D4355 — Full mouth debridement (to enable evaluation)
D4355 is the gross removal of heavy plaque and calculus needed before a proper examination is even possible.
There are two codes for full-mouth scaling and they are not interchangeable. This page covers this one; the full-mouth scaling guide covers the treatment they all share.
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.
How D4355 differs from its neighbours
D4346 — Full-mouth scaling for gum inflammation: It treats generalised gum inflammation across the whole mouth in one visit, where there is no bone loss to justify root planing.
That code and D4355 are the whole group — nothing else in the code set describes this procedure. The descriptions differ by a few words and the fees differ by a great deal, which is why mixing them up is one of the commonest billing errors in dentistry. Ask which of these codes is being submitted and why.
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 |
|---|---|
| D4355 | Full mouth debridement (to enable evaluation) — this page |
| D4346 | Full-mouth scaling for gum inflammation |
Questions about D4355
What does dental code D4355 mean?
D4355 is shorthand for full mouth debridement, to enable evaluation — the same five characters every practice and every insurer in the country uses for it.
How much does D4355 cost?
Usually somewhere in $160–$400 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 D4355?
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 D4355 and D4346?
D4346 is full-mouth scaling for gum inflammation: it treats generalised gum inflammation across the whole mouth in one visit, where there is no bone loss to justify root planing. They are different operations that happen to sit next to each other in the code set, so one is not an alternative way of billing the other.
Also known as: full mouth scaling, gingivitis treatment, debridement, gross scaling.