D7970 — Excision of hyperplastic tissue — per arch
D7970 cuts away overgrown gum across a whole arch, usually tissue that has thickened under an ill-fitting denture.
eleven codes describe ridge and soft-tissue reshaping, and this is one of them. What separates it from the other ten is the subject of this page; the ridge and soft-tissue reshaping guide covers the treatment itself.
What follows: the specifics built into the number, the money, the benefit treatment, and the line separating it from the codes it is easiest to confuse it with.
The specifics of D7970
Counted — per arch — upper or lower. A quote for "the whole mouth" is two of these, which is the single most common misunderstanding on estimates in this group.
D7970 against the codes beside it
D7971 — Excision of pericoronal gingiva: It is the same procedure specified for pericoronal gingiva rather than for hyperplastic tissue per arch.
D7972 — Surgical reduction of fibrous tuberosity: It reduces a fibrous tuberosity — the same bulge behind the upper molars, but soft tissue rather than bone.
D7485 — Surgical reduction of osseous tuberosity: It trims down an osseous tuberosity, the bony bulge behind the last upper molar, so a denture can extend over it.
D7473 — Removal of torus mandibularis: It removes a torus mandibularis, the bony bump on the tongue side of the lower jaw that gets in the way of a lower denture.
D7970 sits in a group of eleven codes in total; the remainder are linked at the foot of this page. 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.
Questions about D7970
D7970 — what is it?
Read literally, D7970 means excision of hyperplastic tissue, per arch — and payers do read it literally.
What should I expect to pay for D7970?
The usual range is $400–$1,100. Anything well outside it is worth a question rather than an assumption.
Does dental insurance cover D7970?
Most plans include it under major oral surgery benefits, typically 50–80%. A pre-treatment estimate is the only way to know your own number in advance.
What is the difference between D7970 and D7971?
D7971 is excision of pericoronal gingiva: it is the same procedure specified for pericoronal gingiva rather than for hyperplastic tissue per arch. Nothing else separates them, which is exactly why a claim submitted under the wrong one of the two is such a common correction.
Also known as: alveoloplasty, torus removal, bony lump, ridge reshaping, denture preparation.