Dental Implant Extraction Code

The dental implant extraction code is D6100. This CDT code covers the surgical removal of a dental implant. The ADA is the source for the CDT code set, so use the current CDT manual to confirm the wording and billing rules before submitting a claim.

The key question is what you removed:

• The implant body: start with D6100 for surgical removal.
• A superficial implant billed medically: review CPT 20670.
• A deep implant billed medically: review CPT 20680.
• An abutment or crown: do not automatically use D6100.
• An implant screw that needs replacement: review D6193.

That distinction keeps the four common removal situations from getting mixed together.

D6100 Is the CDT Code for Dental Implant Removal — What It Actually Covers

D6100 is the CDT code for surgical removal of an implant. It applies when the implant body itself is being removed from the patient.

This is different from taking off the restoration attached to the implant. Removing a crown, loosening an abutment, or replacing a prosthetic screw does not automatically mean the implant body was removed.

Before selecting D6100, check the clinical note and answer one simple question:

> Was the implant fixture—the part placed in bone—surgically removed?

If yes, D6100 is the dental code to review. The reason for removal may be a failed implant, an unwanted implant, or another clinical need. The code choice still needs to match the actual service performed and the payer's rules.

Do not use “implant removal” as a general label for every part taken off an implant. The implant body, abutment, crown, and screw are separate parts.

CDT vs. CPT: Why Some Payers Want 20670 or 20680 Instead

CDT codes are dental procedure codes. CPT codes are medical procedure codes. The correct code family depends on how the service is being billed and what the payer accepts.

For a dental claim, D6100 is the main code to review for surgical implant removal. Some medical billing references, however, point to:

• CPT 20670 for removal of a superficial implant
• CPT 20680 for removal of a deep implant

These CPT codes are medical codes. They may apply when the procedure is being sent through medical benefits rather than dental benefits, subject to the payer's policy and the clinical facts.

That means there is no safe rule that says “always use D6100” or “always use 20670.” First identify the claim route:

1. Is the office submitting a dental claim?
2. Is the patient's medical plan being used?
3. Does the payer require a CDT code, a CPT code, or a specific authorization process?
4. Does the operative note support superficial or deep removal if a CPT code is used?

If the payer gives conflicting instructions, get the policy or coding direction in writing and keep it with the claim record.

CPT 20670 (Superficial) vs. 20680 (Deep): Picking the Right One

The basic split is the location and depth of the implant being removed:

• 20670 is used for removal of a superficial implant.
• 20680 is used for removal of a deep implant.

These are not interchangeable options for a dental office to choose based only on which code pays better. The procedure note should support the description selected.

Also, don't use a CPT code simply because the procedure was difficult. Difficulty alone does not establish that an implant was deep. Likewise, D6100 should not be replaced with a CPT code unless the claim is being handled under medical coding rules and the payer accepts that route.

The cleanest workflow is to separate the questions:

• What part was removed?
• Was the removal surgical?
• Is the claim dental or medical?
• If medical, was the implant superficial or deep?

Where Implant Removal Sits in the D6000–D6199 Implant Services Range

Implant procedures fall within the D6000–D6199 CDT range. This group includes implant placement, implant-supported components, repairs, and removal-related services.

For reference, D6010 is the CDT code for surgical placement of the implant body. D6100 sits in the same broad implant service family but covers surgical removal instead of placement.

That range can make code searches confusing. A code in the D6000 series is not automatically a removal code. Read the full current descriptor for the exact service.

This matters when a chart includes several implant services on the same date. Placement, removal, abutment work, and screw replacement are separate coding questions. Don't let the presence of an implant diagnosis or implant-related treatment plan decide the procedure code by itself.

D6101–D6103 and the Other Removal Subcodes You'll See Next to D6100

The CDT implant range also includes removal subcodes D6101, D6102, and D6103. They appear near D6100 in implant code references, but the exact wording for each code must be checked in the current CDT manual.

That is especially important because CDT code descriptors and reporting guidance can change from one code cycle to the next. A fee schedule or old cheat sheet may show the code number without enough detail to tell you when it applies.

Use the current manual to confirm:

• The full descriptor
• Whether the code describes a particular type of implant removal or related service
• Any reporting limits or required documentation
• Whether the payer recognizes the code

When the chart clearly supports surgical removal of the implant body and no more specific current code applies, D6100 is the starting point. Do not guess among D6101–D6103 based only on the code number.

Removing the Abutment or Crown but Keeping the Implant: Which Code Applies

This is where many implant claims go off track.

If the implant remains in the bone and the provider removes only the abutment, that is not the same service as surgical implant removal. D6056 and D6057 are CDT abutment codes within the implant code set. They are the codes people often find while searching for abutment-related work, but the exact current descriptor and any removal guidance should be checked before billing.

If the provider removes only the implant crown, do not report D6100. The implant body is still present, so the service is not surgical removal of the implant itself. Review the current CDT manual and the payer's policy for the crown or prosthetic service that matches the work performed.

A useful chart check is to identify the part removed:

• Fixture or implant body: D6100 is the main removal code to review.
• Abutment: review the applicable abutment code and current descriptor.
• Crown: review the applicable prosthetic or crown-related code.
• Screw: review whether the service is repair or replacement, including D6193 when it fits.

Don't submit D6100 just because the word “implant” appears in the procedure note.

Implant Screw Replacement and D6193: When the Implant Stays In

A loose screw does not automatically mean the implant has failed or needs removal.

When an implant screw cannot be retorqued and the screw must be replaced instead, the cited procedure code is D6193. The implant stays in place in this situation. The service concerns the screw, not surgical removal of the implant body.

The note should make that difference clear. It should state whether the provider:

• Retorqued the existing screw
• Removed and replaced the screw
• Removed the abutment
• Removed the entire implant

Those are different clinical events. A claim for D6193 should not read like a claim for D6100, and a D6100 claim should show that the fixture itself was removed.

Codes That Get Confused With Implant Removal (D7210, D1110, D6190)

Several codes appear in searches beside implant removal, but they should not be treated as substitutes without checking their current CDT definitions.

D7210: The available coding information here does not establish its exact current descriptor. Because surgical implant removal is covered by D6100, confirm D7210 in the current CDT manual before using an extraction code for an implant.

D1110: This code covers removal of plaque, calculus, and stains from tooth structures and implants. It is a cleaning code. It is not the code for surgically removing an implant body.

D6190: This code falls within the D6000–D6199 implant services range, but its exact wording should be verified in the current CDT manual. Do not assume it means implant removal. The removal-related code clearly identified here is D6100, while D6193 relates to implant screw replacement.

The same rule applies to an ICD-10 code for dental implant placement. ICD-10 codes describe diagnoses and related medical conditions. They do not replace the CDT procedure code for placement or removal. Use the diagnosis code required by the payer, then pair it with the correct procedure code for the service performed.

Documenting an Implant Removal Claim So It Doesn't Get Denied

A payer should be able to tell exactly what was removed by reading the clinical and operative notes. For a D6100 claim, document:

• The implant site and tooth or edentulous area involved
• That the implant body or fixture was removed
• Why removal was needed
• Whether the removal was surgical
• The main steps performed
• Any imaging, complication, or follow-up detail that supports the service
• Whether an abutment, crown, or screw was also removed

If the claim is routed through medical insurance, document the facts needed for the selected CPT code. For 20670, the record should support superficial removal. For 20680, it should support deep removal.

Keep the wording consistent across the treatment note, claim narrative, authorization request, and operative report. If one part says “crown removed” and another says “implant removed,” the payer has a clear reason to question the claim.

What to Check on D6100 Fees and Payer Policy Before You Submit

There is no single D6100 fee that works for every office or payer. Check your contracted fee schedule and the payer's current policy before sending the claim.

Also confirm:

• Whether D6100 needs prior authorization
• Whether the payer considers the service dental or medical
• Whether the payer wants CDT or CPT
• Whether the implant removal is covered under the patient's plan
• Whether a separate code is needed for an abutment, crown, or screw
• Whether attachments or a narrative are required
• Whether the current CDT cycle changed the descriptor or reporting guidance

Codes change with each CDT cycle. Verify D6100 and any CPT alternative against the current CDT manual, the ADA's current code information, and the specific payer's policy. Keep this four-part removal list with your implant billing references: implant body—D6100; superficial medical removal—20670; deep medical removal—20680; screw replacement—D6193.