D7871 — Non-arthroscopic lysis and lavage (TMJ)
D7871 flushes and frees the joint through needles without an arthroscope, breaking down adhesions as it goes.
It is one of 22 codes covering temporomandibular joint treatment. For the procedure itself rather than the code, see the temporomandibular joint treatment guide; for the code, read on.
Everything below is specific to this code: what it pins down, what it is worth, how a payer handles it, and which codes it is not.
Where the line falls between D7871 and the rest
D7870 — Arthrocentesis (TMJ): It flushes the joint with fluid through a needle, which can release a locked joint without any incision.
D7872 — Arthroscopy — diagnosis, with or without biopsy (TMJ): It puts a camera into the joint to see, and if necessary biopsy, what is happening inside it.
D7873 — Arthroscopy: lavage and lysis of adhesions (TMJ): It washes the joint out and frees adhesions under arthroscopic vision.
D7874 — Arthroscopy: disc repositioning and stabilization (TMJ): It repositions the joint disc and stabilises it arthroscopically.
D7871 sits in a group of 22 codes in total; the remainder are linked at the foot of this page. The distinction is clinical, not administrative: each of these describes work that was genuinely done differently, and the fee follows the work.
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 D7871
D7871 — what is it?
D7871 is shorthand for non-arthroscopic lysis and lavage, TMJ — the same five characters every practice and every insurer in the country uses for it.
Is D7871 expensive?
$1,200–$3,000 covers most of the country. Specialist practices and big-city addresses tend to sit in the upper half.
Will my plan pay for D7871?
Yes on most policies, treated as medical / dental — often excluded work at 0–50%. A waiting period on a new policy is the commonest reason it is not.
What is the difference between D7871 and D7870?
D7870 is arthrocentesis, TMJ: it flushes the joint with fluid through a needle, which can release a locked joint without any incision. These are not two versions of one procedure: they are separate treatments, and a plan assesses each on its own merits.
Also known as: TMJ, TMD, jaw joint pain, arthrocentesis, jaw clicking, occlusal orthotic.