D7140 is the CDT code for a simple (non-surgical) extraction of an erupted tooth or exposed root, removed by elevation and/or forceps. It covers a routine extraction that does not require cutting a flap, sectioning the tooth, or removing bone.
Informational only — confirm the official CDT descriptor and your payers' rules independently. This is general guidance, not billing, coding, or clinical advice.
When to Use the D7140 Code
Report D7140 when an erupted tooth or an exposed root is removed with elevators and/or forceps and no surgical access is needed — no flap elevation, no bone removal, no sectioning. It is the standard "simple extraction" code and may apply to both permanent and primary teeth that still have root structure present.
Choose the code by what the procedure actually required, not by the tooth:
- If the extraction needed a mucoperiosteal flap, bone removal, or tooth sectioning, use the surgical code D7210 instead.
- If only the coronal remnant of a primary tooth remained with roots resorbed, that is D7111, not D7140.
- Impacted teeth use the D7220–D7241 series.
Reporting a surgical extraction as a simple D7140 (or vice versa) is a frequent coding error.
Documentation & Clinical Scenarios
The chart should make clear that the removal was simple and identify the tooth:
- Tooth number and a clear diagnosis (e.g., non-restorable caries, fracture, advanced periodontal disease, or a retained root).
- A radiograph showing the tooth or exposed root and supporting the need for removal.
- Procedure note confirming elevation and/or forceps removal without flap, bone removal, or sectioning.
- A narrative if anything atypical occurred, or if the payer requests one.
If the case unexpectedly required surgical access, the documentation should reflect that so the correct surgical code is billed instead.
Insurance & Billing Tips
- Verify benefits first. Confirm extraction coverage, any waiting period, and the remaining annual maximum.
- Match the code to the technique. D7140 is simple removal only; surgical access moves the claim to D7210 and is supported by an operative narrative.
- Don't double-bill the visit. A same-day exam or radiographs are separate codes, not part of D7140.
- Read the EOB. If D7140 is denied or down-coded, the radiograph and a short narrative usually resolve it on appeal.
- Track per-tooth frequency. Payers record extractions by tooth number, so accurate identification avoids duplicate-claim edits.
Example Case
A 38-year-old presents with a tooth broken at the gumline but with the root still firmly in place. The dentist diagnoses a non-restorable fractured tooth #14 on a periapical radiograph and removes it with an elevator and forceps — no flap, no bone removal, no sectioning required. The procedure is reported as D7140, with the radiograph and a brief note documenting a simple removal. The same-day limited exam is billed under its own code, and the claim processes without a bundling denial.
Patients call about the procedure, not the code. DentalReception AI answers and books those calls 24/7, captures insurance details, and routes clinical/billing questions to your team. See extraction calls, or book a demo.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between D7140 and D7210?
Both remove an erupted tooth, but the technique differs. D7140 is a simple extraction using elevation and/or forceps with no surgical access. D7210 is a surgical extraction that requires elevating a mucoperiosteal flap and removing bone and/or sectioning the tooth. Code by what the procedure actually required: if you cut a flap, removed bone, or sectioned the tooth, it is D7210; if not, it is D7140. The operative note is what supports the distinction on a claim.
Does D7140 include the exam, X-rays, or any bone graft?
No. D7140 covers only the simple extraction. A same-day evaluation and radiographs are separate CDT codes, and any socket preservation graft or other additional procedure is reported separately as well. Billing those on the extraction line can cause a bundling denial, so each service belongs on its own line with its own code.
Can D7140 be used on baby teeth?
Yes. D7140 applies to an erupted tooth or exposed root that still has roots and is removed by elevation or forceps — it is not limited to permanent teeth, so it can apply to a primary tooth with roots present. The exception is when only the coronal remnant of a primary tooth remains with the roots resorbed, which is coded D7111 instead.
Does D7140 require pre-authorization?
A simple extraction often does not require pre-authorization, but verifying benefits beforehand is recommended. Confirm extraction coverage, any waiting period, and the remaining annual maximum, and submit a pre-treatment estimate if the payer expects one. Attaching the diagnostic radiograph and a brief note up front reduces the chance of a denial or a down-code on a routine removal.
Confirm the current CDT descriptor and your specific payer policies before billing — browse the full dental code library or see our insurance verification feature.