D7710 — Maxilla — open reduction (compound/open fracture)
One of the codes covering the surgical treatment of facial fractures and associated wounds. D7710 is the open-reduction version for the upper jaw, where the fracture has broken through the skin or the mucosa.
It is one of 24 codes covering facial fracture treatment and wound repair. For the procedure itself rather than the code, see the facial fracture treatment and wound repair guide; for the code, read on.
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.
What has to be true for D7710 to apply
Bone — the upper jaw. Maxillary fractures usually follow a recognised pattern through the midface, and the priority is restoring the bite: the upper teeth have to meet the lower ones the way they did before. That is why these cases are managed jointly with the dental occlusion in mind rather than as isolated bone work.
Technique — open reduction. The bone is exposed through an incision so the fractured ends can be seen and held directly, usually with plates and screws. It is the more involved of the two approaches and the one used when the fragments will not line up any other way, when they are displaced, or when several pieces are involved. It carries the higher fee of the pair for that reason.
Fracture type — compound (open). The fracture communicates with the outside, through a break in the skin or through the mouth, which means it is contaminated from the moment it happens. That changes the treatment: debridement, antibiotics and earlier intervention, and it puts the case in the higher-numbered half of the fracture range with a correspondingly higher fee.
Arch — upper. The palate provides broad support for anything removable, but the sinuses sit directly above the back teeth, which constrains surgical work.
D7710 against the codes beside it
D7720 — Maxilla — closed reduction (compound/open fracture): It is the closed-reduction version of the same injury — the fragments are set without exposing the bone, which is why it is the cheaper of the two.
D7730 — Mandible — open reduction (compound/open fracture): It is the same procedure on the lower jaw rather than the upper jaw.
D7680 — Facial bones — complicated reduction with fixation and multiple surgical approaches: It is the same procedure on the facial bones rather than the upper jaw, and by complicated reduction rather than open.
D7740 — Mandible — closed reduction (compound/open fracture): It is the same procedure on the lower jaw rather than the upper jaw, and by closed reduction rather than open.
D7710 sits in a group of 24 codes in total; the remainder are linked at the foot of this page. Reviewers compare the narrative against the code rather than the other way round, so the question worth asking is what the notes will say.
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 D7710
What is D7710 on my dental bill?
The procedure behind the number is maxilla, open reduction, compound/open fracture, filed under oral and maxillofacial surgery.
What is the typical fee for D7710?
Typically $2,000–$9,000 before insurance, depending on local fees and the complexity of the individual case.
How do dental plans handle D7710?
Usually yes, as medical / oral surgery treatment at variable — but coverage turns on your own policy, its annual maximum and any waiting period.
What is the difference between D7710 and D7720?
D7720 is maxilla, closed reduction, compound/open fracture: it is the closed-reduction version of the same injury — the fragments are set without exposing the bone, which is why it is the cheaper of the two. The rest of the procedure is the same, which is why the two get substituted for one another on estimates.
Also known as: jaw fracture, facial trauma, open reduction, closed reduction, maxillofacial injury.