What D7670 means

D7670 covers the closed reduction of an alveolus fracture, which may include stabilization of teeth. "D" is dental, "76" is this oral surgery group, and "70" is this alveolus closed reduction. The alveolus (alveolar bone / alveolar process) is the part of the jaw bone that holds the teeth — the tooth-bearing bone (the sockets and surrounding bone). An alveolar (or dentoalveolar) fracture is a fracture of this tooth-bearing bone — often a segment of the alveolar bone (with one or more teeth in it) is fractured/displaced (e.g., from trauma to the teeth/jaw — a blow that breaks off and displaces a piece of bone-and-teeth). This is distinct from a fracture of the main jaw body. D7670 is for treating such a fracture by closed reduction — realigning the displaced segment WITHOUT a surgical incision — and it may include stabilization of teeth (the teeth in the segment are wired, banded, or splinted together with adjacent teeth to hold the realigned segment while it heals).

So it's realigning a fractured tooth-bearing (alveolar) bone segment without a surgical incision, and splinting the teeth to hold it — the closed reduction approach for the alveolus.

Alveolar/dentoalveolar fractures are common in dental trauma — e.g., a fall, sports injury, or blow to the mouth that fractures a segment of the alveolar bone (often in the front) along with the teeth in it. Treating it involves repositioning the displaced segment (and teeth) back into the correct position (so the teeth are aligned and the bite is correct) and stabilizing it — typically splinting the teeth (bonding a splint/wire across the involved and adjacent teeth) to hold the segment while the bone (and the teeth's attachment) heals. For a closed reduction (D7670), this is done without a surgical incision. The teeth in the segment are also monitored (they may need endodontic/root canal treatment later if the pulp is damaged). It's often handled by an oral surgeon or dentist. This code is in the simple-fracture series; the open version is D7671 (compound parallels D7770/D7771). Coverage may involve dental or medical (trauma). Documentation supports the claim.

When it's typically used

D7670 is reported for treating an alveolus (tooth-bearing bone) fracture — often a dentoalveolar segment fracture (a piece of bone with teeth) — by closed reduction (realigning it without a surgical incision), with stabilization of the teeth (splinting) as needed. It's used for a simple alveolar fracture (common in dental trauma) managed non-surgically. D7671 is the open version.

How much does D7670 cost?

Closed reduction of an alveolar fracture (with tooth stabilization) is a moderate fee, often roughly 225 to 1,000+ USD depending on region and the extent — for repositioning the segment and splinting the teeth. It's part of dental trauma care (the teeth may need further treatment — e.g., root canals — separately). It's a different setting than the major jaw fractures (often handled in a dental/oral surgery office for isolated dentoalveolar trauma). Verify your specific coverage.

Is D7670 covered by insurance?

Coverage may involve dental or medical benefits — alveolar/dentoalveolar fractures are dental trauma (dental insurance often relevant), though significant trauma may involve medical. Documentation of the fracture (the alveolar/dentoalveolar fracture, the displaced segment/teeth) and the closed reduction with tooth stabilization supports the claim. It's distinguished from the open version (D7671) and from the main jaw fracture codes. The teeth's further treatment (if needed) is separate. Verifying coverage helps.

What an alveolar (dentoalveolar) fracture is

An alveolar fracture involves the tooth-bearing bone, and understanding it clarifies the code.

The alveolus (alveolar bone / alveolar process) is the part of the jaw that holds the teeth — the bone containing the tooth sockets, surrounding and supporting the teeth (the upper alveolus is part of the maxilla; the lower is part of the mandible). An alveolar (or dentoalveolar) fracture is a fracture of this tooth-bearing bone — distinct from a fracture of the main jaw body. Commonly, it's a 'dentoalveolar' fracture: a segment of the alveolar bone, with one or more teeth in it, is fractured and displaced as a unit (the teeth and their supporting bone move together) — for example, a blow to the front teeth can fracture off a piece of the alveolar ridge containing several teeth, displacing it.

This is a common form of dental trauma — from falls, sports injuries, blows to the mouth, or accidents (often affecting the front of the mouth/upper front teeth). It's a combined injury — the bone and the teeth (and their attachments) are injured together. It differs from a simple tooth injury (a tooth alone being loosened/displaced, without a bone segment fracture) and a major jaw fracture (the main maxilla/mandible body). Understanding this helps patients see that an alveolar (dentoalveolar) fracture is a fracture of the alveolus — the tooth-bearing bone (the part of the jaw containing the tooth sockets) — distinct from a fracture of the main jaw body, and commonly a 'dentoalveolar' fracture where a segment of the alveolar bone with one or more teeth in it is fractured and displaced as a unit (e.g., from a blow to the front teeth) — a common form of dental trauma (from falls, sports, blows to the mouth) that's a combined bone-and-teeth injury, treated by repositioning and stabilizing the displaced segment (D7670 for the closed approach).

Closed reduction and tooth stabilization

Closed reduction repositions and splints the segment, and understanding this clarifies the procedure.

Closed reduction of an alveolar fracture (D7670) involves: repositioning (reduction) — manually repositioning the displaced alveolar segment (with its teeth) back into its correct position — done without a surgical incision (the 'closed' approach): the provider gently manipulates the segment/teeth back into proper alignment (so the teeth are in their correct position and the bite is right); and stabilization of the teeth — holding the repositioned segment in place by stabilizing the teeth — typically splinting: bonding a splint (a wire or other material) across the involved teeth and the adjacent stable teeth, so the injured segment is held by being splinted to the neighboring teeth (which act as anchors). The splint holds the segment stable while the bone and the teeth's periodontal attachments heal.

The splint typically stays for a healing period (often a few weeks, depending on the injury). During this time, the segment heals in its repositioned position. The provider also assesses and monitors the teeth. After healing, the splint is removed. Understanding this helps patients see that closed reduction of an alveolar fracture (D7670) repositions the displaced segment and stabilizes the teeth — manually repositioning the displaced alveolar segment (with its teeth) back into correct alignment without a surgical incision (the closed approach, so the teeth are properly positioned and the bite is right), then stabilizing it by splinting the teeth (bonding a wire/splint across the involved and adjacent stable teeth, which anchor the injured segment) to hold it while the bone and the teeth's attachments heal — with the splint staying for a healing period (often a few weeks), the teeth monitored, and the splint removed after healing.

Caring for the injured teeth

The teeth in the fracture need care, and understanding this clarifies the broader treatment.

Because a dentoalveolar fracture injures the teeth (and their attachments) along with the bone, the teeth require assessment and follow-up: pulp (nerve) status — the trauma can damage the teeth's pulp (the nerve/blood supply inside) — sometimes the pulp dies (becomes non-vital), which may require root canal treatment (endodontic therapy) later; so the teeth's pulp vitality is monitored over time, and root canal treatment is done if a tooth's pulp doesn't survive; periodontal healing — the teeth's attachment to the bone (periodontal ligament) is injured and needs to heal (the splinting supports this); the teeth may be loose initially and firm up as they heal; possible complications — monitoring for complications like root resorption (the body resorbing part of a root), ankylosis (the tooth fusing to bone), or infection; and the bite/alignment — ensuring the teeth heal in the correct position and bite.

This is why dentoalveolar trauma care extends beyond the initial reduction — the provider follows the teeth over time (with check-ups, vitality tests, and X-rays) to detect and manage any issues. The goal is to save the teeth and bone and restore function. Understanding this helps patients see that the teeth in an alveolar (dentoalveolar) fracture need ongoing care beyond the fracture reduction — because the trauma injures the teeth and their attachments along with the bone, the teeth require assessment and follow-up: monitoring the pulp (nerve) status (the trauma can damage or kill the pulp, possibly requiring root canal treatment later), supporting the periodontal healing (the splinting helping the attachment heal, with initially loose teeth firming up), watching for complications (like root resorption, ankylosis, or infection), and ensuring correct alignment/bite — so dentoalveolar trauma care extends over time (with check-ups, vitality tests, and X-rays), aiming to save the teeth and bone and restore function.

Alveolus closed vs open, and the codes

D7670 is the closed alveolus option, and understanding the codes clarifies the coding.

The alveolus, like the other bones, has open and closed reduction codes. Notably, for the alveolus, the closed code comes first numerically: D7670 — alveolus, closed reduction, may include stabilization of teeth (this code); D7671 — alveolus, open reduction, may include stabilization of teeth. So D7670 (closed) and D7671 (open) are the simple-fracture alveolus pair, differing by the approach. (In the compound series, the parallels are D7770 alveolus open and D7771 alveolus closed.) Both alveolus codes note 'may include stabilization of teeth' — reflecting that splinting is commonly part of the treatment.

The choice of closed (D7670) vs open (D7671) depends on the fracture: closed reduction when the displaced segment can be repositioned without a surgical incision (common for many dentoalveolar fractures); open reduction (D7671) when a surgical incision is needed to reduce the fracture (e.g., a more complex or displaced fracture that can't be adequately repositioned closed). Understanding this helps patients see that D7670 is the closed reduction option for the alveolus (tooth-bearing bone) — the closed counterpart of D7671 (open) in the simple-fracture series (differing by the approach: no surgical incision for D7670 vs a surgical incision for D7671), both noting 'may include stabilization of teeth' (splinting being common), with parallel compound-series codes (D7770 open, D7771 closed) — so the provider codes an alveolar fracture by the series and approach, choosing closed reduction (D7670) when the segment can be repositioned and splinted without a surgical incision or open reduction (D7671) when a surgical incision is needed.

Frequently asked questions

What is the D7670 dental code?

It's the closed reduction of an alveolus (tooth-bearing bone) fracture, which may include stabilization of teeth — treating a fractured alveolar bone (often a dentoalveolar segment: a piece of bone with teeth) by realigning it WITHOUT a surgical incision, and splinting the teeth to hold it. It's the closed counterpart of D7671 (open).

What is an alveolar (dentoalveolar) fracture?

A fracture of the alveolus — the tooth-bearing bone (the part of the jaw holding the teeth) — distinct from a main jaw fracture. Often it's a 'dentoalveolar' fracture: a segment of bone with one or more teeth in it is fractured and displaced as a unit (e.g., from a blow to the front teeth). It's a common dental trauma.

What does the treatment involve?

Manually repositioning the displaced segment (with its teeth) back into correct alignment without a surgical incision (the closed approach), then stabilizing it by splinting — bonding a wire/splint across the involved and adjacent stable teeth to hold the segment while the bone and the teeth's attachments heal (the splint typically staying a few weeks).

What happens to the injured teeth?

They need ongoing care — the trauma can damage or kill the teeth's pulp (nerve), possibly requiring root canal treatment later, so the pulp is monitored over time. The periodontal attachment heals (supported by splinting), and the teeth are watched for complications (like root resorption or ankylosis). Follow-up with vitality tests and X-rays is important.

How is it different from D7671?

D7670 is the closed reduction (realigning the segment without a surgical incision) — common for many dentoalveolar fractures. D7671 is the open reduction (a surgical incision to reduce the fracture) — for more complex/displaced fractures that can't be adequately repositioned closed. Both may include tooth stabilization (splinting).

How much does it cost, and what insurance applies?

Often around 225 to 1,000+ USD for repositioning the segment and splinting the teeth. Coverage may involve dental or medical benefits (it's dental trauma, though significant trauma may involve medical). The teeth's further treatment (e.g., root canals) is separate. Verify your specific coverage.

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.