D7510 — Incision and drainage of abscess — intraoral soft tissue
D7510 opens and drains an abscess inside the mouth, releasing the pus and relieving the pressure.
It is the default code in a group of six, and the one whose fee is normally quoted when this treatment is discussed. Our incision and drainage guide covers the procedure in depth.
The rest of this page deals with the specifics: the requirements written into the code, the usual range of fees, the typical benefit outcome, and how to tell it apart from its closest relatives.
Where the line falls between D7510 and the rest
D7511 — Incision and drainage of abscess — intraoral soft tissue, complicated: It is the complicated variant, requiring a supporting narrative.
D7520 — Incision and drainage of abscess — extraoral soft tissue: It is the same procedure with one word changed: extraoral rather than intraoral.
D7521 — Incision and drainage of abscess — extraoral soft tissue, complicated: It is the complicated variant, requiring a supporting narrative.
D7550 — Partial ostectomy/sequestrectomy for removal of non-vital bone: It removes a piece of dead bone that the body has walled off, usually after infection or radiotherapy.
D7510 sits in a group of six 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.
| Code | Procedure |
|---|---|
| D7510 | Incision and drainage of abscess — intraoral soft tissue — this page |
| D7511 | Incision and drainage of abscess — intraoral soft tissue, complicated |
| D7520 | Incision and drainage of abscess — extraoral soft tissue |
| D7521 | Incision and drainage of abscess — extraoral soft tissue, complicated |
| D7550 | Partial ostectomy/sequestrectomy for removal of non-vital bone |
| D7560 | Maxillary sinusotomy for removal of tooth fragment or foreign body |
Questions about D7510
What is D7510 on my dental bill?
It is the entry for incision and drainage of abscess, intraoral soft tissue. A practice cannot use it for anything broader than that, which is what makes the code useful to you.
How much does D7510 cost?
$250–$600 is the realistic range before benefits. Your own share depends on your plan's percentage, deductible and remaining annual maximum.
Is D7510 a covered benefit?
It is generally a covered benefit in the basic / major oral surgery category, typically 70–80%. Frequency limits and waiting periods are the usual reasons a claim is refused.
What is the difference between D7510 and D7511?
D7511 is incision and drainage of abscess, intraoral soft tissue, complicated: it is the complicated variant, requiring a supporting narrative. 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: dental abscess, incision and drainage, facial swelling, pus, dental infection.