What D7945 means

D7945 covers an osteotomy of the body of the mandible. "D" is dental, "79" is this oral surgery area, and "45" is this body-of-mandible osteotomy. 'Osteotomy' = surgical bone cut (to reposition). The 'body of the mandible' is the horizontal, tooth-bearing portion of the lower jaw (the part that holds the lower teeth, running along the bottom of the face) — as opposed to the rami (the vertical back portions). So D7945 is cutting through the horizontal body of the lower jaw to reposition it.

So it's surgically cutting through the main horizontal (tooth-bearing) part of the lower jaw to reposition the jaw — a corrective jaw surgery, distinct from the ramus osteotomy.

An osteotomy of the body of the mandible is an orthognathic procedure that repositions the lower jaw via a cut through the body (rather than the rami). It's a less commonly used approach than the ramus osteotomy (the BSSO via the rami is the more standard technique for most mandibular repositioning), but the body osteotomy is used in certain situations — for example, to correct specific deformities or in cases where cutting through the body is indicated (such as certain asymmetries, or where a portion of the body needs to be addressed). By cutting the body, the jaw segment(s) can be repositioned and then fixed. Like the other orthognathic osteotomies, the code includes the full procedure: the surgical exposure, the bone cut, the fixation (plates/screws or wires), the routine wound closure, and the normal post-operative follow-up care. It's done under general anesthesia as part of planned orthognathic (often combined surgical-orthodontic) treatment. 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

D7945 is reported for an osteotomy of the body of the mandible — cutting through the body (the horizontal, tooth-bearing portion) of the lower jaw to reposition it — as part of orthognathic surgery. It's distinct from the rami osteotomy (D7941, which cuts the vertical back portions). The code includes the exposure, bone cut, fixation, closure, and routine post-op care.

How much does D7945 cost?

An osteotomy of the body of the mandible is a major orthognathic surgery (under general anesthesia, in a surgical facility) — its cost is significant, often in the multiple-thousands range (and may be part of a larger orthognathic surgery). Sample fee-schedule values are in the four-figure range (varying by region/case). As it's frequently medically necessary, medical coverage often applies. Verify your specific coverage.

Is D7945 covered by insurance?

An osteotomy of the body of the mandible (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 functional impairment, and the medical necessity is essential, and preauthorization is typically required. Verifying coverage and criteria helps.

Body vs rami of the mandible

The cut location distinguishes this from the rami osteotomy, and understanding this clarifies the code.

Understanding the anatomy clarifies D7945. The mandible (lower jaw) has parts: the body — the horizontal, curved, tooth-bearing portion that runs along the bottom of the face and holds the lower teeth; and the rami (each side) — the vertical portions at the back that rise from the body toward the jaw joints (TMJs), behind the teeth. (The angle is where the body meets the ramus; the condyle/coronoid are at the top of the ramus.) An osteotomy can be made through different parts: D7941 cuts through the rami (the vertical back portions — the standard BSSO approach); and D7945 (this code) cuts through the body (the horizontal tooth-bearing portion).

So the key distinction is where the bone is cut — the body (D7945) vs the rami (D7941). The body osteotomy goes through the horizontal part of the jaw (in the region of/near the teeth), whereas the rami osteotomy goes through the vertical back part (away from the teeth). The choice depends on the deformity and the surgical plan — the rami approach (BSSO) is more standard for most repositioning, while the body osteotomy is used in particular situations. So D7945 is the body osteotomy, distinct from the rami osteotomy. Understanding this helps patients see that the mandible has parts — the body (the horizontal, curved, tooth-bearing portion running along the bottom of the face, holding the lower teeth) and the rami (the vertical portions at the back rising from the body toward the jaw joints, behind the teeth; the angle being where the body meets the ramus, the condyle/coronoid at the top of the ramus) — and an osteotomy can be made through different parts (D7941 cutting through the rami, the standard BSSO approach, and D7945, this code, cutting through the body) — so the key distinction is where the bone is cut (the body for D7945 vs the rami for D7941), the body osteotomy going through the horizontal part of the jaw, near the teeth, whereas the rami osteotomy goes through the vertical back part, away from the teeth — the choice depending on the deformity and surgical plan (the rami/BSSO approach more standard for most repositioning, the body osteotomy used in particular situations).

When the body approach is used

Certain situations call for a body osteotomy, and understanding them clarifies the indication.

Understanding when a body osteotomy is used clarifies D7945. The ramus osteotomy (BSSO, D7941) is the more common technique for repositioning the lower jaw (because the ramus location offers good bone overlap and is away from the teeth/nerve in helpful ways). The body osteotomy (D7945) is used in particular situations where cutting through the body is indicated — for example: certain asymmetries or specific deformities — where the geometry of the correction is better achieved through a body cut; localized body issues — where a portion of the body of the mandible needs to be addressed/repositioned; and other case-specific indications — where the surgeon's plan calls for a body osteotomy (perhaps historically more common, or for specific corrections).

The surgeon chooses the osteotomy type and location based on the specific deformity, the planned movement, the anatomy (including the position of the inferior alveolar nerve, which runs through the body of the mandible — a consideration in a body osteotomy), and surgical judgment. So D7945 applies when the corrective plan uses a body-of-mandible osteotomy. So the body approach is used in specific situations. Understanding this helps patients see that the ramus osteotomy (BSSO, D7941) is the more common technique for repositioning the lower jaw (the ramus location offering good bone overlap and being away from the teeth/nerve in helpful ways), while the body osteotomy (D7945) is used in particular situations where cutting through the body is indicated — for example certain asymmetries or specific deformities (where the geometry of the correction is better achieved through a body cut), localized body issues (where a portion of the body needs to be addressed/repositioned), and other case-specific indications (where the surgeon's plan calls for a body osteotomy) — the surgeon choosing the osteotomy type and location based on the specific deformity, the planned movement, the anatomy (including the position of the inferior alveolar nerve, which runs through the body of the mandible, a consideration in a body osteotomy), and surgical judgment, so D7945 applies when the corrective plan uses a body-of-mandible osteotomy.

What the code includes

The code covers the whole procedure, and understanding this clarifies its scope.

Understanding what D7945 includes clarifies its scope. Like the other orthognathic osteotomy codes, the descriptor specifies that this 'surgical section of the lower jaw' includes the full procedure: the surgical exposure — accessing the bone (the incision and exposure to reach the body of the mandible); the bone cut — the osteotomy itself (cutting through the body of the jaw); the fixation — securing the repositioned bone (with plates and screws, or wires — internal fixation holding the bone while it heals); the routine wound closure — closing the surgical site; and the normal post-operative follow-up care — the standard aftercare.

So D7945, like D7941, is a comprehensive code covering the whole procedure (exposure through fixation, closure, and follow-up) — the standard surgical components bundled into the one code. (Separate/additional procedures — a bone graft, or a procedure on another jaw/segment — are coded separately as appropriate.) So D7945 includes the exposure, cut, fixation, closure, and follow-up. Understanding this helps patients see that, like the other orthognathic osteotomy codes, the descriptor specifies this 'surgical section of the lower jaw' includes the full procedure — the surgical exposure (accessing the bone, the incision and exposure to reach the body of the mandible), the bone cut (the osteotomy itself, cutting through the body), the fixation (securing the repositioned bone with plates and screws, or wires, internal fixation holding the bone while it heals), the routine wound closure (closing the surgical site), and the normal post-operative follow-up care (the standard aftercare) — so D7945, like D7941, is a comprehensive code covering the whole procedure (exposure through fixation, closure, and follow-up), the standard surgical components bundled into the one code (with separate/additional procedures — a bone graft, or a procedure on another jaw/segment — coded separately as appropriate).

Where D7945 fits in the codes

D7945 is a mandibular osteotomy variant, and understanding this clarifies the coding.

Understanding where D7945 sits clarifies the coding. D7945 is among the orthognathic surgery codes (D7940-D7949), within the mandibular (lower jaw) osteotomy options: rami osteotomy (D7941, or D7943 with graft) — cutting the vertical back portions (the standard BSSO); body of mandible osteotomy (D7945, this code) — cutting the horizontal tooth-bearing portion; and segmented/subapical osteotomy (D7944) — repositioning a segment of a jaw. The maxillary (upper jaw) osteotomies are the LeFort codes (D7946-D7949).

So the mandibular osteotomy codes distinguish where/how the lower jaw is cut — the rami (D7941/D7943), the body (D7945), or a segment (D7944). D7945 specifically is the body-of-mandible osteotomy. The surgeon codes D7945 when the lower-jaw osteotomy is through the body (vs D7941 for the rami), plus the maxillary code(s) if the upper jaw is also operated, and any segmental codes (D7944) as applicable. So D7945 is the body-of-mandible osteotomy among the orthognathic codes. Understanding this helps patients see that D7945 is among the orthognathic surgery codes (D7940-D7949), within the mandibular osteotomy options — rami osteotomy (D7941, or D7943 with graft — cutting the vertical back portions, the standard BSSO), body of mandible osteotomy (D7945, this code — cutting the horizontal tooth-bearing portion), and segmented/subapical osteotomy (D7944 — repositioning a segment) — with the maxillary osteotomies being the LeFort codes (D7946-D7949) — so the mandibular osteotomy codes distinguish where/how the lower jaw is cut (the rami D7941/D7943, the body D7945, or a segment D7944), with D7945 specifically the body-of-mandible osteotomy, coded when the lower-jaw osteotomy is through the body (vs D7941 for the rami), plus the maxillary code(s) if the upper jaw is also operated and any segmental codes (D7944) as applicable.

Frequently asked questions

What is the D7945 dental code?

It's an osteotomy of the body of the mandible — surgically cutting through the body (the horizontal, tooth-bearing portion) of the lower jaw to reposition it, as part of orthognathic surgery. It's distinct from the rami osteotomy (D7941, which cuts the vertical back portions). The code includes the exposure, bone cut, fixation, closure, and routine post-op care.

What is the 'body' of the mandible?

The body is the horizontal, curved, tooth-bearing portion of the lower jaw — the part that runs along the bottom of the face and holds the lower teeth. It's distinct from the rami (the vertical portions at the back that rise toward the jaw joints). D7945 cuts through the body; D7941 cuts through the rami.

How is it different from the rami osteotomy (D7941)?

The difference is where the bone is cut. D7941 cuts through the rami (the vertical back portions of the jaw — the standard BSSO approach). D7945 cuts through the body (the horizontal tooth-bearing portion). The rami approach is more standard for most repositioning; the body osteotomy is used in particular situations the surgeon's plan calls for.

When is the body approach used?

In particular situations where cutting through the body is indicated — certain asymmetries or specific deformities where the correction is better achieved through a body cut, localized issues in the body of the jaw, or other case-specific indications. The surgeon chooses the osteotomy location based on the deformity, the planned movement, and the anatomy (including the nerve running through the body).

What's included in the code?

The full procedure — the surgical exposure (accessing the bone), the bone cut (the osteotomy through the body), the fixation (plates/screws or wires), the routine wound closure, and the normal post-operative follow-up care. So D7945 covers the whole osteotomy procedure. (A bone graft or other separate procedures would be coded separately.)

What does it cost, and is it covered?

It's a major orthognathic surgery (under general anesthesia) — cost is significant, often in the multiple-thousands range, and may be part of a larger orthognathic surgery. 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.