D7873 — Arthroscopy: lavage and lysis of adhesions (TMJ)
D7873 washes the joint out and frees adhesions under arthroscopic vision.
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.
Below is what the code actually specifies, the fee range to expect, how dental benefits normally handle it, and the specific differences between it and the codes it is most often confused with.
Told apart from the codes it is confused with
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.
D7874 — Arthroscopy: disc repositioning and stabilization (TMJ): It repositions the joint disc and stabilises it arthroscopically.
D7871 — Non-arthroscopic lysis and lavage (TMJ): It flushes and frees the joint through needles without an arthroscope, breaking down adhesions as it goes.
D7875 — Arthroscopy: synovectomy (TMJ): It is the same procedure specified for synovectomy rather than for lavage and lysis of adhesions.
D7873 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 D7873
What procedure is D7873?
It is the oral and maxillofacial surgery code for arthroscopy: lavage and lysis of adhesions, TMJ, and it means that specific procedure and no other.
Is D7873 expensive?
Typically $2,000–$8,000 before insurance, depending on local fees and the complexity of the individual case.
Does dental insurance cover D7873?
In most cases yes, at the medical / dental — often excluded rate: 0–50%. The annual maximum is what usually decides how much of that you actually see.
What is the difference between D7873 and D7872?
D7872 is 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. The two are neighbours by number rather than by treatment, so seeing both on a plan usually means both were genuinely planned.
Also known as: TMJ, TMD, jaw joint pain, arthrocentesis, jaw clicking, occlusal orthotic.