When is D7310 used?
The D7310 dental code applies to alveoloplasty performed alongside extractions—a surgical procedure involving reshaping of the alveolar ridge during tooth removal within a quadrant. This code is suitable when the dentist conducts additional bone contouring that goes beyond typical extraction requirements, ensuring proper healing or preparing for future prosthetic work. It shouldn't be applied for routine smoothing that's part of standard extractions. Rather, D7310 is designated for situations requiring substantial recontouring to address irregularities or prepare the ridge for dentures or other dental restorations.
D7310 Charting and Clinical Use
Proper documentation is essential when using D7310 for billing purposes. Clinical records must clearly outline the alveoloplasty scope, number of extracted teeth, and specific reasons for additional bone reduction. Include before and after radiographs, intraoral photographs, and comprehensive narratives explaining why regular extraction codes were inadequate. Typical situations for D7310 include:
Preparing an extensively irregular ridge for immediate denture fitting.
Treating sharp bone projections or undercuts that could hinder healing or prosthesis placement.
Handling cases involving multiple neighboring tooth extractions requiring significant ridge modification.
Keep in mind, when alveoloplasty occurs in a different area from the extractions, D7320 (alveoloplasty performed separately from extractions) might be more suitable.
Billing and Insurance Considerations
To improve reimbursement rates and minimize claim rejections for D7310, implement these recommended practices:
Check coverage details: Prior to treatment, confirm with the patient's insurance whether D7310 is covered and if prior authorization is needed.
Provide complete documentation: Include clinical records, radiographs, and detailed narratives with your claim. Emphasize why alveoloplasty was medically required beyond standard extraction procedures.
Apply proper coding: Make sure you're not billing twice for services included in extraction fees. D7310 should only be used when additional bone reduction occurs in the same quadrant as extractions.
Challenge claim denials: If insurance denies D7310 as "included" or "not separately payable," file an appeal with extra documentation and thorough explanation of medical necessity.
Being proactive with insurance verification and detailed documentation helps maintain healthy accounts receivable and reduces claim processing delays.
How dental practices use D7310
Take a patient requiring extraction of teeth #18, #19, and #20, with plans for immediate lower partial denture placement. During treatment, the dentist discovers sharp bone ridges and undercuts that would compromise denture fit and healing. Following extractions, the dentist conducts extensive alveoloplasty in the same quadrant to smooth the ridge and establish a stable prosthetic foundation. For this situation, D7310 is the correct code for reporting the additional surgical work. Clinical documentation should contain:
Pre-treatment radiographs and intraoral photographs showing ridge irregularities.
Comprehensive narrative describing the scope and rationale for alveoloplasty.
Post-treatment images showing the enhanced ridge shape.
Following these guidelines helps the dental team ensure proper coding, support claims with strong documentation, and improve chances of successful insurance payment.
Common Questions
Is it possible to bill D7310 multiple times during a single visit when alveoloplasty is done in several quadrants?
D7310 can indeed be billed for each quadrant when alveoloplasty is performed alongside extractions in multiple quadrants within the same appointment. Documentation must clearly identify each quadrant treated, and claims should indicate the total number of quadrants involved. It's important to verify payer-specific guidelines since some insurance companies may impose particular requirements or restrictions on multi-quadrant billing.
What type of supporting documentation helps ensure D7310 claim approval?
Beyond comprehensive clinical notes, D7310 claims benefit from intraoral photographs, radiographic images demonstrating bony structures, and a detailed narrative establishing medical necessity for the alveoloplasty procedure. Documentation must clearly demonstrate why the procedure exceeded routine extraction requirements, such as prosthetic preparation needs or correction of significant bone irregularities.
What are the typical causes of D7310 claim rejections by insurance providers?
Frequent causes of D7310 claim rejections include inadequate documentation of medical necessity, failure to clearly differentiate between standard extraction procedures and alveoloplasty, and insurance policies that consider alveoloplasty bundled with extraction services. To minimize rejections, ensure thorough documentation and carefully review the patient's specific insurance coverage terms and limitations.