D7296 — Corticotomy — one to three teeth or tooth spaces, per quadrant
D7296 scores the bone around one to three teeth to speed up orthodontic movement through it.
This is one of 18 closely related other oral surgical procedures codes. The treatment is explained in full in the other oral surgical procedures guide — this page is about what makes this particular code different.
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.
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. Treating the whole mouth produces four separate line items, and most plans cap how many quadrants they will pay for at one visit.
Where the line falls between D7296 and the rest
D7297 — Corticotomy — four or more teeth or tooth spaces, 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.
D7298 — Removal of temporary anchorage device [screw retained plate], requiring flap: It is the interim version.
D7283 — Placement of device to facilitate eruption of impacted tooth: It bonds a bracket or chain onto an exposed impacted tooth so that an orthodontist can pull it into position.
D7280 — Exposure of an unerupted tooth (surgical access): It surgically uncovers a tooth that has not come through, so that it can erupt or be brought into line.
D7296 sits in a group of 18 codes in total; the remainder are linked at the foot of this page. It is worth asking the practice to point to which of these applies. The fees are not close, and the wording is, which is precisely the combination that produces disputed bills.
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.
Questions about D7296
D7296 — what is it?
Corticotomy, one to three teeth or tooth spaces, per quadrant. It belongs to the oral and maxillofacial surgery section of the code set.
What should I expect to pay for D7296?
Expect $500–$1,400. Ask for the number in writing, because the code carries no fee of its own and every practice sets its own.
Is D7296 a covered benefit?
Typically, yes — major oral surgery benefits, variable. What varies between plans is the frequency limit rather than whether the procedure is covered at all.
What is the difference between D7296 and D7297?
D7297 is corticotomy, four or more teeth or tooth spaces, 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. Everything else about the appointment is identical, so the record has to show that one detail for D7296 to be the defensible code.
Also known as: avulsed tooth, impacted canine exposure, oroantral fistula, salivary stone, vestibuloplasty.