D4263 — Bone graft around a natural tooth (first site)
D4263 grafts bone into the defect around a natural tooth, and is billed for the first site treated.
There are five codes for periodontal grafting and regeneration and they are not interchangeable. This page covers this one; the periodontal grafting and regeneration guide covers the treatment they all share.
What follows: the specifics built into the number, the money, the benefit treatment, and the line separating it from the codes it is easiest to confuse it with.
D4263 in detail
Counted — per site rather than per tooth. What counts as a single site is the detail that gets argued about on these claims.
D4263 compared with its closest relatives
D4264 — Bone graft around a natural tooth (additional site): It is the each-additional line that follows it.
D4266 — Guided tissue regeneration — resorbable membrane: It places a resorbable barrier over a defect so that the body rebuilds bone there instead of soft tissue filling the space.
D4267 — Guided tissue regeneration — non-resorbable membrane: It uses a non-resorbable barrier for the same purpose, which then has to be taken out at a second operation.
D4273 — Connective tissue graft (gum graft): It takes connective tissue from the palate and grafts it over an exposed root to cover recession.
Those four codes and D4263 are the whole group — nothing else describes this procedure. 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.
| Code | Procedure |
|---|---|
| D4263 | Bone graft around a natural tooth (first site) — this page |
| D4264 | Bone graft around a natural tooth (additional site) |
| D4266 | Guided tissue regeneration — resorbable membrane |
| D4267 | Guided tissue regeneration — non-resorbable membrane |
| D4273 | Connective tissue graft (gum graft) |
Questions about D4263
What does dental code D4263 mean?
It is the entry for bone graft around a natural tooth, first site. A practice cannot use it for anything broader than that, which is what makes the code useful to you.
How much does D4263 cost?
Usually somewhere in $500–$1,300 as a gross fee. The code fixes what was done, not what it costs, so ask for the practice's own figure in writing.
Will my plan pay for D4263?
Most plans include it under major periodontal benefits, 0–50%. A pre-treatment estimate is the only way to know your own number in advance.
What is the difference between D4263 and D4264?
D4264 is bone graft around a natural tooth, additional site: it is the each-additional line that follows it. Apart from that, the two describe the same treatment — which is why the notes for the visit matter more here than the code itself.
Also known as: gum graft, bone graft, guided tissue regeneration, receding gums, connective tissue graft.