D7940 — Osteoplasty — for orthognathic deformities
D7940 reshapes the jaw bone to correct a deformity, without cutting it into segments and repositioning it.
This code belongs to a set of ten covering orthognathic surgery. The clinical detail lives in the orthognathic surgery guide; the code-level detail is here.
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.
The nearby codes and how they differ
D7941 — Osteotomy — mandibular rami: It cuts through the vertical part of the lower jaw behind the teeth so that the whole jaw can be moved.
D7943 — Osteotomy — mandibular rami with bone graft: It is that same ramus osteotomy with a bone graft added to bridge the gap the movement creates.
D7944 — Osteotomy — segmented or subapical: It cuts out and repositions a block of jaw carrying a few teeth, rather than moving a whole jaw.
D7945 — Osteotomy — body of mandible: It cuts through the body of the lower jaw, forward of the ramus, in order to reposition it.
D7940 sits in a group of ten codes in total; the remainder are linked at the foot of this page. A single word separates several of these codes, and a payer reads that word literally. If the record does not support D7940 specifically, the claim comes back — usually repriced to whichever neighbouring code the reviewer thinks was actually performed.
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.
| Code | Procedure |
|---|---|
| D7940 | Osteoplasty — for orthognathic deformities — this page |
| D7941 | Osteotomy — mandibular rami |
| D7943 | Osteotomy — mandibular rami with bone graft |
| D7944 | Osteotomy — segmented or subapical |
| D7945 | Osteotomy — body of mandible |
| D7946 | LeFort I (maxilla — total) |
| D7947 | LeFort I (maxilla — segmented) |
| D7948 | LeFort II or LeFort III — without bone graft |
| D7949 | LeFort II or LeFort III — with bone graft |
| D7991 | Coronoidectomy |
Questions about D7940
What is D7940 on my dental bill?
D7940 is shorthand for osteoplasty, for orthognathic deformities — the same five characters every practice and every insurer in the country uses for it.
How much does D7940 cost?
Expect $2,000–$7,000. Ask for the number in writing, because the code carries no fee of its own and every practice sets its own.
Will my plan pay for D7940?
Typically, yes — medical benefits, variable. What varies between plans is the frequency limit rather than whether the procedure is covered at all.
What is the difference between D7940 and D7941?
D7941 is osteotomy, mandibular rami: it cuts through the vertical part of the lower jaw behind the teeth so that the whole jaw can be moved. Because they describe different work, D7940 and D7941 can legitimately appear on the same treatment plan — they are not alternatives to choose between.
Also known as: jaw surgery, orthognathic surgery, LeFort osteotomy, underbite surgery, bite correction surgery.