Billing Code Overview

CDT code D7140 denotes Extraction of an erupted tooth or exposed root performed by elevation and/or forceps removal. This procedure is classified under Dentistry services and typically occurs in a dental office (POS 11). The code describes a non-surgical tooth extraction for erupted teeth or roots that are accessible without additional surgical intervention. If specific service line details are required, Data not available in the input.

Clinical Context

A 28-year-old patient presents to a dental office (POS 11) with localized tooth pain and radiographic evidence of a non-restorable erupted tooth with exposed root and periapical radiolucency. After clinical assessment and informed consent, local anesthesia is administered, and the clinician performs elevation and/or forceps removal of the erupted tooth. Hemostasis is achieved, post-extraction instructions are given, and a follow-up appointment is scheduled if signs of infection or delayed healing occur. Typical workflow includes history and examination, tooth mobility and pathology assessment, imaging (intraoral radiograph), anesthesia, extraction (CDT code D7140), post-op instructions, and documentation of findings and any specimen disposition.

Coding Specifications

• Modifiers

• D: Dental procedures — Used to indicate dental procedure context when required by payer or internal billing systems; applied according to payer rules for dental-specific modifiers.

• 52: Reduced Services — Used when the service performed is a reduction of the full service described by the CDT code (for example, extraction attempted but completed in a reduced manner). Use according to payer guidelines when documenting that fewer resources or a truncated procedure was rendered.

• Provider taxonomies and specialties

Related Codes

• Common pairings and alternatives:

• D7140 is commonly used for non-surgical extractions of erupted teeth; when an extraction requires flap creation, bone removal, or sectioning of the tooth, providers select the appropriate surgical removal code (D7210, D7220, D7230, or D7240) instead.

• When an impacted tooth diagnosis (K01.1) is present, clinicians typically choose one of the impacted-tooth removal codes rather than D7140.

Related Diagnoses

• K08.89 — Other specified disorders of teeth and supporting structures

  This code can represent non-specific dental pathology (including structural tooth disorders) that may necessitate extraction when conservative treatments are not feasible.

• K01.1 — Impacted teeth

  Although D7140 describes extraction of erupted teeth or exposed roots, impacted teeth may present with partially erupted components or require assessment; impacted tooth diagnoses often guide choice of a more surgical removal code instead of D7140.

• K04.7 — Periapical abscess without sinus

  Periapical infection causing pain or non-restorable tooth structure can be an indication for extraction of an erupted tooth using D7140.

• K05.6 — Periodontal disease, unspecified

  Advanced periodontal disease leading to loss of tooth support is a common clinical reason for extraction of an erupted tooth or exposed root.

• K12.2 — Cellulitis and abscess of mouth

  Acute oral soft-tissue infection adjacent to a tooth may necessitate extraction when the tooth is the source of infection; documentation should link the infection to the extraction as clinically appropriate.

National mean rates for CDT code D7140 show a clear gap between Medicare and the average commercial benchmark (BUCA): Medicare mean is not available in the input while the BUCA commercial average mean is $79.99, reflecting higher commercial reimbursement compared with the missing Medicare value. UnitedHealthcare and Blue Cross Blue Shield sit above the BUCA average with mean rates of $113.76 and $99.40 respectively, while Aetna and Cigna Health are below it at $66.54 and $57.48.

Rate dispersion (P75 minus P25) varies by payer: UnitedHealthcare has a wide spread (approximately $32.07), Blue Cross Blue Shield also shows substantial dispersion (~$35.80), BUCA has a moderate spread ($38.00), Aetna is tighter ($19.00), and Cigna Health is the tightest ($10.00). The table and chart below present the full numeric breakdown of mean rates and percentile values.