What D7944 means

D7944 covers a segmented or subapical osteotomy (per sextant or quadrant). "D" is dental, "79" is this oral surgery area, and "44" is this segmented/subapical osteotomy. A 'segmented' osteotomy repositions a segment (portion) of the jaw — as opposed to the whole jaw. A 'subapical' osteotomy is one where the bone cut is below the apices (the tips of the tooth roots) — so a block of teeth, together with the bone around and below their roots, is freed and repositioned. It's reported per sextant (a sixth of the dental arch) or quadrant (a quarter). So D7944 is cutting and moving a segment of the jaw (a group of teeth with their bone).

So it's repositioning a portion of the jaw — a block of teeth with their surrounding bone — rather than the entire jaw, to correct the position of that segment.

A segmented/subapical osteotomy is used when a portion of the dental arch (a group of teeth and their bone) needs to be repositioned — to correct the position of that segment for the bite and alignment. Examples include: leveling or repositioning a group of teeth — moving a segment up, down, forward, back, or rotating it to correct its position (e.g., to level an arch, close or open spaces, or correct the position of a block of teeth); anterior subapical osteotomy — repositioning the front segment of teeth (e.g., setting back or repositioning protruded anterior teeth with their bone); and posterior segmental osteotomy — repositioning a posterior (back) segment. The cut is made below the root apices (subapical), so the teeth and their supporting bone move together as a block (preserving the teeth's attachment to their bone), and the segment is then fixed in the new position. It can be done alone or in combination with whole-jaw osteotomies (e.g., a LeFort I that's also segmented — see D7947 for the segmented maxilla) as part of comprehensive orthognathic correction. Because it's per segment, it's reported per sextant or quadrant (so multiple segments mean multiple units). It's done as part of orthognathic surgery, under anesthesia. It's performed by an oral and maxillofacial surgeon. These procedures are frequently medically necessary, so medical coverage often applies. This code is in the orthognathic surgery area (D7940-D7949). Documentation supports the claim.

When it's typically used

D7944 is reported for a segmented or subapical osteotomy — cutting and repositioning a segment of the jaw (a group of teeth with their surrounding bone), rather than the whole jaw — to correct the position of that segment as part of orthognathic surgery. The cut is subapical (below the tooth roots) so the teeth and bone move as a block. It's reported per sextant or quadrant.

How much does D7944 cost?

A segmented/subapical osteotomy is an orthognathic surgical procedure (under anesthesia) — its cost depends on the number of segments (reported per sextant/quadrant) and the setting; it's often part of a larger orthognathic surgery. Sample fee-schedule values are in the high-three to four-figure range per segment (varying by region/case). As it's frequently medically necessary, medical coverage often applies. Verify your specific coverage.

Is D7944 covered by insurance?

A segmented/subapical osteotomy (orthognathic surgery) is frequently medically necessary, so it's often covered under medical benefits (check both medical and dental plans; many have specific orthognathic-surgery criteria). Documentation of the deformity, the segment(s) being repositioned, and the medical necessity is essential, and preauthorization is typically required. Note it's reported per sextant or quadrant (so the number of segments matters). Verifying coverage helps.

Moving a segment, not the whole jaw

A segmental osteotomy repositions part of the arch, and understanding this clarifies the code.

Understanding the 'segmented' nature clarifies D7944. While the other orthognathic osteotomies reposition a whole jaw (the entire lower jaw via the rami, or the entire upper jaw via a LeFort I), a segmented osteotomy repositions just a segment — a portion of the dental arch (a group of teeth and their surrounding bone) — independently. The jaw is cut around a chosen segment, freeing that block of teeth-plus-bone so it can be moved to a new position (up, down, forward, back, or rotated), then fixed there.

This allows more localized correction — repositioning a specific group of teeth and their bone, rather than (or in addition to) moving the whole jaw. For example, the front teeth segment could be set back, or a back segment moved up to correct its level. It's a way to correct the position of part of an arch when that's what the deformity requires (whether alone or combined with whole-jaw movements). So a segmental osteotomy moves a portion of the jaw. Understanding this helps patients see that while the other orthognathic osteotomies reposition a whole jaw (the entire lower jaw via the rami, or the entire upper jaw via a LeFort I), a segmented osteotomy repositions just a segment — a portion of the dental arch (a group of teeth and their surrounding bone) — independently, the jaw cut around a chosen segment to free that block of teeth-plus-bone so it can be moved to a new position (up, down, forward, back, or rotated) and fixed there — allowing more localized correction (repositioning a specific group of teeth and their bone rather than, or in addition to, moving the whole jaw), for example setting back the front teeth segment or moving a back segment up to correct its level, a way to correct the position of part of an arch when the deformity requires it (alone or combined with whole-jaw movements).

What 'subapical' means

The cut is below the root tips so teeth move with their bone, and understanding this clarifies the technique.

Understanding 'subapical' clarifies the technique of D7944. 'Sub-' means below and 'apical' refers to the apex — the tip of a tooth's root. So a subapical osteotomy makes the bone cut below the apices of the teeth in the segment — beneath the root tips. This is important: by cutting below the roots, the teeth in the segment stay attached to their surrounding bone (the bone around and below their roots moves with them) — so the block of teeth-plus-bone is moved as a unit, with the teeth's attachment (the periodontal ligament, blood supply through the bone) preserved.

This is what makes it safe to move a group of teeth surgically — they're not cut individually or detached from their bone; rather, the whole segment (teeth + their bone) is mobilized below the roots and repositioned together. The blood supply to the segment is maintained (through the soft-tissue attachments), so the teeth and bone remain viable in their new position. So 'subapical' means the cut is below the roots, moving the teeth with their bone. Understanding this helps patients see that 'sub-' means below and 'apical' refers to the apex (the tip of a tooth's root), so a subapical osteotomy makes the bone cut below the apices of the teeth in the segment (beneath the root tips) — important because by cutting below the roots, the teeth in the segment stay attached to their surrounding bone (the bone around and below their roots moving with them), so the block of teeth-plus-bone is moved as a unit with the teeth's attachment (the periodontal ligament, blood supply through the bone) preserved — what makes it safe to move a group of teeth surgically (they're not cut individually or detached from their bone, but the whole segment is mobilized below the roots and repositioned together), the blood supply to the segment maintained (through the soft-tissue attachments) so the teeth and bone remain viable in their new position.

Reported per sextant or quadrant

The code is per segment unit, and understanding this clarifies the coding.

Understanding the 'per sextant or quadrant' reporting clarifies D7944. Unlike the whole-jaw osteotomies (coded once for the jaw), the segmented/subapical osteotomy is reported per sextant or quadrant — the units used to divide the dental arches: a sextant is one-sixth of the dentition (the arches are divided into six sextants — upper right/anterior/left and lower right/anterior/left); and a quadrant is one-quarter (the arches divided into four quadrants — upper right/left and lower right/left). So the code is reported based on the segment(s) operated — per sextant or quadrant involved.

This means if multiple segments (in different sextants/quadrants) are repositioned, the code is reported for each, reflecting the work done on each segment. The per-segment reporting accounts for the fact that segmental surgery can involve one or several segments. So the surgeon reports D7944 per sextant/quadrant operated. This contrasts with the whole-jaw codes (D7941/D7945 for the mandible, D7946 for the whole maxilla), which are per jaw. So D7944 is reported per segment (sextant/quadrant). Understanding this helps patients see that unlike the whole-jaw osteotomies (coded once for the jaw), the segmented/subapical osteotomy is reported per sextant or quadrant (the units dividing the dental arches — a sextant being one-sixth of the dentition, the arches divided into six sextants: upper right/anterior/left and lower right/anterior/left; and a quadrant one-quarter, the arches divided into four: upper right/left and lower right/left) — so the code is reported based on the segment(s) operated (per sextant or quadrant involved), meaning if multiple segments in different sextants/quadrants are repositioned the code is reported for each (reflecting the work on each segment), accounting for segmental surgery involving one or several segments, contrasting with the whole-jaw codes (D7941/D7945 for the mandible, D7946 for the whole maxilla) which are per jaw.

Where D7944 fits in the codes

D7944 is the segmental osteotomy among the orthognathic codes, and understanding this clarifies the coding.

Understanding where D7944 sits clarifies the coding. D7944 is among the orthognathic surgery codes (D7940-D7949). The osteotomy codes distinguish the type/extent of the bone cut: whole lower jaw — mandibular rami osteotomy (D7941, or D7943 with graft) and body of mandible osteotomy (D7945); segmental — segmented or subapical osteotomy (D7944, this code) — a portion of a jaw, per sextant/quadrant; and whole upper jaw — the LeFort osteotomies (D7946 LeFort I total, D7947 LeFort I segmented, D7948/D7949 LeFort II/III). So D7944 is the code for repositioning a segment (rather than a whole jaw).

Note the relationship with D7947 (LeFort I segmented): a maxillary osteotomy can itself be segmented (the upper jaw is down-fractured via a LeFort I AND divided into segments) — that combined whole-maxilla-plus-segmentation is captured by D7947. D7944 is the segmental/subapical osteotomy in general (a segment of a jaw), used when a segment is repositioned (whether in the upper or lower jaw, alone or with other procedures). The surgeon codes D7944 per segment operated, alongside any whole-jaw codes for the case. So D7944 is the segmental osteotomy among the orthognathic codes. Understanding this helps patients see that D7944 is among the orthognathic surgery codes (D7940-D7949), the osteotomy codes distinguishing the type/extent of the bone cut — whole lower jaw (mandibular rami osteotomy D7941, or D7943 with graft, and body of mandible osteotomy D7945), segmental (segmented or subapical osteotomy D7944, this code — a portion of a jaw, per sextant/quadrant), and whole upper jaw (the LeFort osteotomies D7946 LeFort I total, D7947 LeFort I segmented, D7948/D7949 LeFort II/III) — so D7944 is the code for repositioning a segment (rather than a whole jaw), noting the relationship with D7947 (a maxillary osteotomy can itself be segmented — the upper jaw down-fractured via a LeFort I AND divided into segments, that combined whole-maxilla-plus-segmentation captured by D7947), while D7944 is the segmental/subapical osteotomy in general (a segment of a jaw), coded per segment operated alongside any whole-jaw codes for the case.

Frequently asked questions

What is the D7944 dental code?

It's a segmented or subapical osteotomy — surgically cutting and repositioning a SEGMENT of the jaw (a portion bearing a group of teeth), rather than the whole jaw, reported per sextant or quadrant. A 'subapical' osteotomy cuts below the tooth roots to move a block of teeth with their surrounding bone. It's used to reposition a portion of the dental arch as part of orthognathic surgery.

How is it different from a whole-jaw osteotomy?

A whole-jaw osteotomy (like D7941 for the lower jaw or D7946 for the upper) repositions the entire jaw. A segmental osteotomy (D7944) repositions just a segment — a portion of the arch (a group of teeth and their bone) — independently. It allows localized correction of part of an arch, alone or combined with whole-jaw movements.

What does 'subapical' mean?

'Sub-' means below and 'apical' refers to the apex (the tip of a tooth's root). So the bone cut is made below the root tips — meaning the teeth in the segment stay attached to their surrounding bone, and the block of teeth-plus-bone is moved as a unit (with the teeth's attachment and blood supply preserved). This is what makes it safe to move a group of teeth surgically.

Why is it reported 'per sextant or quadrant'?

Because it operates on a segment, not the whole jaw — so it's reported by the segment unit. A sextant is one-sixth of the dentition; a quadrant is one-quarter. If multiple segments (in different sextants/quadrants) are repositioned, the code is reported for each, reflecting the work on each segment.

When is it used?

When a portion of the dental arch needs repositioning — e.g., setting back a protruded front-teeth segment (anterior subapical osteotomy), moving a back segment up to correct its level, or otherwise correcting the position of a group of teeth and their bone. It can be done alone or combined with whole-jaw osteotomies in comprehensive orthognathic correction.

What does it cost, and is it covered?

It's an orthognathic surgery (under anesthesia), often part of a larger procedure — cost depends on the number of segments (per sextant/quadrant) and the setting, typically high-three to four figures per segment. As it's frequently medically necessary, medical coverage often applies (check both plans; specific criteria and preauthorization typically apply). 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.