What D7940 means

D7940 covers an osteoplasty for orthognathic deformities. "D" is dental, "79" is this oral surgery area, and "40" is this orthognathic osteoplasty. 'Osteo-' means bone and '-plasty' means surgical reshaping/forming; so an osteoplasty is the surgical reshaping/recontouring of bone. 'Orthognathic' (ortho = straight/correct, gnathic = jaw) refers to the jaws and their alignment — 'orthognathic deformities' are deformities of the jaws (their size, shape, position, or alignment). So D7940 is reshaping the jaw bone to help correct an orthognathic (jaw) deformity.

So it's surgically reshaping the jaw bone as part of correcting a jaw deformity — recontouring the bone to address the deformity.

D7940 is associated with the reconstruction of the jaws to correct deformity — congenital (present from birth), developmental (arising during growth/development), or acquired (from trauma or prior surgery). Orthognathic deformities include conditions where the jaws are misaligned, malpositioned, over- or under-developed, or asymmetric — causing functional problems (with the bite, chewing, breathing, speech) and/or facial-form concerns. Orthognathic surgery corrects these by surgically repositioning and/or reshaping the jaw bones. An osteoplasty (D7940) is the bone-reshaping/recontouring component — surgically forming/recontouring the jaw bone to correct the deformity's contour/shape (as opposed to the osteotomy codes, which involve cutting the bone to reposition jaw segments — see the related codes). It addresses the shape of the bone as part of the corrective surgery. (Orthognathic surgery is typically planned with orthodontics — 'surgical-orthodontic' treatment — to correct both the jaw position and the bite.) It's performed by an oral and maxillofacial surgeon. These procedures correct functional/structural jaw deformities and are frequently medically necessary, so medical coverage often applies (with documentation of the deformity and medical necessity). This code is in the orthognathic/reconstruction area (D7940-D7949). Documentation supports the claim.

When it's typically used

D7940 is reported for an osteoplasty (surgical reshaping/recontouring of the jaw bone) for orthognathic deformities — as part of correcting a congenital, developmental, or acquired jaw deformity. It addresses the contour/shape of the jaw bone within orthognathic (corrective jaw) surgery. It's distinct from the osteotomy codes (D7941-D7949), which cut the bone to reposition jaw segments.

How much does D7940 cost?

An osteoplasty for orthognathic deformities is a surgical procedure — its cost depends on the extent and the setting (often part of a larger orthognathic surgery, under general anesthesia, in a hospital/surgical facility). Sample fee-schedule values are in the four-figure range (varying by region/case). As orthognathic surgery is frequently medically necessary, medical coverage often applies. Verify your specific coverage.

Is D7940 covered by insurance?

Orthognathic surgery (including osteoplasty, D7940) is frequently medically necessary — correcting functional jaw deformities (affecting the bite, chewing, breathing, speech) or significant structural/congenital deformities — so it's often covered under medical benefits (check both medical and dental plans, and note many plans have specific orthognathic-surgery medical-necessity criteria). Documentation of the deformity, the functional impairment, and the medical necessity is essential, and preauthorization is typically required. Verifying coverage and criteria helps.

Osteoplasty and orthognathic surgery

Osteoplasty reshapes bone within corrective jaw surgery, and understanding this clarifies the code.

Understanding the terms clarifies D7940. 'Osteoplasty' = 'osteo-' (bone) + '-plasty' (surgical reshaping/forming) — the surgical reshaping/recontouring of bone. 'Orthognathic' = 'ortho-' (straight/correct) + 'gnathic' (jaw) — relating to the jaws and their correct alignment. So an 'osteoplasty for orthognathic deformities' is reshaping the jaw bone as part of correcting a jaw (orthognathic) deformity. Orthognathic surgery is the field of surgically correcting deformities of the jaws — repositioning and reshaping the jaw bones to correct their size, shape, position, and alignment.

Within orthognathic surgery, an osteoplasty (D7940) is specifically the bone-reshaping/recontouring component — surgically forming or recontouring the jaw bone to address the deformity's contour. This contrasts with the osteotomy procedures (cutting the bone to move/reposition jaw segments — the D7941-D7949 codes). So an osteoplasty reshapes the bone's contour, while an osteotomy cuts and repositions it — both being tools of orthognathic correction. D7940 is the osteoplasty (reshaping) for orthognathic deformity correction. So osteoplasty reshapes the jaw bone within orthognathic surgery. Understanding this helps patients see that 'osteoplasty' ('osteo-' bone + '-plasty' surgical reshaping/forming) is the surgical reshaping/recontouring of bone, and 'orthognathic' ('ortho-' straight/correct + 'gnathic' jaw) relates to the jaws and their correct alignment — so an 'osteoplasty for orthognathic deformities' is reshaping the jaw bone as part of correcting a jaw deformity (orthognathic surgery being the field of surgically correcting jaw deformities by repositioning and reshaping the jaw bones to correct their size, shape, position, and alignment) — within which an osteoplasty (D7940) is specifically the bone-reshaping/recontouring component (surgically forming or recontouring the jaw bone to address the deformity's contour), contrasting with the osteotomy procedures (cutting the bone to move/reposition jaw segments, the D7941-D7949 codes), so an osteoplasty reshapes the bone's contour while an osteotomy cuts and repositions it (both tools of orthognathic correction).

What orthognathic deformities are

These are jaw deformities affecting function and form, and understanding them clarifies the indication.

Understanding orthognathic deformities clarifies the indication for D7940. An orthognathic deformity is a deformity of the jaws — their size, shape, position, or alignment. Such deformities can be: congenital — present from birth (e.g., as part of a craniofacial condition); developmental — arising as the jaws grow (the most common — e.g., a jaw that grows too much or too little, or asymmetrically, leading to a malocclusion and facial imbalance); or acquired — resulting from trauma (an injury that deformed the jaw) or prior surgery.

The effects can include: a malocclusion — the upper and lower teeth/jaws don't meet properly (e.g., a severe underbite, overbite, open bite, or crossbite) due to the jaw discrepancy; functional problems — difficulty with chewing, biting, speech, or breathing (some jaw deformities contribute to airway issues); and facial-form concerns — facial imbalance or asymmetry from the jaw discrepancy. When a jaw deformity is significant — beyond what orthodontics (braces) alone can correct (since braces move teeth, not the jaw bones) — orthognathic surgery is used to correct the jaw bones themselves, often combined with orthodontics. So orthognathic deformities are jaw deformities that orthognathic surgery (including D7940) corrects. Understanding this helps patients see that an orthognathic deformity is a deformity of the jaws (their size, shape, position, or alignment) that can be congenital (present from birth, e.g., part of a craniofacial condition), developmental (arising as the jaws grow — the most common, e.g., a jaw growing too much or too little, or asymmetrically, leading to a malocclusion and facial imbalance), or acquired (from trauma or prior surgery) — with effects including a malocclusion (the upper and lower teeth/jaws not meeting properly, e.g., a severe underbite, overbite, open bite, or crossbite), functional problems (difficulty with chewing, biting, speech, or breathing, some deformities contributing to airway issues), and facial-form concerns (facial imbalance or asymmetry) — so when a jaw deformity is significant (beyond what braces alone can correct, since braces move teeth, not the jaw bones), orthognathic surgery corrects the jaw bones themselves, often combined with orthodontics.

Surgical-orthodontic treatment

Orthognathic surgery is combined with orthodontics, and understanding this clarifies the context.

Understanding how orthognathic surgery fits with orthodontics clarifies the context of D7940. Correcting a significant jaw deformity usually involves combined surgical-orthodontic treatment — a coordinated effort between the oral/maxillofacial surgeon and the orthodontist, because the problem involves both the jaw bones (needing surgery) and the teeth/bite (needing orthodontics). The typical sequence: pre-surgical orthodontics — braces first align the teeth within each jaw and 'decompensate' the bite (positioning the teeth properly on their respective jaws, even though this may temporarily worsen the bite) so the jaws can be correctly aligned by surgery; orthognathic surgery — the surgeon repositions/reshapes the jaw bones (via osteotomies and osteoplasty, like D7940) to correct the jaw relationship — moving the jaws into proper position and form; and post-surgical orthodontics — braces finish detailing the bite after surgery.

The result corrects both the jaw deformity (the underlying skeletal problem) and the bite — improving function (chewing, biting, sometimes breathing/airway) and facial balance. So D7940 (and the osteotomy codes) are the surgical part of this combined treatment. This combined approach is why orthognathic surgery is carefully planned (with imaging, models, and increasingly 3D/virtual surgical planning). So orthognathic surgery is part of combined surgical-orthodontic treatment. Understanding this helps patients see that correcting a significant jaw deformity usually involves combined surgical-orthodontic treatment (a coordinated effort between the oral/maxillofacial surgeon and the orthodontist, because the problem involves both the jaw bones needing surgery and the teeth/bite needing orthodontics) — the typical sequence being pre-surgical orthodontics (braces first aligning the teeth within each jaw and 'decompensating' the bite, positioning the teeth properly on their respective jaws even though this may temporarily worsen the bite, so the jaws can be correctly aligned by surgery), orthognathic surgery (the surgeon repositioning/reshaping the jaw bones via osteotomies and osteoplasty, like D7940, to correct the jaw relationship), and post-surgical orthodontics (braces finishing the bite after surgery) — the result correcting both the jaw deformity and the bite (improving function and facial balance), so D7940 and the osteotomy codes are the surgical part of this combined, carefully planned treatment.

Where D7940 fits in the codes

D7940 opens the orthognathic surgery codes, and understanding this clarifies the coding.

Understanding where D7940 sits clarifies the coding. D7940 begins the orthognathic surgery group of codes — for the surgical correction of jaw deformities — which includes: osteoplasty (D7940, this code) — reshaping the jaw bone for orthognathic deformities; the osteotomy codes — cutting the bone to reposition jaw segments: mandibular rami osteotomy (D7941, and D7943 with bone graft), segmented/subapical osteotomy (D7944), body of mandible osteotomy (D7945), and the maxillary LeFort osteotomies (D7946 LeFort I total, D7947 LeFort I segmented, D7948/D7949 LeFort II/III); and related reconstruction codes (jaw bone grafts D7950, repair of maxillofacial defects D7955, etc.).

D7940 specifically is the osteoplasty — the bone-reshaping component (vs the osteotomies, which cut and reposition). In a given orthognathic case, the surgeon uses the appropriate codes for the procedures performed (e.g., a LeFort I osteotomy of the maxilla plus a mandibular osteotomy for a double-jaw surgery, with osteoplasty/recontouring as needed). The code(s) reflect the specific surgery. So D7940 is the osteoplasty opening the orthognathic surgery codes. Understanding this helps patients see that D7940 begins the orthognathic surgery group of codes (for the surgical correction of jaw deformities), which includes osteoplasty (D7940, this code — reshaping the jaw bone for orthognathic deformities), the osteotomy codes (cutting the bone to reposition jaw segments: mandibular rami osteotomy D7941, and D7943 with bone graft; segmented/subapical osteotomy D7944; body of mandible osteotomy D7945; and the maxillary LeFort osteotomies D7946 LeFort I total, D7947 LeFort I segmented, D7948/D7949 LeFort II/III), and related reconstruction codes (jaw bone grafts D7950, repair of maxillofacial defects D7955) — so D7940 specifically is the osteoplasty (the bone-reshaping component, vs the osteotomies which cut and reposition), with the surgeon in a given case using the appropriate codes for the procedures performed (e.g., a LeFort I osteotomy plus a mandibular osteotomy for a double-jaw surgery, with osteoplasty/recontouring as needed), the code(s) reflecting the specific surgery.

Frequently asked questions

What is the D7940 dental code?

It's an osteoplasty for orthognathic deformities — surgically reshaping/recontouring the jaw bone as part of correcting an orthognathic (jaw) deformity. It's associated with reconstruction of the jaws to correct congenital, developmental, or acquired (traumatic/surgical) deformity. It's the bone-reshaping component within orthognathic (corrective jaw) surgery.

What does 'osteoplasty' mean?

'Osteo-' means bone and '-plasty' means surgical reshaping/forming — so an osteoplasty is the surgical reshaping/recontouring of bone. For orthognathic deformities, it's reshaping the jaw bone to help correct the deformity's contour/shape (as opposed to an osteotomy, which cuts the bone to reposition jaw segments).

What is an orthognathic deformity?

A deformity of the jaws — their size, shape, position, or alignment — which can be congenital (from birth), developmental (arising as the jaws grow), or acquired (from trauma/surgery). It can cause a malocclusion (the teeth/jaws not meeting properly, e.g., a severe underbite or open bite), functional problems (chewing, speech, breathing), and facial imbalance.

How is it different from an osteotomy?

An osteoplasty (D7940) reshapes/recontours the bone's surface/contour. An osteotomy (D7941-D7949) cuts through the bone to reposition jaw segments (moving the jaw into a new position). Both are tools of orthognathic surgery — osteoplasty for reshaping, osteotomy for repositioning. A given surgery may use the relevant codes for what's done.

Is surgery combined with braces?

Usually — correcting a significant jaw deformity involves combined surgical-orthodontic treatment: pre-surgical orthodontics (braces align the teeth on each jaw), then orthognathic surgery (repositioning/reshaping the jaw bones), then post-surgical orthodontics (finishing the bite). The surgeon and orthodontist coordinate, because the problem involves both the jaw bones and the bite.

What does it cost, and is it covered?

It's a surgical procedure (often part of a larger orthognathic surgery under general anesthesia) — cost in the four-figure range, varying by extent/region. As orthognathic surgery is frequently medically necessary (correcting functional jaw deformities), medical coverage often applies (check both plans; many have specific medical-necessity criteria, and preauthorization is typically required). Verify your 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.