D7286 is the CDT code for an incisional biopsy of oral soft tissue. A representative portion of a soft tissue lesion is removed and submitted for pathologic examination, rather than removing the entire lesion. It is different from brush or exfoliative cytology, which collects surface cells, and from an excisional biopsy, where the whole lesion is removed.
Last updated June 2026 · Reviewed by the PracticeAlpha billing team
Use D7286 when a representative portion of a suspicious oral soft tissue lesion is removed and submitted for histopathology. The clinician cuts out a sample of the lesion, not the whole thing, so a pathologist can make a diagnosis. The specimen is sent to a pathology laboratory and the result guides the next step in care.
Common clinical scenarios: A persistent white or red soft tissue patch that needs a tissue diagnosis. An ulcer or growth where a partial sample is taken to confirm what it is before deciding on treatment. A larger lesion where removing a representative piece is enough to reach a diagnosis without excising the entire area.
Do NOT use D7286 for: Brush or exfoliative cytology, where surface cells are collected rather than a tissue specimen (use D7287, or D7288 for a brush biopsy transepithelial sample). Removing the entire lesion, which is an excisional biopsy reported with the excision of lesion codes in the D7410 to D7465 series. A hard tissue or bone biopsy (use D7285).
Click any code to see the difference.
A representative portion of an oral soft tissue lesion is removed for pathology. The sample is soft tissue, not bone.
Biopsy of oral hard tissue, such as bone. The sample comes from hard tissue rather than soft tissue, which is what changes the code.
Billing tip: The tissue type decides the code. Soft tissue is D7286 and hard tissue or bone is D7285. State the tissue sampled in the note so the payer can confirm the right code was used.
A biopsy is expected to have a pathology result tied to it. If the claim has no report and no note saying pathology is pending, the payer may hold or deny it. Note that the specimen was submitted for pathology, and attach or reference the report once it comes back.
Payers want to see why the biopsy was indicated. A short narrative describing the lesion, how long it has been present, and the clinical concern supports medical necessity. Without it, the claim looks unsupported and is easy to deny.
Billing D7286 when the whole lesion was removed, or billing an excision code when only a sample was taken, triggers denials. D7286 is a partial, representative sample. Removing the entire lesion is an excision in the D7410 to D7465 series. The note has to match the code on the claim.
A biopsy can fall under a medical or a dental benefit depending on the plan. Sending it to the wrong carrier, or leaving out the site and size of the lesion, leads to a denial. Verify benefits, route the claim correctly, and document the location and size of the lesion sampled.
Describe the lesion, how long it has been present, and the clinical concern that made a biopsy necessary. This narrative is the primary support for medical necessity.
Record where the lesion is and its size. Site and size detail supports the procedure and helps the payer confirm the right biopsy code was used.
State clearly that only a representative portion was removed, not the entire lesion. That detail is what separates D7286 from an excisional biopsy code.
Note that the specimen was submitted to pathology, and reference or attach the report once it is available. A pending-pathology note keeps the claim from looking incomplete.
Check whether the biopsy falls under a medical or a dental benefit for this plan, and route the claim accordingly. Record any pre-authorization number and include it on the claim.
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Learn about our billing servicesD7286 is the CDT code for an incisional biopsy of oral soft tissue. A representative portion of a soft tissue lesion is removed and submitted for pathologic examination, rather than removing the entire lesion. The sample goes to a pathology laboratory for a histopathologic diagnosis.
D7286 is an incisional biopsy where a representative piece of a soft tissue lesion is cut out and sent for histopathology. D7287 is exfoliative cytological sample collection, where surface cells are gathered rather than a tissue specimen. One removes tissue, the other collects cells.
An incisional biopsy removes only a representative portion of the lesion for diagnosis and is reported with D7286. An excisional biopsy removes the entire lesion, which is reported with the excision of lesion codes in the D7410 to D7465 series. How much of the lesion is removed decides the code.
Common reasons: a missing pathology report or no pending-pathology note, no narrative describing the lesion and why a biopsy was indicated, confusion between the incisional and excisional codes, medical versus dental benefit routing problems, and missing site or size documentation.
D7286 is the biopsy procedure, the removal of the tissue sample. The laboratory analysis is performed and reported separately by the pathology lab. Note that the specimen was submitted for pathology, and attach or reference the report once it is available.
No. D7286 is for soft tissue. A biopsy of oral hard tissue or bone is reported with D7285. Match the code to whether the sample is soft tissue or hard tissue before submitting the claim.
Search all 206 CDT codes in our dental coding guide.