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    OpenPayerBilling CodesEndoscopy/Arthroscopy Procedures on the Musculoskeletal SystemCPT cpt-29804-temporomandibular-joint-arthroscopy-tmj-repair
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    CPT 29804: Temporomandibular Joint Arthroscopy

    Medicare pays $554 on average nationally for this procedure.

    CPT code 29804 describes arthroscopy of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) in which the provider inserts an arthroscope into the jaw joint to visualize the joint and perform diagnostic evaluation and therapeutic repair of damage or disease causing jaw pain or dysfunction; service type: surgical arthroscopic procedure; typical site of service: ambulatory surgery center or hospital operating room where minimally invasive joint surgery is performed.

    For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: Dental Anesthesia Services, Anesthesia Services for Interventional Pain Management Procedures in an Adult, General Anesthesia and Conscious Sedation Services.

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    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A 34-year-old female presents to the oral and maxillofacial surgery clinic with 18 months of right-sided preauricular pain, jaw locking, and limited maximal interincisal opening despite conservative care including splint therapy and physical therapy. Examination demonstrates pain with mandibular opening and deviation to the right. Imaging (MRI arthrogram) shows articular disk displacement with degenerative changes and joint effusion of the right temporomandibular joint (TMJ). The surgeon schedules an outpatient arthroscopic procedure to visualize the TMJ, perform lavage, release adhesions, and possibly reposition the disc.

    Preoperative workflow includes history and focused oral/maxillofacial exam, review of prior imaging, informed consent explaining arthroscopy risks and benefits, anesthesia evaluation for monitored anesthesia care or general anesthesia, and verification of surgical site. Intraoperative steps: patient positioned supine with head turned; local or general anesthesia administered; insertion of arthroscope into the superior joint space; diagnostic inspection of the disc, synovium, and condylar eminence; lysis of adhesions, debridement, lavage, and any minor reparative maneuvers amenable to arthroscopic technique. Postoperative workflow includes recovery room monitoring, discharge with analgesics and jaw precautions, outpatient follow-up to assess pain relief and range of motion, and continued conservative management as indicated.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    29804Arthroscopy, temporomandibular joint, diagnostic and/or therapeutic; with lavage and lysis of adhesionsPrimary procedure for TMJ arthroscopy as described.

    29805 | Arthroscopy, temporomandibular joint, with arthroplasty, synovectomy, or disc repositioning | Performed when additional arthroscopic reparative procedures beyond lavage/lysis are required during the same session.

    21025 | Excision or destruction of lesion of the mandible; intraoral approach | May be performed in the same patient if an intraoral excision of osseous lesion is indicated in a staged or combined approach.

    70100 | Radiologic examination, temporomandibular joint, tomography | Preoperative imaging option to evaluate bony morphology; used in diagnostic workup.

    70336 | Magnetic resonance imaging, temporomandibular joint, without contrast | Common preoperative diagnostic study to evaluate disc position and joint effusion prior to arthroscopy.

    99024 | Postoperative follow-up visit global period unrelated to complications | Used for reporting distinct postoperative evaluation related to 29804 when outside the global period or requiring separate billing.

    Related Modifiers

    8 rows

    ModifierDescriptionWhen to Use
    22Modifier –22 (Increased Procedural Services) is used when a reported procedure is substantially more extensive than normally required. The CPT Manual and CMS state it may be appended only when the…- When to use: Append modifier -22 to a procedural CPT code when the service performed is substantially more extensive than the usual service described by that code — i.e., the procedure required…
    23Modifier -23 (Unusual Anesthesia) is used on anesthesia service CPT codes when a procedure that normally requires no anesthesia or only local anesthesia must be performed under general anesthesia…- Use modifier -23 only on anesthesia CPT codes (00100–01999) when a procedure that normally requires no anesthesia or only local anesthesia must be performed under general anesthesia because of…
    26Modifier 26 (Professional Component) identifies and bills only the professional portion of a split service — the physician’s interpretation, report, and medical judgment — when the technical…- Use CPT Modifier -26 when you are billing only the professional component (PC) of a split‑bill eligible service—i.e., you performed the physician interpretation, medical judgment and prepared a…
    50Modifier –50 (Bilateral Procedure) is appended to a CPT code when an identical procedure is performed on paired anatomical structures during the same operative session. The AMA states to add…- Use modifier -50 when the same CPT surgical, diagnostic, or radiology procedure is performed on paired anatomical structures (both sides of the body) during the same operative/session by the same…
    52Modifier ‑52 (Reduced Services) indicates that a service or procedure was partially reduced or omitted at the provider’s discretion, allowing reporting of the basic procedure number with a qualifier…- Use modifier -52 when a physician or qualified health professional electively reduces or omits part of a procedure or service (for example, performing fewer required views or omitting a portion of…
    53Modifier 53 (Discontinued Procedure) signals that a surgical or diagnostic service was begun by the physician but terminated because of extenuating circumstances that threatened the patient’s…- Use modifier -53 when a physician/qualified healthcare professional has started a surgical or diagnostic procedure (e.g., anesthesia administered, incision or scope insertion) and then discontinues…
    58Modifier 58 (Staged or related procedure/service by the same physician during the postoperative period) indicates that a subsequent procedure performed by the same provider during the…- Use modifier 58 when the same physician/QHP performs a procedure during the postoperative/global period of an earlier procedure and the subsequent procedure is either planned or anticipated…
    62Modifier 62 indicates that two surgeons function as co‑surgeons, each performing distinct parts of the same primary surgical procedure. It is appended to the primary procedure code (and any…- Use modifier -62 when two surgeons act as co‑surgeons (both primary surgeons) on a single definitive primary procedure, each performing distinct parts of the same surgical procedure (append -62 to…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy Code
    2080P0207X
    2084P0800X
    207L00000X
    208D00000X
    225B00000X
    172P00000X
    103TM1700X
    104100000X

    Related ICD-10-CM Codes

    14 rows

    ICD-10-CM CodeDescription
    F45.41Pain disorder exclusively related to psychological factors
    F45.8Other somatoform disorders
    G44.1Vascular headache, not elsewhere classified
    M16.9Osteoarthritis of hip, unspecified
    M17.9Osteoarthritis of knee, unspecified
    M19.90Unspecified osteoarthritis, unspecified site
    M25.50Pain in unspecified joint
    M26.4Malocclusion, unspecified
    M26.69Other specified disorders of temporomandibular joint
    M26.89Other dentofacial anomalies

    Showing 1–10 of 14

    Related Payer Policy Updates

    Specialty: Anesthesiology1 / 3

    10 rows

    PolicyPayerEffective Date
    Dental Anesthesia ServicesProvidence Health Plan2026-10-01
    Anesthesia Services for Interventional Pain Management Procedures in an AdultCigna2026-09-15
    General Anesthesia and Conscious Sedation ServicesUnitedHealthcare2026-09-01
    Intravenous Anesthetics for the Treatment of Chronic Pain and Psychiatric or Substance Use DisordersPremera Bluecross2026-07-01
    Intravenous Anesthetics for the Treatment of Chronic Pain and Psychiatric or Substance Use DisordersPremera Bluecross2026-07-01
    Intravenous Anesthetics for the Treatment of Chronic Pain and Psychiatric or Substance Use DisordersPremera Bluecross2026-07-01
    Intravenous Anesthetics for the Treatment of Chronic Pain and Psychiatric or Substance Use DisordersPremera Bluecross2026-07-01
    Elective Inpatient Services (for Idaho Only)UnitedHealthcare2026-06-01
    Sites of Servicepriority health2026-06-01
    Coverage for Ambulatory Surgery Unit (ASU)/Outpatient Facility and Anesthesia for Dental Servicesuniverahealthcare2026-05-21

    Related Codes

    CPT-29800-TMJ-ARTHROSCOPY-DIAGNOSTIC-BIOPSY

    CPT 29800: Temporomandibular Joint Arthroscopy, Diagnostic

    CPT-29805-SHOULDER-ARTHROSCOPY-WITH-SYNOVIAL-BIOPSY

    CPT 29805: Diagnostic Shoulder Arthroscopy with Synovial Biopsy

    CPT-29806-ARTHROSCOPIC-SHOULDER-CAPSULE-REPAIR

    CPT 29806: Arthroscopy, Shoulder, Repair of Capsular Tear

    CPT-29807-ARTHROSCOPIC-SLAP-LESION-REPAIR-SHOULDER

    CPT 29807: Arthroscopic Repair of SLAP Lesion in Shoulder

    CPT-29819-ARTHROSCOPIC-SHOULDER-LOOSE-FOREIGN-BODY-REMOVAL

    CPT 29819: Arthroscopic Removal of Loose or Foreign Bodies, Shoulder

    CPT-29820-ARTHROSCOPIC-SHOULDER-SYNOVECTOMY

    CPT 29820: Arthroscopic Synovectomy of Shoulder

    CPT-29821-ARTHROSCOPIC-SHOULDER-SYNOVECTOMY

    CPT 29821: Arthroscopic Complete Synovectomy of Shoulder

    CPT-29822-SHOULDER-ARTHROSCOPY-LIMITED-DEBRIDEMENT

    CPT 29822: Arthroscopy, Shoulder, Limited Debridement

    CPT-29823-ARTHROSCOPIC-SHOULDER-DEBRIDEMENT-EXTENSIVE-TISSUE-EXCISION

    CPT 29823: Arthroscopic Shoulder Extensive Excision/Debridement

    CPT-29824-ARTHROSCOPIC-DISTAL-CLAVICULECTOMY-MUMFORD

    CPT 29824: Arthroscopic Distal Clavicle Resection (Mumford Procedure)

    Showing 1–10 of 75

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    Frequently Asked Questions

    References

    1. 1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.Maintains the CPT code set's official descriptions and guidelines, licensed from the American Medical Association, used as the definitional source for CPT codes on this page.
    2. 2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's quarterly release of HCPCS Level II codes and short/long descriptors, the source for HCPCS code definitions and update history.
    3. 3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's complete ICD-10-CM diagnosis code list, used to cross-reference diagnosis codes associated with this procedure or service.
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