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Official Description

Alveolectomy, including curettage of osteitis or sequestrectomy

© Copyright 2025 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.

Common Language Description

Alveolectomy, as defined by CPT® Code 41830, is a surgical procedure that involves the removal of all or part of the alveolar bone, which is the bony ridge in the jaw that contains the sockets of the teeth. This procedure may be necessary when there is a presence of diseased bone, often due to conditions such as osteitis, which is an inflammation of the bone, or when there are sequestra, which are pieces of dead bone that have separated from the healthy bone. During the procedure, a specialized tool is utilized to carefully excise the affected bone tissue, ensuring that the remaining bone structure is preserved as much as possible. The goal of alveolectomy is to eliminate infection or necrotic tissue, thereby promoting healing and preparing the site for potential future dental procedures, such as the placement of dental implants or prosthetics. This procedure is critical in maintaining oral health and function, particularly in patients with significant dental issues or bone loss in the jaw area.

© Copyright 2025 Coding Ahead. All rights reserved.

1. Indications

The procedure of alveolectomy (CPT® Code 41830) is indicated for several specific conditions that affect the alveolar bone. These include:

  • Osteitis - This condition involves inflammation of the bone, which can lead to pain and infection, necessitating surgical intervention to remove the affected bone.
  • Sequestration - The presence of sequestra, or dead bone fragments, can occur due to infection or trauma, requiring their removal to promote healing and prevent further complications.
  • Dental Abscess - In cases where an abscess has formed due to infection, alveolectomy may be performed to remove the source of infection and facilitate recovery.
  • Preparation for Dental Implants - Alveolectomy may also be indicated as a preparatory step for dental implants, especially when there is significant bone loss or infection that needs to be addressed prior to implant placement.

2. Procedure

The alveolectomy procedure involves several critical steps to ensure effective removal of diseased bone while preserving the surrounding healthy tissue. The steps include:

  • Step 1: Anesthesia Administration - The procedure begins with the administration of local anesthesia to numb the area around the jaw, ensuring that the patient remains comfortable and pain-free throughout the surgery.
  • Step 2: Incision and Access - A surgical incision is made in the gum tissue to provide access to the underlying alveolar bone. This incision is carefully placed to minimize trauma to the surrounding tissues.
  • Step 3: Bone Removal - Using specialized surgical tools, the surgeon removes the diseased bone tissue, which may involve curettage to scrape away inflamed or infected areas and sequestrectomy to excise any necrotic bone fragments.
  • Step 4: Cleaning the Site - After the removal of the affected bone, the surgical site is thoroughly cleaned to eliminate any remaining debris or infection, promoting optimal healing conditions.
  • Step 5: Closure - Once the procedure is complete, the incision in the gum tissue is closed using sutures, and the area is dressed appropriately to protect it during the initial healing phase.

3. Post-Procedure

Following the alveolectomy procedure, patients can expect a recovery period that may involve some swelling, discomfort, and bleeding. Post-procedure care typically includes the following considerations:

  • Pain Management - Patients are often prescribed pain relief medications to manage discomfort during the healing process.
  • Oral Hygiene - Maintaining proper oral hygiene is crucial to prevent infection at the surgical site. Patients may be advised to use a gentle mouth rinse and avoid vigorous brushing near the incision.
  • Follow-Up Appointments - Regular follow-up visits with the healthcare provider are essential to monitor healing and address any complications that may arise.
  • Dietary Modifications - A soft diet may be recommended initially to avoid irritation to the surgical site while it heals.
Short Descr REMOVAL OF GUM TISSUE
Medium Descr ALVEOLECTOMY W/CURTG OSTEITIS/SEQUESTRECTOMY
Long Descr Alveolectomy, including curettage of osteitis or sequestrectomy
Status Code Restricted Coverage
Global Days 010 - Minor Procedure
PC/TC Indicator (26, TC) 0 - Physician Service Code
Multiple Procedures (51) 2 - Standard payment adjustment rules for multiple procedures apply.
Bilateral Surgery (50) 0 - 150% payment adjustment for bilateral procedures does NOT apply.
Physician Supervisions 09 - Concept does not apply.
Assistant Surgeon (80, 82) 0 - Payment restriction for assistants at surgery applies to this procedure...
Co-Surgeons (62) 0 - Co-surgeons not permitted for this procedure.
Team Surgery (66) 0 - Team surgeons not permitted for this procedure.
Diagnostic Imaging Family 99 - Concept Does Not Apply
APC Status Indicator Hospital Part B services paid through a comprehensive APC
ASC Payment Indicator Office-based surgical procedure added to ASC list in CY 2008 or later with MPFS nonfacility PE RVUs; payment based on MPFS nonfacility PE RVUs.
Type of Service (TOS) 2 - Surgery
Berenson-Eggers TOS (BETOS) P6D - Minor procedures - other (non-Medicare fee schedule)
MUE 2
CCS Clinical Classification 29 - Oral and Dental Services
51 Multiple procedures: when multiple procedures, other than e/m services, physical medicine and rehabilitation services or provision of supplies (eg, vaccines), are performed at the same session by the same individual, the primary procedure or service may be reported as listed. the additional procedure(s) or service(s) may be identified by appending modifier 51 to the additional procedure or service code(s). note: this modifier should not be appended to designated "add-on" codes (see appendix d).
79 Unrelated procedure or service by the same physician or other qualified health care professional during the postoperative period: the individual may need to indicate that the performance of a procedure or service during the postoperative period was unrelated to the original procedure. this circumstance may be reported by using modifier 79. (for repeat procedures on the same day, see modifier 76.)
LT Left side (used to identify procedures performed on the left side of the body)
22 Increased procedural services: when the work required to provide a service is substantially greater than typically required, it may be identified by adding modifier 22 to the usual procedure code. documentation must support the substantial additional work and the reason for the additional work (ie, increased intensity, time, technical difficulty of procedure, severity of patient's condition, physical and mental effort required). note: this modifier should not be appended to an e/m service.
47 Anesthesia by surgeon: regional or general anesthesia provided by the surgeon may be reported by adding modifier 47 to the basic service. (this does not include local anesthesia.) note: modifier 47 would not be used as a modifier for the anesthesia procedures.
52 Reduced services: under certain circumstances a service or procedure is partially reduced or eliminated at the discretion of the physician or other qualified health care professional. under these circumstances the service provided can be identified by its usual procedure number and the addition of modifier 52, signifying that the service is reduced. this provides a means of reporting reduced services without disturbing the identification of the basic service. note: for hospital outpatient reporting of a previously scheduled procedure/service that is partially reduced or cancelled as a result of extenuating circumstances or those that threaten the well-being of the patient prior to or after administration of anesthesia, see modifiers 73 and 74 (see modifiers approved for asc hospital outpatient use).
58 Staged or related procedure or service by the same physician or other qualified health care professional during the postoperative period: it may be necessary to indicate that the performance of a procedure or service during the postoperative period was: (a) planned or anticipated (staged); (b) more extensive than the original procedure; or (c) for therapy following a surgical procedure. this circumstance may be reported by adding modifier 58 to the staged or related procedure. note: for treatment of a problem that requires a return to the operating/procedure room (eg, unanticipated clinical condition), see modifier 78.
59 Distinct procedural service: under certain circumstances, it may be necessary to indicate that a procedure or service was distinct or independent from other non-e/m services performed on the same day. modifier 59 is used to identify procedures/services, other than e/m services, that are not normally reported together, but are appropriate under the circumstances. documentation must support a different session, different procedure or surgery, different site or organ system, separate incision/excision, separate lesion, or separate injury (or area of injury in extensive injuries) not ordinarily encountered or performed on the same day by the same individual. however, when another already established modifier is appropriate it should be used rather than modifier 59. only if no more descriptive modifier is available, and the use of modifier 59 best explains the circumstances, should modifier 59 be used. note: modifier 59 should not be appended to an e/m service. to report a separate and distinct e/m service with a non-e/m service performed on the same date, see modifier 25.
78 Unplanned return to the operating/procedure room by the same physician or other qualified health care professional following initial procedure for a related procedure during the postoperative period: it may be necessary to indicate that another procedure was performed during the postoperative period of the initial procedure (unplanned procedure following initial procedure). when this procedure is related to the first, and requires the use of an operating/procedure room, it may be reported by adding modifier 78 to the related procedure. (for repeat procedures, see modifier 76.)
AQ Physician providing a service in an unlisted health professional shortage area (hpsa)
AS Physician assistant, nurse practitioner, or clinical nurse specialist services for assistant at surgery
GA Waiver of liability statement issued as required by payer policy, individual case
GC This service has been performed in part by a resident under the direction of a teaching physician
GY Item or service statutorily excluded, does not meet the definition of any medicare benefit or, for non-medicare insurers, is not a contract benefit
RT Right side (used to identify procedures performed on the right side of the body)
XS Separate structure, a service that is distinct because it was performed on a separate organ/structure
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