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Medical Forum / General / Dentistry / November 2006Please Explain These Extraction Procedures!
I had my #15 extracted today. It was very badly broken, with very little tooth left past the gumline, but the oral surgeon was able to extract it with forceps and no cutting of the gum and what was left of the tooth was extracted in one piece. I was billed for an ADA code D7210, which my dental plan describes as either "Surgical removal of erupted tooth requiring elevation of mucoperiosteal flap and removal of bone and/or section of tooth" or "Surgical removal of erupted tooth requiring elevation of mucoperiosteal flap and removal of bone and/or section of tooth." I am not sure if I was billed for the correct procedure (I was asked to pay *before* the procedure was done), but since I'm not entirely sure I understand these descriptions - they sound as though they involve quite a bit more work than pulling out the tooth with forceps - could someone please describe in layman's terms what an ADA D7210 involves? Thank you! In retrospect, I realize I probably shouldn't've paid until after the tooth was pulled, and I admit I wasn't thinking straight due to the size of tooth that had just broken away and the sharp tooth fragment painfully stabbing my cheek. I probably don't have much recourse if I was billed for a more expensive procedure than was performed, but I'm still curious.  Signature"Did Father shoot him? I will eat Grandfather for dinner." - Helen Keller, on learning of the death of her grandfather email: aripee at inanna . com > I had my #15 extracted today. It was very badly broken, with very little > tooth left past the gumline, but the oral surgeon was able to extract it [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > was billed for a more expensive procedure than was performed, but I'm > still curious. If it was done as you describe, it sounds more like D7140, a routine forceps extraction. Of course an insurance company will almost never know if an extraction is surgical or not, but you might ask. Often, one criterion is whether sutures were used. Steve > > I had my #15 extracted today. It was very badly broken, with very little > > tooth left past the gumline, but the oral surgeon was able to extract it [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] > know if an extraction is surgical or not, but you might ask. Often, one > criterion is whether sutures were used. Insurance won't ask, because I don't have any - I have a reduced-fee plan that's not insurance and I paid the entire cost out of my pocket. No, no sutures, no incisions, no other tools than forceps and a wad of gauze. Well, I know now that if, Tooth Fairy forbid, I need another extraction, to go to another oral surgeon! Thank you for your reply. Signature"Did Father shoot him? I will eat Grandfather for dinner." - Helen Keller, on learning of the death of her grandfather email: aripee at inanna . com >>> I had my #15 extracted today. It was very badly broken, with very little >>> tooth left past the gumline, but the oral surgeon was able to extract it [quoted text clipped - 31 lines] > > Thank you for your reply. Unfortunately, "upbilling" of services is very common--both in insurance and discount plans. In fairness to the surgeon, the distinction between a surgical and non-surgical extraction is not always clear cut, and reimbursement levels are not always fair. For instance, removing 4 loose lower incisors, recontouring bone and placing a couple of sutures can sometimes be reimbursed legitimately at a higher rate per tooth than taking out an upper second molar with dilacerated roots with a forcep. It may be bending the truth to call this a surgical extraction. Still, the average fee for a non-surgical extraction of an erupted tooth by an oral surgeon is probably over $200 (I'm just guessing). If you paid less than this, you probably got a bargain, and if it was done quickly and well and with little postoperative pain, I wouldn't make a fuss about it. Steve > Unfortunately, "upbilling" of services is very common--both in > insurance and discount plans. [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > and well and with little postoperative pain, I wouldn't make a fuss > about it. I paid $252 for the exam, x-ray and extraction. I don't have any complaint about the work itself - it was the most skillful Novacaine injection I've ever had, for one - and the while it does hurt like hell, that's not surprising, since my teeth have unusually long roots that enter the sinus. (The surgeon didn't prescribe painkillers, but my internist did.) I was just curious if the procedure I had matched the procedure I was billed for - I'm not planning to rush to his office and throw a fit or anything; I'll just know that if I need more of this kind of work, to not pay before it's done and to consider another oral surgeon. Again, thank you for your replies. I have really terrible teeth and am just finally now able to begin getting them worked on, and what I don't know about dental work is vast. Signature"Did Father shoot him? I will eat Grandfather for dinner." - Helen Keller, on learning of the death of her grandfather email: aripee at inanna . com >> > I had my #15 extracted today. It was very badly broken, with very little >> > tooth left past the gumline, but the oral surgeon was able to extract it [quoted text clipped - 31 lines] > >Thank you for your reply. Of course even though you were there you didn't see what the surgeon did. Any tooth off at the gumline can be considered a 'surgical' extraction. |
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