D4346 — Full-mouth scaling for gum inflammation
D4346 treats generalised gum inflammation across the whole mouth in one visit, where there is no bone loss to justify root planing.
This is the most commonly reported of the two full-mouth scaling codes, which is why it is the one people usually see on an estimate. The full account of the treatment is in our full-mouth scaling guide.
Read on for the conditions this code carries, the money involved, the way a payer is likely to treat it, and a plain comparison against each of the codes it is easily mistaken for.
Where the line falls between D4346 and the rest
D4355 — Full mouth debridement (to enable evaluation): It is the gross removal of heavy plaque and calculus needed before a proper examination is even possible.
That code and D4346 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 |
|---|---|
| D4346 | Full-mouth scaling for gum inflammation — this page |
| D4355 | Full mouth debridement (to enable evaluation) |
Questions about D4346
What procedure is D4346?
On a claim, D4346 tells the insurer that what was performed was full-mouth scaling for gum inflammation.
Is D4346 expensive?
Plan for $180–$450 as the full fee. Two practices a few miles apart can sit at opposite ends of that range for the same work.
Does dental insurance cover D4346?
Plans generally pay it as preventive / basic treatment, typically 50–100%, subject to whatever is left of your maximum for the year.
What is the difference between D4346 and D4355?
D4355 is full mouth debridement, to enable evaluation: it is the gross removal of heavy plaque and calculus needed before a proper examination is even possible. Because they describe different work, D4346 and D4355 can legitimately appear on the same treatment plan — they are not alternatives to choose between.
Also known as: full mouth scaling, gingivitis treatment, debridement, gross scaling.