M26.30 identifies an anomaly of tooth position affecting a fully erupted tooth or teeth when the specific type of positional abnormality is not documented or cannot be further specified.
Verified May 8, 2026 · 5 sources ↓
- Status
- Billable
- Chapter
- 13
- Related CPT
- 10
- Region
- Other
Documentation tips
What should appear in the chart to support M26.30.
Source · Editorial brief grounded in 5 cited references ↓
- Confirm the teeth in question are fully erupted — M26.30 does not apply to impacted or embedded teeth (those code to K01.-).
- If the provider can characterize the positional anomaly at all (crowding, spacing, rotation, horizontal or vertical displacement), use the specific M26.3x code instead of M26.30.
- Record which teeth or arch segments are affected; while M26.30 carries no laterality character, tooth-level documentation supports medical necessity and audit defense.
- Document any associated malocclusion separately — M26.4 (malocclusion, unspecified) or a more specific M26.2x code may be reported alongside M26.30 when both conditions are present and treated.
- Note whether the anomaly is the primary reason for the encounter or a secondary finding; sequencing affects claim adjudication when multiple M26.x codes are reported.
Related CPT procedures
Procedure codes commonly billed with M26.30. Linking the right diagnosis to the right procedure is what establishes medical necessity.
Source · CMS LCDs · AAOS specialty guidance · claims-pattern analysis
Common coding pitfalls
The recurring mistakes coders make with M26.30 and adjacent codes.
Source · Editorial brief grounded in CDC ICD-10-CM tabular guidance, AAOS coding references, and cited references ↓
- Coding M26.30 when a more specific child code applies — always review M26.31 through M26.39 before defaulting to the unspecified code; payers may flag M26.30 as lacking specificity.
- Billing M26.30 for impacted or embedded teeth — those conditions are excluded and must be reported with K01.- codes.
- Confusing M26.30 with malocclusion codes (M26.4, M26.2x) — tooth positional anomalies and arch relationship anomalies are distinct categories; do not conflate them.
- Using parent code M26.3 for billing — M26.3 is non-billable; M26.30 (or another M26.3x child code) is required for reimbursement claims.
Clinical context
Source · Editorial summary grounded in 5 cited references ↓
M26.30 is the unspecified fallback within the M26.3 subcategory (Anomalies of tooth position of fully erupted tooth or teeth). Use it only when documentation confirms a positional anomaly of fully erupted dentition but fails to characterize the exact nature of the displacement. If the record supports a more specific diagnosis, code there instead: M26.31 (crowding), M26.32 (excessive spacing), M26.33 (horizontal displacement), M26.34 (vertical displacement), M26.35 (rotation), M26.36 (insufficient interocclusal distance), M26.37 (excessive interocclusal distance), or M26.39 (other specified anomaly).
The ICD-10-CM Tabular includes three 'Applicable To' inclusion terms under M26.30: abnormal spacing NOS, displacement NOS, and transposition NOS — all of fully erupted teeth. These terms signal that M26.30 is appropriate when the provider documents a generic positional problem without specifying the direction, type, or degree. Note the Type 2 Excludes at the M26.3 parent level: embedded and impacted teeth code to K01.-, not here.
This code falls under the M26–M27 dentofacial anomalies section within Chapter 13 of ICD-10-CM. While it sits in a musculoskeletal chapter, it is most commonly encountered in oral surgery, orthodontic, and dental specialty billing contexts rather than general orthopedic practice. MS-DRG assignment groups M26.30 within DRGs 157–159 (Dental and oral diseases) and 011–013 (Tracheostomy for face, mouth, and neck diagnoses) when applicable complication/comorbidity thresholds are met.
Inclusion & exclusion notes
Per the official ICD-10-CM Tabular List.
Source · CDC ICD-10-CM Official Tabular List · 2026
Includes
- Abnormal spacing of fully erupted tooth or teeth NOS
- Displacement of fully erupted tooth or teeth NOS
- Transposition of fully erupted tooth or teeth NOS
Sibling codes
Other billable codes under M26.3 (laterality / anatomic variants).
Frequently asked questions
Source · Generated from the editorial pipeline, verified against 5 cited references ↓
01When should I use M26.30 instead of a more specific M26.3x code?
02Can M26.30 be used for impacted or embedded teeth?
03Is M26.3 billable for claims submission?
04What MS-DRGs does M26.30 map to?
05Can M26.30 be reported alongside a malocclusion code?
06Does M26.30 require a 7th-character extension?
07Which inclusion terms fall under M26.30?
Sources & references
Editorial content was developed using the following public sources. Last verified May 8, 2026.
- 01CDC ICD-10-CM Tabular List 2026 (FY2026, effective October 1, 2025)
- 02icd10data.comhttps://www.icd10data.com/ICD10CM/Codes/M00-M99/M26-M27/M26-/M26.30
- 03icd10data.comhttps://www.icd10data.com/ICD10CM/Codes/M00-M99/M26-M27/M26-/M26.3
- 04aapc.comhttps://www.aapc.com/codes/icd-10-codes/M26.30
- 05aapc.comhttps://www.aapc.com/codes/icd-10-codes/M26.3
Mira AI Scribe
Mira's AI scribe captures the provider's characterization of the tooth positional finding — eruption status confirmed, specific type of displacement if stated, teeth or arch segment involved, and any imaging or clinical exam findings supporting the anomaly. This prevents defaulting to the non-billable parent M26.3, flags when a more specific M26.3x code is warranted, and ensures the K01.- exclusion for impacted teeth is respected.
See how Mira captures M26.30 documentation