D7865 — Arthroplasty (TMJ)
D7865 reshapes the bony surfaces of the joint through an open approach.
One of 22 temporomandibular joint treatment codes. If you are trying to understand the treatment, start with the temporomandibular joint treatment guide; if you are trying to understand this line on your estimate, you are in the right place.
What the code requires, what it costs, how it is paid, and how to tell it from its neighbours — each in its own section below.
Told apart from the codes it is confused with
D7860 — Arthrotomy (TMJ): It opens the joint surgically in order to inspect and treat it directly.
D7870 — Arthrocentesis (TMJ): It flushes the joint with fluid through a needle, which can release a locked joint without any incision.
D7871 — Non-arthroscopic lysis and lavage (TMJ): It flushes and frees the joint through needles without an arthroscope, breaking down adhesions as it goes.
D7858 — Joint reconstruction (TMJ): It rebuilds the joint, replacing damaged parts with grafts or prosthetic components.
D7865 sits in a group of 22 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 D7865
What is D7865 on my dental bill?
Arthroplasty, tmj, reported under a single oral and maxillofacial surgery code.
What is the typical fee for D7865?
Expect $2,000–$8,000. 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 D7865?
Typically, yes — medical / dental — often excluded benefits, 0–50%. What varies between plans is the frequency limit rather than whether the procedure is covered at all.
What is the difference between D7865 and D7860?
D7860 is arthrotomy, TMJ: it opens the joint surgically in order to inspect and treat it directly. They are different operations that happen to sit next to each other in the code set, so one is not an alternative way of billing the other.
Also known as: TMJ, TMD, jaw joint pain, arthrocentesis, jaw clicking, occlusal orthotic.