D7310 is the CDT code for an alveoloplasty performed in conjunction with extractions, involving four or more teeth or tooth spaces per quadrant — the surgical reshaping and smoothing of the alveolar ridge after multiple teeth are removed in the same quadrant. It is reported per quadrant, not per tooth.
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 D7310 Code
Report D7310 when the dentist recontours the bony ridge in the same quadrant as extractions and four or more teeth or tooth spaces are involved — typically to prepare the ridge for a denture or other prosthesis. The ADA describes alveoloplasty as a separate and distinct procedure from the extractions themselves.
Match the code to the tooth count and the extraction context. D7311 is alveoloplasty with extractions for one to three teeth or tooth spaces per quadrant. When the alveoloplasty is not done in conjunction with extractions, use D7320 (four or more) or D7321 (one to three). A key caution from oral-surgery coding guidance: routine smoothing of socket bone is considered part of the extraction and should not be billed as alveoloplasty — D7310 applies only when significant bone recontouring is performed.
Documentation & Clinical Scenarios
Strong documentation distinguishes alveoloplasty from routine extraction cleanup:
- Quadrant and tooth count showing four or more teeth or tooth spaces were involved.
- The extractions performed in that quadrant at the same visit.
- A surgical narrative describing significant bone recontouring (flap elevation, removal of protuberant bone) beyond simple socket smoothing.
- The prosthetic indication — preparing the ridge for a denture or other prosthesis.
The extractions are billed separately under their own surgical or simple extraction codes. D7310 reports the additional ridge-recontouring work, per quadrant.
Insurance & Billing Tips
- Verify benefits first. Confirm coverage for alveoloplasty and whether the plan recognizes it as separate from extractions.
- Bill per quadrant, not per tooth. One D7310 per qualifying quadrant; confirm four or more teeth or tooth spaces are involved.
- Document significant recontouring. Payers deny alveoloplasty that looks like routine socket smoothing — the narrative must show substantial bone reshaping.
- Report extractions separately. D7310 does not include the extraction fees; each extraction has its own code.
- Watch for bundling. Some payers bundle minor alveoloplasty with extraction; a clear narrative supports the separate procedure and any appeal.
Example Case
A patient is having the four remaining upper-left posterior teeth removed in preparation for a partial denture. After the extractions, the surgeon elevates a flap and removes protuberant bone to recontour the ridge so the prosthesis will seat properly. Because four teeth in the quadrant were involved and the bone recontouring was significant, the ridge work is reported as D7310 for that quadrant, with the extractions billed separately under their own codes and a narrative documenting the recontouring attached.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How is D7310 different from D7311 and D7320?
The difference is tooth count and extraction context. D7310 is alveoloplasty with extractions for four or more teeth or tooth spaces per quadrant; D7311 is the same procedure for one to three. When the alveoloplasty is not done in conjunction with extractions, you use D7320 (four or more) or D7321 (one to three) instead. Confirm both the tooth count and whether extractions occurred in the same quadrant before choosing the code.
Does D7310 include the extractions?
No. D7310 reports only the additional alveoloplasty — the significant recontouring of the ridge. The extractions themselves are billed separately under their own simple or surgical extraction codes. Reporting them on separate lines is important: bundling the extraction into the alveoloplasty (or vice versa) is a common source of denials and underbilling.
How often is D7310 covered?
Coverage depends on the payer, but alveoloplasty is generally tied to a specific prosthetic need and reviewed for medical necessity rather than billed routinely. Many carriers deny it when the documentation suggests routine socket smoothing rather than significant bone recontouring. Verify coverage in advance and confirm the plan's rules on alveoloplasty performed with extractions.
Does D7310 require pre-authorization?
A pre-treatment estimate is often recommended, especially when the alveoloplasty supports an upcoming denture. Submitting the quadrant, tooth count, and a narrative describing substantial bone recontouring confirms coverage and reduces the chance of a denial, since payers frequently scrutinize alveoloplasty to ensure it is distinct from the extractions.
Confirm the current CDT descriptor and your specific payer policies before billing — browse the full dental code library or see our insurance verification feature.