D4342 — Scaling & root planing, 1-3 teeth per quadrant
Scaling and root planing is the treatment for periodontitis. D4342 is the part-quadrant version.
This code belongs to a set of two covering scaling and root planing. The clinical detail lives in the scaling and root planing guide; the code-level detail is here.
The sections below cover the conditions built into the code, what it tends to cost, what a dental plan is likely to pay, and where the line falls between this code and the ones next to it.
What the code commits to
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.
Counted — per quadrant — one of the four corners of the mouth. The fee you are quoted is for one corner, so ask how many are planned before comparing it with anything.
D4342 compared with its closest relatives
D4341 — Scaling & root planing, 4+ teeth per quadrant: 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 D4342 are the whole group — nothing else in the code set describes this procedure. These distinctions exist because they change what was actually done. A claim for D4342 when the record describes one of the others is not a technicality — it is the difference between a paid claim and a returned one.
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 |
|---|---|
| D4342 | Scaling & root planing, 1-3 teeth per quadrant — this page |
| D4341 | Scaling & root planing, 4+ teeth per quadrant |
Questions about D4342
What procedure is D4342?
It is the entry for scaling and root planing, 1-3 teeth per quadrant. A practice cannot use it for anything broader than that, which is what makes the code useful to you.
Is D4342 expensive?
Expect $150–$400. Ask for the number in writing, because the code carries no fee of its own and every practice sets its own.
Will my plan pay for D4342?
Usually yes, as basic periodontal treatment at typically 50–80% — but coverage turns on your own policy, its annual maximum and any waiting period.
What is the difference between D4342 and D4341?
D4341 is scaling and root planing, 4+ teeth per quadrant: 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. The rest of the procedure is the same, which is why the two get substituted for one another on estimates.
Also known as: deep cleaning, scaling and root planing, SRP, periodontal therapy, gum disease treatment.