What D7671 means

D7671 covers the open reduction of an alveolus fracture, which may include stabilization of teeth. "D" is dental, "76" is this oral surgery group, and "71" is this alveolus open reduction. It's the same type of injury as D7670 (an alveolar/dentoalveolar fracture — a fracture of the tooth-bearing bone, often a segment with teeth, treated by reduction and tooth stabilization) but treated by open reduction. 'Open reduction' means a surgical incision is made to access and reduce the fracture — the surgeon surgically exposes the fractured alveolar bone (raising a flap) to directly realign the displaced segment (and may fix it), rather than repositioning it without an incision (the closed approach, D7670). As with D7670, it 'may include stabilization of teeth' — splinting the teeth to hold the realigned segment.

So it's surgically opening and realigning a fractured tooth-bearing (alveolar) bone segment (and splinting the teeth) — the open reduction approach for the alveolus.

Open reduction (D7671) is used for alveolar fractures that need surgical access to reduce — when the displaced segment can't be adequately repositioned by closed manipulation (e.g., a more complex, severely displaced, or impacted fracture, or one where direct surgical access is needed to realign and stabilize it properly). The surgeon raises a flap to expose the fracture, directly realigns the alveolar segment (and teeth), stabilizes it (splinting the teeth, and possibly direct fixation of the bone segment if needed), then closes the flap. As with the closed version, the teeth in the segment are monitored and may need further treatment (root canals, etc.). The choice of open (D7671) vs closed (D7670) depends on the fracture. It's performed by an oral surgeon. This code is in the simple-fracture series; the compound parallel is D7770. For full details on alveolar/dentoalveolar fractures, tooth stabilization, and caring for the injured teeth, see D7670 (the closed version — the same injury and principles, differing in the surgical approach). Coverage may involve dental or medical (trauma). Documentation supports the claim.

When it's typically used

D7671 is reported for treating an alveolus (tooth-bearing bone) fracture — often a dentoalveolar segment fracture — by open reduction (a surgical incision to access and realign it), with stabilization of the teeth (splinting) as needed. It's used for a simple alveolar fracture that needs surgical access to reduce (e.g., a more displaced/complex one that can't be adequately repositioned closed). It's the open counterpart of D7670.

How much does D7671 cost?

Open reduction of an alveolar fracture (with tooth stabilization) is a moderate-to-significant fee, often roughly 275 to 1,500+ USD depending on region and the extent — for the surgical access, realignment, and splinting. It's somewhat more involved than the closed version (D7670), reflecting the surgical approach. It's part of dental trauma care (the teeth may need further treatment separately). Verify your specific coverage.

Is D7671 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) and the open reduction (the surgical incision, reduction, tooth stabilization) supports the claim. It's distinguished from the closed version (D7670). The teeth's further treatment (if needed) is separate. Verifying coverage helps.

Open reduction of an alveolar fracture

Open reduction surgically accesses the alveolar fracture, and understanding this clarifies the code.

D7671 is the open reduction of an alveolar fracture — the same injury as D7670 (an alveolar/dentoalveolar fracture, often a displaced segment with teeth), but treated by open reduction. The difference is the surgical access: closed reduction (D7670) — repositioning the displaced segment without a surgical incision (manually manipulating it and splinting); open reduction (D7671) — making a surgical incision (raising a gum flap) to surgically expose the fractured alveolar bone, then directly realigning the segment under direct vision (and stabilizing it).

The open approach allows direct visualization and manipulation of the fractured segment — useful when the fracture can't be adequately reduced by closed manipulation. The surgeon raises a flap, directly realigns the displaced alveolar segment (and teeth), stabilizes it (splinting the teeth, and possibly directly fixing the bone segment if needed for stability), and closes the flap. Understanding this helps patients see that D7671 is the open reduction of an alveolar fracture — the same injury as D7670 but treated by open reduction (making a surgical incision and raising a flap to surgically expose the fractured bone and directly realign the segment under direct vision, then stabilizing it) rather than the closed approach (repositioning without an incision) — so D7671 involves surgically opening the area to reduce the fracture, useful when it can't be adequately reduced by closed manipulation, with the surgeon directly realigning the segment, stabilizing it (splinting the teeth, possibly fixing the bone), and closing the flap.

When open reduction is needed for the alveolus

Open reduction suits certain alveolar fractures, and understanding this clarifies the choice.

Many dentoalveolar fractures can be managed by closed reduction (D7670). But open reduction (D7671) is needed when: the segment can't be adequately repositioned closed — e.g., a severely displaced fracture, or one where the bone fragments are positioned such that closed manipulation can't realign them properly; the fracture is more complex — comminuted (fragmented), impacted, or otherwise complex, requiring direct surgical access to realign; direct fixation is needed — the bone segment needs direct fixation (e.g., a small plate/wire on the bone) for stability, which requires surgical access; or other factors make surgical access necessary for a proper reduction.

The surgeon evaluates the fracture (the displacement, complexity, and whether it can be reduced closed) and chooses the approach: closed (D7670) for fractures repositionable without surgery, open (D7671) for those needing surgical access. The goal (with either approach) is the same — to realign the segment and teeth properly and stabilize them for healing — but the open approach is used when surgical access is required. Understanding this helps patients see that open reduction (D7671) is needed for alveolar fractures that can't be adequately reduced closed — while many dentoalveolar fractures are managed closed (D7670), open reduction is used when the segment can't be adequately repositioned by closed manipulation (e.g., a severely displaced fracture), the fracture is more complex (comminuted, impacted), direct fixation of the bone is needed, or other factors make surgical access necessary — so the surgeon evaluates the fracture and chooses closed (D7670) for repositionable ones or open (D7671) for those needing surgical access, with the same goal achieved via the approach the fracture requires.

Shared dentoalveolar trauma principles

D7671 shares the dentoalveolar trauma principles, and understanding this clarifies the broader care.

Since D7671 treats the same type of injury as D7670 (an alveolar/dentoalveolar fracture), differing only in the open surgical approach, everything about dentoalveolar fractures applies: the injury — a fracture of the tooth-bearing bone (often a segment with teeth, from dental trauma); the treatment goal — repositioning the displaced segment and teeth into the correct position and stabilizing them (splinting) for healing; tooth stabilization — splinting the teeth (to the adjacent stable teeth) to hold the segment during healing (the 'may include stabilization of teeth' in the code); and caring for the injured teeth — monitoring the teeth's pulp (nerve) status (with possible root canal treatment if a tooth's pulp doesn't survive the trauma), supporting the periodontal healing, and watching for complications (root resorption, ankylosis, infection) over time, with follow-up.

For the open approach specifically, there's also the surgical aspect (the flap, healing of the surgical site) in addition to the dentoalveolar care. The overall goal — saving the teeth and bone and restoring function — is the same. Understanding this helps patients see that D7671 shares the principles of dentoalveolar trauma care (detailed under D7670) — the same injury (a fracture of the tooth-bearing bone, often a segment with teeth), treatment goal (repositioning and stabilizing the segment and teeth for healing), tooth stabilization (splinting), and care for the injured teeth (monitoring the pulp/nerve status with possible root canal treatment, supporting periodontal healing, and watching for complications like root resorption over time, with follow-up) — differing only in the open surgical approach (adding the surgical aspect of the flap and its healing), with the same overall goal of saving the teeth and bone and restoring function.

The alveolus fracture codes

D7671 is the open alveolus option, and understanding the codes clarifies the coding.

The alveolus codes: D7670 — alveolus, closed reduction, may include stabilization of teeth; D7671 — alveolus, open reduction, may include stabilization of teeth (this code). So D7671 (open) is the counterpart of D7670 (closed), differing by the approach (a surgical incision for D7671 vs none for D7670). Both note 'may include stabilization of teeth' (splinting being common to both). In the compound series, the parallels are D7770 (alveolus open) and D7771 (alveolus closed).

The surgeon codes D7671 when an alveolar fracture is treated by open reduction (a surgical incision to access and reduce it — for fractures needing surgical access), and D7670 when by closed reduction. Understanding this helps patients see that D7671 is the open reduction option for the alveolus (tooth-bearing bone) — the open counterpart of D7670 (closed) in the simple-fracture series (differing by the approach: a surgical incision for D7671 vs none for D7670), both noting 'may include stabilization of teeth' (splinting common to both), with parallel compound-series codes (D7770 open, D7771 closed) — so the surgeon codes D7671 for an alveolar fracture treated by open reduction (needing surgical access to reduce) and D7670 for one treated by closed reduction (repositionable without an incision), selecting based on the series and the approach.

Frequently asked questions

What is the D7671 dental code?

It's the open reduction of an alveolus (tooth-bearing bone) fracture, which may include stabilization of teeth — treating a fractured alveolar bone (often a dentoalveolar segment with teeth) by making a surgical incision to access and realign it, and splinting the teeth. 'Open reduction' means a surgical incision is required. It's the open counterpart of D7670 (closed).

What's the difference from closed reduction (D7670)?

Open reduction (D7671) realigns the fracture through a surgical incision (raising a flap to surgically expose and directly realign the segment). Closed reduction (D7670) repositions the segment without a surgical incision (manual manipulation and splinting). D7671 is used when surgical access is needed to reduce the fracture.

When is open reduction needed for an alveolar fracture?

When the segment can't be adequately repositioned by closed manipulation — e.g., a severely displaced fracture, a more complex (comminuted or impacted) fracture, or one needing direct fixation of the bone for stability. Many dentoalveolar fractures are managed closed (D7670); open reduction (D7671) is for those needing surgical access.

What does it involve?

Making a surgical incision (raising a gum flap) to surgically expose the fractured alveolar bone, directly realigning the displaced segment (and teeth) under direct vision, stabilizing it (splinting the teeth, possibly directly fixing the bone segment), and closing the flap. The injured teeth are then monitored and cared for over time, as with any dentoalveolar trauma.

What happens to the injured teeth?

As with any dentoalveolar fracture, they need ongoing care — monitoring the pulp (nerve) status (with possible root canal treatment if a tooth's pulp doesn't survive the trauma), supporting periodontal healing (the splinting helping), and watching for complications (like root resorption or ankylosis) over time, with follow-up. See D7670 for more on the shared dentoalveolar care.

How much does it cost, and what insurance applies?

Often around 275 to 1,500+ USD for the surgical access, realignment, and splinting (somewhat more than the closed version, D7670). Coverage may involve dental or medical benefits (it's dental trauma, though significant trauma may involve medical). The teeth's further treatment 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.