D7297 — Corticotomy — four or more teeth or tooth spaces, per quadrant
D7297 is that same corticotomy across four or more teeth in the quadrant.
18 codes describe other oral surgical procedures, and this is one of them. What separates it from the other 17 is the subject of this page; the other oral surgical procedures 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.
The specifics of D7297
Extent — four or more teeth in the quadrant. Four or more teeth in the quadrant puts this at the full-quadrant end of the pair. The fee assumes the whole segment was treated in one sitting, and a plan will expect charting that shows enough affected teeth to justify it.
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.
Where the line falls between D7297 and the rest
D7296 — Corticotomy — one to three teeth or tooth spaces, per quadrant: It is the same treatment on one to three teeth in the quadrant rather than four or more 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.
D7297 sits in a group of 18 codes in total; the remainder are linked at the foot of this page. Two of these codes on one estimate is not necessarily an error, but it is always worth asking what each line is for.
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 D7297
What procedure is D7297?
It is the oral and maxillofacial surgery code for corticotomy, four or more teeth or tooth spaces, per quadrant, and it means that specific procedure and no other.
Is D7297 expensive?
The usual range is $700–$1,900. Anything well outside it is worth a question rather than an assumption.
Is D7297 a covered benefit?
In most cases yes, at the major oral surgery rate: variable. The annual maximum is what usually decides how much of that you actually see.
What is the difference between D7297 and D7296?
D7296 is corticotomy, one to three teeth or tooth spaces, per quadrant: it is the same treatment on one to three teeth in the quadrant rather than four or more teeth in the quadrant — the distinction decides which of the two is the correct claim. Apart from that, the two describe the same treatment — which is why the notes for the visit matter more here than the code itself.
Also known as: avulsed tooth, impacted canine exposure, oroantral fistula, salivary stone, vestibuloplasty.