The short version
# D7210 Dental Code: Surgical Extraction of an Erupted Tooth
D7210 reports removal of an erupted tooth when the procedure requires bone removal, tooth sectioning, or both. The word “surgical” alone doesn't settle the code because every extraction involves surgery. What separates D7210 from D7140 is what the dentist had to do to remove that erupted tooth.
- Bill D7210 for an erupted tooth when removal requires cutting bone, sectioning the tooth, or both.
- Use D7140 when an erupted tooth or exposed root is removed with elevation or forceps and doesn't require that added access.
- D7240 is for a completely bony impacted tooth. It isn't a higher-difficulty version of D7210.
- The operative note must identify the tooth and state the bone removal or tooth sectioning actually completed.
- Delta asks for a current periapical or panoramic image with D7210 through D7241, plus tooth-specific notes.
- In a worked PPO example, a $450 fee becomes a $320 allowable. The plan pays $256 at 80%, the patient owes $64, and the office adjusts $130.
What is D7210?
D7210 describes extraction of an erupted tooth that needs bone removal, sectioning, or both. A flap can be raised when indicated, but a flap isn't the only qualifying feature.
| Fact | D7210 |
|---|---|
| CDT category | Oral surgery |
| Tooth status | Erupted |
| Defining work | Bone removal and/or tooth sectioning |
| Reported by | Tooth number |
| Public fee references | Washington Medicaid: $89.05 or $89.70 by program; Oregon Medicaid: $194.97 in 2025 |
The ADA extraction guide makes the erupted-tooth decision explicit: no bone removal points to D7140, while required bone removal points to D7210.
When do you bill D7210?
Select D7210 after the procedure confirms the erupted tooth required qualifying surgical access.
- Review the preoperative image and eruption status.
- Record the flap when raised, the bone removed, and each section of tooth created.
- Note delivery of all tooth portions and evaluation of the socket.
- Document closure, complications, and instructions.
D7210 vs D7140 and D7240
Choose the code first from the tooth's eruption status, then use the removal method to separate the erupted-tooth services.
| D7140 | D7210 | D7240 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tooth status | Erupted or exposed root | Erupted | Completely bony impacted |
| Defining work | Elevation or forceps without qualifying bone removal | Bone removal and/or tooth sectioning | Surgical removal of a tooth fully encased in bone |
| Difficulty alone decides? | No | No | No |
| Washington Medicaid example | $57.65 or $45.73 | $89.05 or $89.70 | $164.37 or $193.20 |
What does insurance actually do with D7210?
Delta's public claim guidance requests a current periapical or panoramic image for oral surgery codes D7210 through D7241. Its 2026 documentation article also asks for notes that show the indication and surgical complexity. A payer can reduce D7210 to D7140 when the record doesn't show bone removal or sectioning.
Verify oral-surgery coverage, waiting periods, deductibles, annual maximum, and whether the plan requires predetermination.
- Office fee: $450
- Contracted allowable: $320
- Contractual adjustment: $130
- Plan payment at 80%: $256
- Patient balance: $64
Why does D7210 get denied?
- The note doesn't show bone removal or tooth sectioning.
- The radiograph is missing or doesn't match the tooth number.
- The payer doesn't find the work that separates D7210 from D7140.
- The tooth isn't erupted, but the claim uses an erupted-tooth code.
- The file doesn't include required predetermination or authorization.
What documentation gets D7210 paid?
- Name the tooth and the diagnosis or treatment reason.
- Attach a current periapical or panoramic image when required.
- State that the tooth was erupted at treatment.
- Describe the bone removal, tooth sectioning, or both.
- Record flap management, socket evaluation, closure, and complications as applicable.
- Keep consent and postoperative instructions with the record.
Common questions about D7210
Does raising a flap always make an extraction D7210?
No. A flap by itself doesn't settle D7210. The ADA guide centers the choice on required bone removal, tooth sectioning, or both for an erupted tooth. The operative note should state the qualifying work instead of relying on “surgical extraction” or “flap raised.”
Can D7210 be used for an impacted wisdom tooth?
Not when the tooth meets an impacted-tooth code. D7220 through D7241 distinguish the tissue and bone coverage over an impacted crown. Record the preoperative eruption status and image findings first, then choose the impaction code that matches the anatomy rather than D7210.
What image should go with D7210?
Delta's public guidance asks for a current periapical or panoramic image. The selected view should show the tooth and support the diagnosis and eruption status. Match the image, tooth number, and operative note before submission so the payer can see the bone removal or sectioning.
Is socket closure billed separately?
Routine closure for the extraction is part of D7210. Include flap replacement, sutures, and ordinary socket management in the operative record without adding another claim line. Report something separately only when the current CDT entry and a truly distinct procedure support it.
Make the operative note prove the code
Before filing, match the tooth to bone removal or sectioning.
Sources
- ADA, Guide to Extractions: Tooth and Remnants
- ADA News, tips to avoid common coding mistakes
- ADA, frequently asked questions regarding dental codes
- Delta Dental, X-ray claim guidelines for oral surgery
- Delta Dental, common claim documentation gaps
- Washington Medicaid, July 2025 dental fee schedule
- Oregon Medicaid, June 2025 fee schedule
- FAIR Health Consumer, dental cost lookup
CDT codes and nomenclature are copyright © American Dental Association. This guide explains the code in plain language; the current CDT manual is the authoritative source.
