2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code M26.79Other specified alveolar anomalies

ICD-10-CM Codes›M00–M99›M26-M27›M26

ICD-10-CM M26.79
CMSSource: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

M26.79 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for other specified alveolar anomalies. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2026 (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026) and groups to MS-DRG 157 through 159. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Any dental condition including traumatic injury, Disorders of jaw, and Disorders of teeth and gingiva.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
M26.79
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Other specified alveolar anomalies
Short Description
Other specified alveolar anomalies
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Parent Code
M26.7
Dental alveolar anomalies

Code Classification

ChapterM00–M99Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue
SectionM26-M27Dentofacial anomalies [including malocclusion] and other disorders of jaw
CategoryM26Dentofacial anomalies [including malocclusion]
This CodeM26.79Other specified alveolar anomalies

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Abnormal alveolar housing
  • Alveolar bone loss
  • Alveolar bone loss beyond furcation
  • Alveolar bone loss with cratering
  • Bilateral cleft lip and bilateral cleft of alveolar process of maxilla
  • Bilateral complete cleft lip and bilateral complete cleft of alveolar process of maxilla
  • Broad alveolar housing
  • Cleft hard and soft palate with bilateral cleft lip and bilateral cleft of alveolar process of maxilla
  • Cleft hard and soft palate with cleft lip
  • Cleft hard and soft palate with left cleft lip
  • Cleft hard and soft palate with left cleft lip and left alveolar process of maxilla
  • Cleft hard and soft palate with right cleft lip
  • Cleft hard and soft palate with right cleft lip and cleft of right alveolar process of maxilla
  • Cleft hard palate with bilateral cleft lip and bilateral cleft of alveolar process of maxilla
  • Cleft hard palate with cleft lip, bilateral
  • Cleft hard palate with left cleft lip
  • Cleft hard palate with left cleft lip and cleft of left alveolar process of maxilla
  • Cleft hard palate with right cleft lip
  • Cleft hard palate with right cleft lip and cleft of right alveolar process of maxilla
  • Cleft lip and cleft of alveolar process of maxilla
  • Cleft of alveolar ridge
  • Cleft of soft palate and bilateral cleft lip
  • Cleft palate and bilateral cleft lip
  • Cleft palate with bilateral cleft lip and bilateral cleft of alveolar process of maxilla
  • Cleft soft palate with bilateral cleft lip and bilateral cleft of alveolar process of maxilla
  • Cleft soft palate with left cleft lip
  • Cleft soft palate with left cleft lip and cleft of left alveolar process of maxilla
  • Cleft soft palate with right cleft lip
  • Cleft soft palate with right cleft lip and cleft of right alveolar process of maxilla
  • Cleft upper lip, upper jaw AND palate
  • Complete bilateral cleft lip
  • Complete cleft lip
  • Complete left cleft lip
  • Complete left cleft lip and complete cleft of left alveolar process of maxilla
  • Complete right cleft lip
  • Complete right cleft lip and complete cleft of right alveolar process of maxilla
  • Deficiency of alveolar ridge
  • Deficiency of anterior part of lower alveolar ridge
  • Deficiency of posterior part of lower alveolar ridge
  • Excess of anterior part of lower alveolar ridge
  • Excess of posterior part of lower alveolar ridge
  • Feather edge alveolar ridge
  • Incomplete cleft lip
  • Incomplete left cleft lip
  • Incomplete left cleft lip and incomplete cleft of left alveolar process of maxilla
  • Incomplete right cleft lip
  • Incomplete right cleft lip and incomplete cleft of right alveolar process of maxilla
  • Insufficient supracrestal attachment
  • Labial alveolar bony ledging
  • Maxilla residual ridge morphology
  • Maxilla residual ridge morphology resists vertical and horizontal movement
  • Maxilla residual ridge morphology with absent anterior labial vestibule
  • Maxilla residual ridge morphology with hamular notch present
  • Maxilla residual ridge morphology with hyperplastic mobile anterior ridge
  • Maxilla residual ridge morphology with minimal resistance to palatal vault
  • Maxilla residual ridge morphology with no buccal vestibule present
  • Maxilla residual ridge morphology with poor hamular notch
  • Maxilla residual ridge morphology with prominent anterior nasal spine
  • Maxilla residual ridge morphology with reduction of post malar space
  • Maxilla residual ridge morphology with redundant tissue present
  • Maxilla residual ridge morphology with tori present
  • Maxilla residual ridge morphology without palatal vault resistance to horizontal or vertical movement
  • Minimal maxillary ridge support for denture
  • Pointed edge alveolar ridge
  • Resorption of alveolar process caused by orthodontic force
  • Resorption of alveolar process due to dental trauma
  • Resorption of anterior maxillary alveolar bone and anterior nasal spine due to lepromatous leprosy
  • Thin alveolar housing

Index to Diseases and InjuriesGuidance

Alphabetical index entries that point to this code.

External Cause of Injuries IndexGuidance

References for this code in the External Cause of Injuries Index.

    • Anomaly, anomalous(congenital) (unspecified type)
      • alveolar
        • hyperplasia
    • Anomaly, anomalous(congenital) (unspecified type)
      • alveolar
        • hypoplasia
    • Anomaly, anomalous(congenital) (unspecified type)
      • alveolar
        • ridge (process)
    • Anomaly, anomalous(congenital) (unspecified type)
      • alveolar
        • specified NEC
    • Cicatrix(adherent) (contracted) (painful) (vicious)
      • alveolar process
    • Cleft(congenital)
      • alveolar process
    • Hyperplasia, hyperplastic
      • jaw
        • alveolar
    • Hypoplasia, hypoplastic
      • jaw
        • alveolar
    • Resorption
      • dental (roots)
        • alveoli

Clinical ClassificationClinical

AHRQ’s CCSR groups this code into broader clinical categories.

CCSR DEN001
Any dental condition including traumatic injury
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient No · outpatient No
CCSR MUS029
Disorders of jaw
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient Yes · outpatient Yes
CCSR DIG002
Disorders of teeth and gingiva
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient No · outpatient No
CCSR DEN002
Nontraumatic dental conditions
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient No · outpatient No

Clinical InformationClinical

  • Alveolar Bone Loss

    resorption or wasting of the tooth-supporting bone (alveolar process) in the maxilla or mandible.

Patient EducationClinical

Tooth Disorders

Your teeth are made of a hard, bonelike material. There are four parts:

The full article covers:

  • What are teeth?
  • What are tooth disorders?
  • What causes tooth disorders?
  • What are the symptoms of tooth disorders?
  • How are tooth disorders diagnosed?
  • What are the treatments for tooth disorders?
  • Can tooth disorders be prevented?

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

Courtesy of MedlinePlus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

Convert M26.79 to ICD-9-CMHistory

The closest ICD-9-CM equivalents under the General Equivalence Mappings.

ICD-9-CM
524.79 Oth spcf alveolar anmaly
Approximate The match is approximate rather than exact.
ICD-9-CM
525.8 Dental disorder NEC
Approximate The match is approximate rather than exact.

Code HistoryHistory

FY 2016AddedAdded to the ICD-10-CM code setEffective October 1, 2015, the first year of ICD-10-CM.
FY 2017–2025No changes
FY 2026CurrentCurrent code set, no changesEffective October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

Questions About M26.79Overview

Is M26.79 (Dental alveolar anomalies) a billable code?

Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report other specified alveolar anomalies on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

What MS-DRG does M26.79 group to?

When other specified alveolar anomalies is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 157, 158, 159, with relative weights from 0.7085 to 1.7168 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.

What is the ICD-9 equivalent of M26.79?

Under the General Equivalence Mappings, other specified alveolar anomalies converts to ICD-9-CM 524.79 (oth spcf alveolar anmaly) and 525.8 (dental disorder NEC). The mapping is approximate, so confirm the match fits the documentation.

Footnotes

[1] Not chronic - A diagnosis code that does not fit the criteria for chronic condition (duration, ongoing medical treatment, and limitations) is considered not chronic. Some codes designated as not chronic are acute conditions. Other diagnosis codes that indicate a possible chronic condition, but for which the duration of the illness is not specified in the code description (i.e., we do not know the condition has lasted 12 months or longer) also are considered not chronic.