D7660 — Malar and/or zygomatic arch — closed reduction
One of the codes covering the surgical treatment of facial fractures and associated wounds. D7660 is the closed-reduction version for the cheekbone.
This is one of 24 closely related facial fracture treatment and wound repair codes. The treatment is explained in full in the facial fracture treatment and wound repair guide — this page is about what makes this particular code different.
The sections that follow deal with the requirements, the fee, the claim, and the neighbouring codes — the last of which is where most of the confusion starts.
What D7660 specifies
Bone — the cheekbone and its arch. The zygoma forms the prominence of the cheek and the outer wall of the eye socket. Displacement shows up as a flattened cheek, a step in the orbital rim, numbness of the cheek and upper lip, and sometimes double vision — which is why these are assessed for the eye as much as for the bone.
Technique — closed reduction. The fragments are manipulated back into position without cutting down to the bone, then held — commonly by wiring the upper and lower teeth together, or with an external appliance. Less surgery, a lower fee, and a shorter theatre time; the trade-off is less control over exactly how the pieces sit, so it suits fractures that are already close to their correct position.
Fracture type — simple (closed). The overlying skin and mucosa are intact, so the fracture site is not contaminated. These are the lower-numbered fracture codes and the lower fees; the same bone treated as a compound fracture has a separate code higher in the range.
How D7660 differs from its neighbours
D7650 — Malar and/or zygomatic arch — open reduction: It is the open-reduction version of the same injury — the bone is exposed and fixed directly, which is why it is the dearer of the two.
D7670 — Alveolus — closed reduction, may include stabilization of teeth: It is the same procedure on the tooth-bearing ridge rather than the cheekbone.
D7671 — Alveolus — open reduction, may include stabilization of teeth: It is the same procedure on the tooth-bearing ridge rather than the cheekbone, and by open reduction rather than closed.
D7640 — Mandible — closed reduction (teeth immobilized, if present): It is the same procedure on the lower jaw rather than the cheekbone.
D7660 sits in a group of 24 codes in total; the remainder are linked at the foot of this page. Where the codes sit this close together, the record of the appointment is what settles which one was earned. That is worth knowing before treatment rather than after.
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 D7660
What procedure is D7660?
D7660 is shorthand for malar and/or zygomatic arch, closed reduction — the same five characters every practice and every insurer in the country uses for it.
How much does D7660 cost?
The usual range is $2,000–$9,000. Anything well outside it is worth a question rather than an assumption.
Does dental insurance cover D7660?
In most cases yes, at the medical / oral surgery rate: variable. The annual maximum is what usually decides how much of that you actually see.
What is the difference between D7660 and D7650?
D7650 is malar and/or zygomatic arch, open reduction: it is the open-reduction version of the same injury — the bone is exposed and fixed directly, which is why it is the dearer of the two. 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: jaw fracture, facial trauma, open reduction, closed reduction, maxillofacial injury.