2025 CPT code 21073
Effective Date: N/A Surgery - Surgical Procedures on the Head Feed
Manipulation of temporomandibular joint(s) (TMJ), therapeutic, requiring anesthesia service (general or monitored anesthesia care).
Modifiers can be applied to 21073. Common modifiers for this code include 22 (Increased Procedural Services), 50 (Bilateral Procedure), 52 (Reduced Services), 76 (Repeat Procedure by Same Physician), and 77 (Repeat Procedure by Another Physician).
Medical necessity for 21073 must be established by documenting that conservative treatments have failed and that the patient's TMJ disorder significantly impairs function or causes chronic pain.
The physician is responsible for evaluating the patient's TMJ disorder, determining the need for manipulation under anesthesia, administering or supervising the anesthesia, performing the manipulation, and post-operative care. The physician also educates the patient about post-procedure care and potential complications.
In simple words: This procedure involves moving your jaw joint around to help it work better and reduce pain. It requires medicine to make you sleepy or completely unconscious so your jaw muscles are relaxed during the procedure.
Therapeutic manipulation of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) requiring general or monitored anesthesia care. This involves manual adjustment of the jaw joint to improve mobility and reduce pain caused by TMJ disorders. Anesthesia is necessary to relax the jaw muscles and allow for effective manipulation.
Example 1: A patient with limited jaw opening and chronic pain due to TMJ arthritis undergoes TMJ manipulation under general anesthesia., A patient with jaw clicking, popping, and pain caused by a displaced disc in the TMJ receives manipulation under monitored anesthesia care., Following a jaw injury, a patient develops TMJ dysfunction and undergoes manipulation under anesthesia to restore normal joint movement.
Documentation should include the diagnosis of the TMJ disorder, the medical necessity for manipulation under anesthesia, type of anesthesia used, the procedure performed, any complications, and post-operative instructions.
- Specialties: Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Otolaryngology Plastic Surgery
- Place of Service: Ambulatory Surgical Center Outpatient Hospital