D7911 — Complicated suture — up to 5 cm
D7911 is a complicated suture of up to 5 centimetres, where the wound is deep or has layers that have to be closed separately.
There are 24 codes for facial fracture treatment and wound repair and they are not interchangeable. This page covers this one; the facial fracture treatment and wound repair guide covers the treatment they all share.
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.
The specifics of D7911
Complexity — the "complicated" designation. It has to be earned in the written record: unusual anatomy, extensive tissue involvement, or the need for additional surgical access. Without that narrative the claim reverts to the simple code.
Not to be confused with
D7910 — Suture of recent small wounds — up to 5 cm: It is the straightforward variant.
D7912 — Complicated suture — greater than 5 cm: It is the same procedure specified for greater than rather than for up to.
D7920 — Skin graft (oral/maxillofacial): It is the straightforward variant.
D7997 — Appliance removal (not by the dentist who placed it): It is the straightforward variant.
D7911 sits in a group of 24 codes in total; the remainder are linked at the foot of this page. If an estimate lists D7911 and the treatment that follows matches a neighbouring code instead, the office has to resubmit — which delays the payment rather than increasing it.
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 D7911
What is D7911 on my dental bill?
The procedure behind the number is complicated suture, up to 5 cm, filed under oral and maxillofacial surgery.
Is D7911 expensive?
Expect $400–$1,100. Ask for the number in writing, because the code carries no fee of its own and every practice sets its own.
How do dental plans handle D7911?
It normally falls under medical / oral surgery cover, variable. Whether a particular claim is paid depends more on your history with the plan than on the code.
What is the difference between D7911 and D7910?
D7910 is suture of recent small wounds, up to 5 cm: it is the straightforward variant. Everything else about the appointment is identical, so the record has to show that one detail for D7911 to be the defensible code.
Also known as: jaw fracture, facial trauma, open reduction, closed reduction, maxillofacial injury.