D7250 — Removal of residual tooth roots (cutting procedure)
D7250 removes root fragments left behind in the bone, which means cutting through gum and bone to reach them.
three codes describe surgical extraction, and this is one of them. What separates it from the other two is the subject of this page; the surgical extraction guide covers the treatment itself.
This page explains what that code number commits the office to, what it usually costs, how plans treat it, and — the part that causes most of the confusion — how it differs from the codes sitting immediately either side of it.
Where the line falls between D7250 and the rest
D7251 — Coronectomy — intentional partial tooth removal (impacted teeth): It deliberately removes only the crown of an impacted tooth and leaves the roots where they are, to avoid damaging the nerve beneath them.
D7210 — Surgical removal of erupted tooth (flap, bone removal and/or sectioning): It is the surgical extraction of a fully erupted tooth, where the gum has to be lifted, bone removed, or the tooth cut into pieces.
Those two codes and D7250 are the whole group — nothing else 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 |
|---|---|
| D7250 | Removal of residual tooth roots (cutting procedure) — this page |
| D7210 | Surgical removal of erupted tooth (flap, bone removal and/or sectioning) |
| D7251 | Coronectomy — intentional partial tooth removal (impacted teeth) |
Questions about D7250
What does dental code D7250 mean?
Removal of residual tooth roots, cutting procedure. It belongs to the oral and maxillofacial surgery section of the code set.
Is D7250 expensive?
Expect $250–$650. 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 D7250?
It normally falls under basic / major oral surgery cover, typically 50–80%. Whether a particular claim is paid depends more on your history with the plan than on the code.
What is the difference between D7250 and D7251?
D7251 is coronectomy, intentional partial tooth removal, impacted teeth: it deliberately removes only the crown of an impacted tooth and leaves the roots where they are, to avoid damaging the nerve beneath them. These are not two versions of one procedure: they are separate treatments, and a plan assesses each on its own merits.
Also known as: surgical extraction, sectioning a tooth, residual root removal, coronectomy.