D7485 — Surgical reduction of osseous tuberosity
D7485 trims down an osseous tuberosity, the bony bulge behind the last upper molar, so a denture can extend over it.
It is one of eleven codes covering ridge and soft-tissue reshaping. For the procedure itself rather than the code, see the ridge and soft-tissue reshaping guide; for the code, read on.
Everything on this page is about the code itself — its conditions, its fee, its benefit handling, and the precise point at which it stops applying and a neighbouring code starts.
Told apart from the codes it is confused with
D7473 — Removal of torus mandibularis: It removes a torus mandibularis, the bony bump on the tongue side of the lower jaw that gets in the way of a lower denture.
D7472 — Removal of torus palatinus: It removes a torus palatinus, the ridge of surplus bone down the middle of the palate, usually because it stops a denture seating.
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.
D7321 — Alveoloplasty NOT in conjunction with extractions — 1 to 3 teeth/spaces per quadrant: It smooths and contours the bone over one to three tooth sites as a separate operation, once the extraction sockets have already healed.
D7485 sits in a group of eleven codes in total; the remainder are linked at the foot of this page. There is no penalty for asking which of these is planned, and there is a real cost to finding out from an explanation of benefits weeks later.
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 D7485
What is D7485 on my dental bill?
Surgical reduction of osseous tuberosity. It belongs to the oral and maxillofacial surgery section of the code set.
How much does D7485 cost?
Typically $400–$1,100 before insurance, depending on local fees and the complexity of the individual case.
Will my plan pay for D7485?
It is generally a covered benefit in the major oral surgery category, typically 50–80%. Frequency limits and waiting periods are the usual reasons a claim is refused.
What is the difference between D7485 and D7473?
D7473 is removal of torus mandibularis: it removes a torus mandibularis, the bony bump on the tongue side of the lower jaw that gets in the way of a lower denture. Because they describe different work, D7485 and D7473 can legitimately appear on the same treatment plan — they are not alternatives to choose between.
Also known as: alveoloplasty, torus removal, bony lump, ridge reshaping, denture preparation.