What D7310 means

D7310 covers alveoloplasty in conjunction with extractions, four or more teeth or tooth spaces, per quadrant. "D" is dental, "73" is this oral surgery (alveoloplasty/surgical-preparation) group, and "10" is this code. Alveoloplasty is the surgical recontouring (reshaping and smoothing) of the alveolar ridge — the bony ridge of the jaw that holds (or held) the teeth — to create a smooth, even ridge (e.g., removing sharp edges, bony projections, or undercuts). D7310 is for performing alveoloplasty at the same time as (in conjunction with) extractions, in a quadrant where four or more teeth or tooth spaces are involved. So when multiple teeth in a quadrant are extracted and the ridge needs significant reshaping (beyond the routine smoothing that's part of an extraction), D7310 reports that recontouring (for four or more teeth/spaces in the quadrant).

So it's significantly reshaping the bony ridge at the same time as extracting four or more teeth in a quadrant — typically to prepare for a denture.

Importantly, alveoloplasty is a separate and distinct procedure from the extractions — it's not the routine bone smoothing that's an inherent part of removing a tooth, but additional, significant recontouring of the ridge (e.g., to prepare a smooth ridge for a denture, or to correct irregularities). The code is reported per quadrant, and D7310 specifically is for four or more teeth or tooth spaces per quadrant (versus D7311 for one to three). It's commonly done when preparing for an immediate denture (extracting multiple teeth and reshaping the ridge so a denture can fit). Because the recontouring must be significant and distinct, documentation (the operative note describing the recontouring and its necessity beyond the extractions) is important — many payers otherwise bundle it into the extraction. Coverage is under oral surgery benefits (often related to prosthetic preparation).

When it's typically used

D7310 is reported for alveoloplasty (significant surgical reshaping of the alveolar ridge) performed in conjunction with extractions, in a quadrant involving four or more teeth or tooth spaces — typically to prepare the ridge for a denture or other prosthesis. It's a separate, distinct procedure from the extractions (not routine extraction-site smoothing), reported per quadrant.

How much does D7310 cost?

Alveoloplasty with extractions (four or more teeth/spaces per quadrant) is a moderate fee, often roughly 200 to 500 USD per quadrant depending on region — for the significant ridge recontouring (separate from the extraction fees, which are additional). It's commonly part of preparing for an immediate denture. The fee is per quadrant.

Is D7310 covered by insurance?

Covered under oral surgery benefits (often as prosthetic preparation), but commonly scrutinized — many payers bundle alveoloplasty into the extraction reimbursement (considering routine bone smoothing part of the extraction). To support D7310 as separate, the operative note must document the distinct, significant recontouring (beyond routine extraction smoothing) and its necessity (e.g., for a denture). D7310 requires four or more teeth/spaces per quadrant (else D7311). Verifying coverage and documenting thoroughly helps.

What alveoloplasty is

Alveoloplasty is the surgical reshaping of the alveolar ridge, and understanding it clarifies this procedure.

Alveoloplasty is the surgical recontouring (reshaping and smoothing) of the alveolar ridge — the bony ridge of the jaw (the alveolar bone) that holds (or, after extractions, held) the teeth. The goal is to create a smooth, even, well-shaped ridge — removing sharp edges, bony spicules or projections, irregularities, or undercuts (areas where the bone is shaped such that it would interfere with a prosthesis seating). After teeth are removed, the ridge may be uneven or have sharp/irregular areas; alveoloplasty reshapes it into a smooth contour. This is typically done to prepare the ridge for a prosthesis (like a denture) — a smooth, even ridge is important for a denture to fit comfortably and function well — or to correct bony irregularities that cause problems (discomfort, interference with function).

The procedure involves accessing the ridge bone (raising the gum tissue as needed), recontouring the bone (removing/smoothing the irregular bone with surgical instruments), and closing the tissue. So alveoloplasty smooths and shapes the bony ridge. It's distinct from the extraction itself — it's the additional reshaping of the ridge (beyond removing the teeth). When significant ridge recontouring is needed, alveoloplasty is the procedure. The dentist/oral surgeon performs alveoloplasty to create a smooth ridge. For patients, understanding what alveoloplasty is — the surgical reshaping and smoothing of the bony ridge (to create a smooth, even ridge) — clarifies this procedure. It smooths the ridge. The surgeon performs it. Understanding this helps patients see that alveoloplasty is the surgical recontouring of the alveolar ridge (the bony ridge that held the teeth) — reshaping and smoothing it to remove sharp edges, projections, and undercuts and create a smooth, even ridge — typically to prepare the ridge for a denture (so it fits comfortably) or correct bony irregularities, a procedure that shapes the ridge bone (distinct from removing the teeth).

In conjunction with extractions

D7310 is for alveoloplasty done with extractions, and understanding this clarifies the timing.

D7310 is specifically for alveoloplasty performed in conjunction with extractions — at the same time as removing teeth. A common scenario: multiple teeth in a quadrant are being extracted (e.g., as part of transitioning to a denture), and at the same visit, the ridge is significantly recontoured (alveoloplasty) to create a smooth ridge — often in preparation for an immediate denture (a denture placed right after the extractions). So the extractions and the ridge reshaping happen together, and D7310 reports the alveoloplasty portion (the significant recontouring) done alongside the extractions. This is distinct from alveoloplasty done separately (not with extractions) — e.g., reshaping a ridge where teeth were removed previously (which uses different codes, D7320/D7321).

The key point: even when done with extractions, alveoloplasty (D7310) is a separate and distinct procedure from the extractions — not the routine, minor bone smoothing that's an inherent part of removing a tooth, but additional, significant recontouring of the ridge. The extractions themselves are coded separately (with their own extraction codes), and D7310 reports the additional alveoloplasty. So D7310 captures the significant ridge recontouring done in conjunction with (but distinct from) the extractions. The dentist performs the extractions and the alveoloplasty together when both are needed. For patients, understanding that D7310 is for alveoloplasty done with extractions — significantly recontouring the ridge at the same time as removing teeth (often for an immediate denture) — clarifies the timing. It's done alongside the extractions. The surgeon does both. Understanding this helps patients see that D7310 is for alveoloplasty performed in conjunction with extractions — significantly reshaping the ridge at the same visit as removing multiple teeth (commonly to prepare for an immediate denture) — with the alveoloplasty being a separate, distinct procedure from the extractions (not the routine smoothing inherent in an extraction), the extractions coded separately and D7310 reporting the additional, significant ridge recontouring done alongside them.

Four or more teeth or tooth spaces per quadrant

D7310 is for four or more teeth/spaces per quadrant, and understanding this clarifies the code's scope.

The alveoloplasty-with-extractions codes are divided by the number of teeth or tooth spaces involved per quadrant. D7310 is for four or more teeth or tooth spaces, per quadrant. D7311 is for one to three teeth or tooth spaces, per quadrant. So the codes distinguish the extent of the alveoloplasty by how many teeth/spaces in the quadrant are involved — D7310 for a larger extent (four or more), D7311 for a smaller extent (one to three). The mouth is divided into four quadrants (upper right, upper left, lower right, lower left), and the code is reported per quadrant — so if alveoloplasty is done in multiple quadrants, the appropriate code is reported for each quadrant (based on the number of teeth/spaces in that quadrant).

'Tooth spaces' is included (not just teeth) because the alveoloplasty involves the ridge in the area of the teeth or the spaces where teeth are/were. So D7310 applies when the alveoloplasty (with extractions) involves four or more teeth or tooth spaces in a quadrant. Getting the count right matters for coding: if only three teeth/spaces are involved in the quadrant, D7311 (not D7310) is correct — using D7310 for three or fewer would be denied/corrected. So the dentist codes by the number of teeth/spaces per quadrant (four or more → D7310; one to three → D7311). The dentist uses the code matching the extent. For patients, understanding that D7310 is for four or more teeth/spaces per quadrant (versus D7311 for one to three) clarifies the code's scope. It's for the larger extent. The dentist codes by the count. Understanding this helps patients see that D7310 specifically covers alveoloplasty (with extractions) involving four or more teeth or tooth spaces per quadrant — versus D7311 for one to three teeth/spaces per quadrant — with the code reported per quadrant (a separate code per quadrant treated) and chosen by the number of teeth/spaces involved, so the extent of the alveoloplasty in each quadrant determines which code (D7310 vs D7311) applies.

Documentation and bundling

Documentation is important for alveoloplasty, and understanding why clarifies the billing.

Documentation is especially important for alveoloplasty with extractions (D7310) because of 'bundling' — many payers consider routine bone smoothing to be part of the extraction (bundling it into the extraction reimbursement) and won't pay separately for alveoloplasty unless it's clearly a distinct, significant procedure. The ADA's language emphasizes that alveoloplasty is a separate and distinct procedure from the extractions — not the minor, routine smoothing that's inherent in removing a tooth. So to support billing D7310 separately, the documentation must establish that significant, distinct recontouring (beyond routine extraction smoothing) was performed and was necessary. Without this, the payer may bundle it (paying nothing extra for the alveoloplasty).

Supporting documentation includes: the operative report — clearly describing the specific bone recontouring performed (the significant reshaping of the ridge), the clinical reason it was necessary beyond the routine extraction (e.g., preparing the ridge for an immediate denture, correcting significant irregularities or undercuts), and ideally the additional surgical time/effort; radiographs and intraoral photos (pre- and post-operative) showing the ridge and the recontouring; and a narrative explaining the necessity. Also, the documentation should support the tooth/space count (four or more for D7310). So thorough documentation distinguishes the alveoloplasty from the extraction and supports separate reimbursement. The dentist's office documents the procedure thoroughly. For patients, understanding that documentation is important — to establish the alveoloplasty as a distinct, significant procedure and avoid bundling — clarifies the billing. The recontouring must be documented as distinct. The office documents it thoroughly. Understanding this helps patients see that for alveoloplasty with extractions (D7310), thorough documentation is important — an operative report describing the significant, distinct ridge recontouring (beyond routine extraction smoothing) and its necessity (e.g., for a denture), with radiographs/photos — because many payers otherwise bundle alveoloplasty into the extraction (paying nothing extra), so establishing it as a separate, significant procedure (and supporting the four-or-more count) is key to separate reimbursement.

Frequently asked questions

What is the D7310 dental code?

It's alveoloplasty in conjunction with extractions, four or more teeth or tooth spaces per quadrant — the significant surgical reshaping of the alveolar ridge (the bony ridge) at the same time as removing teeth, in a quadrant involving four or more teeth/spaces, typically to prepare the ridge for a denture. It's reported per quadrant.

What is alveoloplasty?

The surgical recontouring (reshaping and smoothing) of the alveolar ridge — the bony ridge that holds/held the teeth — to create a smooth, even ridge (removing sharp edges, projections, and undercuts). It's typically done to prepare the ridge for a denture (so it fits comfortably) or to correct bony irregularities.

How is it different from the extraction?

Alveoloplasty is a separate and distinct procedure from the extractions — not the routine, minor bone smoothing inherent in removing a tooth, but additional, significant recontouring of the ridge. The extractions are coded separately; D7310 reports the additional alveoloplasty done alongside them.

What's the difference between D7310 and D7311?

Both are alveoloplasty with extractions, divided by the number of teeth/spaces per quadrant. D7310 is for four or more teeth or tooth spaces per quadrant; D7311 is for one to three. The code is reported per quadrant, chosen by the number of teeth/spaces involved in that quadrant.

How much does it cost?

Often around 200 to 500 USD per quadrant for the significant ridge recontouring (separate from the extraction fees, which are additional). It's commonly part of preparing for an immediate denture. The fee is per quadrant.

Why is documentation important?

Many payers bundle alveoloplasty into the extraction (considering routine smoothing part of it) and won't pay separately unless it's clearly distinct and significant. The operative note must document the significant recontouring (beyond routine smoothing) and its necessity (e.g., for a denture) to support separate reimbursement.

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.