D4211 — Gingivectomy/gingivoplasty — 1–3 teeth
A gingivectomy removes excess gum tissue; a gingivoplasty reshapes it. D4211 is the part-quadrant version.
One of two gingivectomy and gingivoplasty codes. If you are trying to understand the treatment, start with the gingivectomy and gingivoplasty guide; if you are trying to understand this line on your estimate, you are in the right place.
Below is what the code actually specifies, the fee range to expect, how dental benefits normally handle it, and the specific differences between it and the codes it is most often confused with.
Reading D4211
Extent — one to three teeth in the quadrant. This code covers a small number of teeth in one quadrant. If only one or two sites actually needed treatment, this is the correct code even though the quadrant as a whole was examined.
Not to be confused with
D4210 — Gingivectomy / gingivoplasty (4+ teeth): It is the same treatment on four or more teeth in the quadrant rather than one to three teeth in the quadrant — the distinction decides which of the two is the correct claim.
That code and D4211 are the whole group — nothing else in the code set describes this procedure. The practical point: confirm which of these is going on the claim before treatment, not after. Corrections after submission mean a resubmission, a delay, and occasionally a fee you did not expect.
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.
| Code | Procedure |
|---|---|
| D4211 | Gingivectomy/gingivoplasty — 1–3 teeth — this page |
| D4210 | Gingivectomy / gingivoplasty (4+ teeth) |
Questions about D4211
What does dental code D4211 mean?
D4211 records gingivectomy/gingivoplasty, 1–3 teeth — one of the periodontics codes.
What should I expect to pay for D4211?
Usually somewhere in $250–$700 as a gross fee. The code fixes what was done, not what it costs, so ask for the practice's own figure in writing.
How do dental plans handle D4211?
Yes on most policies, treated as major periodontal work at typically 50–80%. A waiting period on a new policy is the commonest reason it is not.
What is the difference between D4211 and D4210?
D4210 is gingivectomy / gingivoplasty, 4+ teeth: it is the same treatment on four or more teeth in the quadrant rather than one to three teeth in the quadrant — the distinction decides which of the two is the correct claim. Nothing else separates them, which is exactly why a claim submitted under the wrong one of the two is such a common correction.
Also known as: gingivectomy, gum reshaping, gingival overgrowth, gummy smile.