D7961 — Buccal / labial frenectomy (frenulectomy)
D7961 releases the band of tissue between lip and gum, the fold that can drag the gum away or hold a gap open between the front teeth.
This is one of four closely related frenectomy codes. The treatment is explained in full in the frenectomy guide — this page is about what makes this particular code different.
Below you will find what this code specifically requires, a realistic price range, the usual benefit handling, and where it stops applying and another code begins.
The nearby codes and how they differ
D7960 — Frenulectomy (frenectomy) — retired code, replaced by D7961/D7962: It was the single frenectomy code before the code set split it by site, and is retired in favour of D7961 and D7962.
D7962 — Lingual frenectomy (frenulectomy) — tongue-tie release: It releases a tongue-tie, cutting the band under the tongue that is restricting its movement, feeding or speech.
D7963 — Frenuloplasty: It is the reconstructive version, in which the frenum is not simply cut but reshaped, repositioned and sutured.
Those three codes and D7961 are the whole group — nothing else describes this procedure. The practical point: confirm which of these is going on the claim before treatment, not after. Corrections after submission mean a resubmission, a delay, and occasionally a fee you did not expect.
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 |
|---|---|
| D7961 | Buccal / labial frenectomy (frenulectomy) — this page |
| D7960 | Frenulectomy (frenectomy) — retired code, replaced by D7961/D7962 |
| D7962 | Lingual frenectomy (frenulectomy) — tongue-tie release |
| D7963 | Frenuloplasty |
Questions about D7961
What does dental code D7961 mean?
It is the entry for buccal / labial frenectomy, frenulectomy. A practice cannot use it for anything broader than that, which is what makes the code useful to you.
What should I expect to pay for D7961?
$300–$800 covers most of the country. Specialist practices and big-city addresses tend to sit in the upper half.
How do dental plans handle D7961?
Yes on most policies, treated as basic / major oral surgery work at typically 50–80%. A waiting period on a new policy is the commonest reason it is not.
What is the difference between D7961 and D7960?
D7960 is frenulectomy (frenectomy), retired code, replaced by D7961/D7962: it was the single frenectomy code before the code set split it by site, and is retired in favour of D7961 and D7962. Because they describe different work, D7961 and D7960 can legitimately appear on the same treatment plan — they are not alternatives to choose between.
Also known as: frenectomy, tongue tie, lip tie, frenulum, midline diastema.