D7311 — Alveoloplasty in conjunction with extractions — 1 to 3 teeth/spaces per quadrant
One of the procedures that reshape the jaw ridge and the soft tissue over it, usually to allow a denture to fit. D7311 is the part-quadrant version.
There are eleven codes for ridge and soft-tissue reshaping and they are not interchangeable. This page covers this one; the ridge and soft-tissue reshaping guide covers the treatment they all share.
The sections below cover the conditions built into the code, what it tends to cost, what a dental plan is likely to pay, and where the line falls between this code and the ones next to it.
What D7311 specifies
Extent — one to three teeth in the quadrant. One to three teeth means the treatment was confined to part of the quadrant. Plans pay it at a reduced rate against the full-quadrant code, and some count it towards the same frequency limit.
Timing — at the extraction visit. The reshaping is done in the same appointment as the extractions, through the sockets that are already open. That is the cheaper sequence and the one plans accept most readily, because the surgical access is already there. If the teeth came out at an earlier visit, this is the wrong code.
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.
D7311 against the codes beside it
D7310 — Alveoloplasty in conjunction with extractions — 4+ teeth/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.
D7320 — Alveoloplasty NOT in conjunction with extractions — 4+ teeth/spaces per quadrant: It is the same reshaping, done as a separate operation after the extraction sockets have healed rather than at the extraction visit — a second appointment, a second fee, and a plan that may treat it as elective. It also applies to four or more teeth in the quadrant rather than one to three teeth in the quadrant.
D7321 — Alveoloplasty NOT in conjunction with extractions — 1 to 3 teeth/spaces per quadrant: It is the same reshaping at the same extent, done as a separate operation after the extraction sockets have healed rather than at the extraction visit — a second appointment, a second fee, and a plan that may treat it as elective.
D7471 — Removal of lateral exostosis (maxilla or mandible): It removes an exostosis — a bony lump on the outer surface of the upper or lower jaw — that rubs under a denture or a lip.
D7311 sits in a group of eleven codes in total; the remainder are linked at the foot of this page. If an estimate lists D7311 and the treatment that follows matches a neighbouring code instead, the office has to resubmit — which delays the payment rather than increasing it.
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 D7311
What is D7311 on my dental bill?
D7311 is shorthand for alveoloplasty in conjunction with extractions, 1 to 3 teeth/spaces per quadrant — the same five characters every practice and every insurer in the country uses for it.
How much does D7311 cost?
Typically $250–$650 before insurance, depending on local fees and the complexity of the individual case.
Does dental insurance cover D7311?
Yes on most policies, treated as major oral surgery work at typically 50–80%. A waiting period on a new policy is the commonest reason it is not.
What is the difference between D7311 and D7310?
D7310 is alveoloplasty in conjunction with extractions, 4+ teeth/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. Nothing else separates them, which is exactly why a claim submitted under the wrong one of the two is such a common correction.
Also known as: alveoloplasty, torus removal, bony lump, ridge reshaping, denture preparation.