In simple words: The doctor takes an impression of your face or mouth to create a custom-made splint. This splint helps support your facial bones during reconstructive jaw surgery or other mouth surgeries, especially after an injury or removal of the jawbone. The splint is made in the doctor's office, not at an outside lab.

This code represents the impression and custom fabrication of an oral surgical splint. The splint is typically used to support facial structures during orthognathic reconstruction or other oral surgeries, such as when the mandible has been removed due to trauma or ablative surgery. The process involves taking an impression of the patient's face or dental arch, and the splint must be fabricated in the office, not by an outside laboratory.

Example 1: A patient requires orthognathic surgery to correct a jaw misalignment. The surgeon takes an impression and prepares a custom surgical splint (21085) to stabilize the jaw during and after the procedure., A patient suffers a mandibular fracture in a motor vehicle accident. The oral surgeon fabricates and places an oral surgical splint (21085) to immobilize the fracture and facilitate healing., A patient undergoes a mandibulectomy for oral cancer. The surgeon uses an oral surgical splint (21085), custom-prepared based on the patient's facial contours, to provide support and maintain the remaining facial structures.

Documentation should include the medical necessity for the splint, details of the impression process, the type of material used for fabrication, and the surgical procedure for which the splint is being used (e.g., orthognathic surgery, mandibular fracture repair, mandibulectomy). Pre-operative and post-operative notes related to the oral surgical splint should also be included.

** This code is frequently audited. Ensure accurate documentation and coding to prevent claim denials.