D3501 — Surgical exposure of root surface — anterior
D3501 surgically uncovers the root surface of a front tooth so that a defect can be seen and assessed, without repairing it at that visit.
eleven codes describe root resection and related procedures, and this is one of them. What separates it from the other ten is the subject of this page; the root resection and related procedures guide covers the treatment itself.
Three things matter when this code turns up on paperwork: what it obliges the practice to have actually done, what it is worth, and which nearby code it is not. All three are set out below.
Reading D3501
Tooth — a front tooth — thinner enamel, a single root, and a result that is judged cosmetically rather than just functionally.
D3501 against the codes beside it
D3502 — Surgical exposure of root surface — premolar: It applies to premolars rather than front tooths.
D3503 — Surgical exposure of root surface — molar: It applies to molars rather than front tooths.
D3473 — Surgical repair of root resorption — molar: It applies to molars rather than front tooths.
D3472 — Surgical repair of root resorption — premolar: It applies to premolars rather than front tooths.
D3501 sits in a group of eleven codes in total; the remainder are linked at the foot of this page. The safest question to ask is not "what does this cost" but "which code is going on the claim". The first answer changes; the second decides the first.
Every code in this group
These codes describe the same broad procedure and differ in one respect each. Each has its own page with its own fee range and coverage notes.
Questions about D3501
What is D3501 on my dental bill?
Read literally, D3501 means surgical exposure of root surface, anterior — and payers do read it literally.
What should I expect to pay for D3501?
Typically $500–$1,400 before insurance, depending on local fees and the complexity of the individual case.
Will my plan pay for D3501?
In most cases yes, at the major / surgical rate: variable. The annual maximum is what usually decides how much of that you actually see.
What is the difference between D3501 and D3502?
D3502 is surgical exposure of root surface, premolar: it applies to premolars rather than front tooths. The rest of the procedure is the same, which is why the two get substituted for one another on estimates.
Also known as: root amputation, hemisection, decoronation, root resorption, intentional reimplantation.