.g., when one root is diseased but the crown and the other roots can function with that root removed. So the dentist/specialist chooses based on the tooth, the problem, and the restorative plan — hemisection (divide and remove a section) or root amputation (remove a root, keep the crown). Both aim to save the rest of the tooth by removing the diseased root. For patients, understanding that a hemisection (divides the tooth, removes a root-plus-crown section) and a root amputation (removes a root, leaves the crown intact) differ clarifies which applies. The hemisection divides the crown; the root amputation keeps it intact. The dentist/specialist chooses based on the situation. Understanding this helps patients see that a hemisection (D3920) divides a multi-rooted tooth and removes a whole section (root plus crown portion), while a root amputation (D3450) removes just a diseased root and leaves the crown intact — both saving the rest of the tooth by removing the problematic root, but differing in whether the crown is divided — with the dentist or specialist choosing the appropriate procedure based on the tooth's situation and the restorative plan.

After the hemisection: restoring the section

The retained section is restored after a hemisection, and understanding this clarifies the complete treatment.

After a hemisection (removing the diseased section/root), the retained healthy section(s) need to be restored to function — the hemisection and the root canal (for the retained section) address the tooth's structure and pulp, and a final restoration then restores the retained section for function. The retained section, now a smaller tooth (e.g., a molar reduced to essentially a single-rooted tooth after one section is removed), typically gets a crown — restoring its form and function so it can serve in chewing and the bite (and the crown protects the root-canal-treated retained section). So the complete treatment is: the hemisection (D3920, removing the diseased section), the root canal therapy (for the retained section, coded separately), and the final restoration (a crown for the retained section, coded separately) — together saving and restoring the salvageable part of the tooth.

So the hemisection is part of a multi-step treatment to save part of the tooth: the diseased section is removed (hemisection), the retained section is root-canal-treated (so it can be restored), and the retained section is crowned (restoring its function). The result is that the healthy part of the formerly-multi-rooted tooth is preserved and functioning (as a smaller restored tooth), rather than the whole tooth being lost. The retained section, restored, can function and contribute to the bite (and sometimes serve as a bridge abutment or in other restorations). The dentist coordinates the hemisection, root canal, and restoration. For patients, understanding that the retained section is restored after a hemisection (typically with a root canal and a crown) clarifies the complete treatment. The hemisection removes the bad section; the root canal and crown restore the retained section. The dentist coordinates the steps. Understanding this helps patients see that a hemisection is part of a multi-step treatment to save part of a multi-rooted tooth — removing the diseased section (hemisection), root-canal-treating the retained section, and crowning it (restoring its function) — so the salvageable part of the tooth is preserved and restored to function (as a smaller restored tooth), with the complete treatment (and cost) including the hemisection, the root canal, and the crown, together conserving and restoring the healthy part of the tooth.

Frequently asked questions

What is the D3920 dental code?

It's a hemisection — surgically dividing a multi-rooted tooth into separate sections (each with a root and the overlying crown portion), typically to remove a diseased section/root while keeping the healthy section(s). It includes any root removal but not the root canal therapy (coded separately). It saves part of a multi-rooted tooth.

When is a hemisection done?

When a multi-rooted tooth (a molar) has a problem affecting one root/section — severe bone loss, a fracture, decay, or a furcation problem around one root — while the rest is healthy. Rather than extracting the whole tooth, the diseased section/root is removed and the healthy section(s) kept and restored.

How does a hemisection work?

The tooth is surgically divided into sections (each with a root and its crown portion), the diseased section/root is removed, and the healthy section(s) are kept. The retained section usually needs a root canal (coded separately) and is then restored (typically a crown), to function as a smaller tooth.

How is it different from a root amputation?

A hemisection (D3920) divides the tooth and removes a whole section (a root plus its overlying crown portion). A root amputation (D3450) removes just a diseased root while leaving the crown intact (supported by the other roots). The difference is whether the crown is divided.

How much does a hemisection cost?

Often around 200 to 500 USD for surgically dividing the tooth and removing the diseased section/root. It doesn't include the root canal (for the retained section) or the final restoration (a crown), which are separate — so the complete treatment to save the section costs more.

What happens after a hemisection?

The retained healthy section is restored — usually with a root canal (so it can be restored) and then a crown (restoring its function as a smaller tooth). So the complete treatment is the hemisection plus the root canal plus the crown, together saving and restoring the salvageable part of the tooth.

This page is an independent, plain-language explanation for general information only. It is not billing, coding, or clinical advice. For the official CDT descriptor and current-year wording, refer to the American Dental Association.