D7670 — Alveolus — closed reduction, may include stabilization of teeth
One of the codes covering the surgical treatment of facial fractures and associated wounds. D7670 is the closed-reduction version for the tooth-bearing ridge.
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 detail below covers what the code obliges the record to show, the range of fees, the likely insurance outcome, and a comparison drawn code by code.
What has to be true for D7670 to apply
Bone — the tooth-bearing ridge. An alveolar fracture takes a segment of bone and the teeth in it together, typically from a direct blow to the front of the mouth. Treatment stabilises the teeth along with the bone, and the survival of those teeth is the thing being judged afterwards.
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.
The nearby codes and how they differ
D7671 — Alveolus — open reduction, may include stabilization of teeth: 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.
D7660 — Malar and/or zygomatic arch — closed reduction: It is the same procedure on the cheekbone rather than the tooth-bearing ridge.
D7680 — Facial bones — complicated reduction with fixation and multiple surgical approaches: It is the same procedure on the facial bones rather than the tooth-bearing ridge, and by complicated reduction rather than closed.
D7650 — Malar and/or zygomatic arch — open reduction: It is the same procedure on the cheekbone rather than the tooth-bearing ridge, and by open reduction rather than closed.
D7670 sits in a group of 24 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.
Questions about D7670
D7670 — what is it?
D7670 records alveolus, closed reduction, may include stabilization of teeth — one of the oral and maxillofacial surgery codes.
What should I expect to pay for D7670?
Expect $2,000–$9,000. Ask for the number in writing, because the code carries no fee of its own and every practice sets its own.
Does dental insurance cover D7670?
Most plans include it under medical / oral surgery benefits, variable. A pre-treatment estimate is the only way to know your own number in advance.
What is the difference between D7670 and D7671?
D7671 is alveolus, open reduction, may include stabilization of teeth: 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. That one difference is the whole distinction; the chair time, the materials and the appointment sequence are the same either way.
Also known as: jaw fracture, facial trauma, open reduction, closed reduction, maxillofacial injury.