D7520 — Incision and drainage of abscess — extraoral soft tissue
D7520 opens and drains an abscess that has spread outside the mouth into the skin or the tissues of the face and neck.
This is one of six closely related incision and drainage codes. The treatment is explained in full in the incision and drainage guide — this page is about what makes this particular code different.
What the number specifies, what it costs, what your plan is likely to do with it, and the named differences between it and the codes around it — in that order.
How D7520 differs from its neighbours
D7521 — Incision and drainage of abscess — extraoral soft tissue, complicated: It is the complicated variant, requiring a supporting narrative.
D7511 — Incision and drainage of abscess — intraoral soft tissue, complicated: It is the complicated variant, requiring a supporting narrative.
D7510 — Incision and drainage of abscess — intraoral soft tissue: It is the same procedure with one word changed: intraoral rather than extraoral.
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.
D7520 sits in a group of six codes in total; the remainder are linked at the foot of this page. None of these are interchangeable, even though they sound as though they might be. Checking that the code on your estimate is the one that matches the planned treatment takes a minute and prevents most billing surprises.
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 |
|---|---|
| D7520 | Incision and drainage of abscess — extraoral soft tissue — this page |
| D7510 | Incision and drainage of abscess — intraoral soft tissue |
| D7511 | Incision and drainage of abscess — intraoral soft tissue, complicated |
| 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 D7520
What procedure is D7520?
Incision and drainage of abscess, extraoral soft tissue, reported under a single oral and maxillofacial surgery code.
What should I expect to pay for D7520?
Most private fees fall in $400–$1,000. Geography accounts for more of that spread than anything clinical.
Does dental insurance cover D7520?
Most plans include it under basic / major oral surgery benefits, typically 70–80%. A pre-treatment estimate is the only way to know your own number in advance.
What is the difference between D7520 and D7521?
D7521 is incision and drainage of abscess, extraoral 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.