What D7980 means

D7980 covers a surgical sialolithotomy. "D" is dental, "79" is this oral surgery area, and "80" is this sialolithotomy. Breaking down the term: 'sialo-' refers to saliva/salivary, 'lith' means stone, and '-otomy' means cutting into/incision (to remove). So a sialolithotomy is the surgical removal of a salivary stone (sialolith) — cutting to extract a stone from a salivary gland or its duct. So D7980 is the surgical removal of a salivary stone.

So it's surgically removing a stone from a salivary gland or duct — relieving the blockage it causes and restoring the flow of saliva.

Salivary stones (sialoliths) are hard, calcified deposits that can form within a salivary gland or its duct (the tube carrying saliva to the mouth). They most commonly form in the submandibular gland/duct (under the jaw), and also can occur in the parotid or other glands. A stone can partially or fully block the duct, obstructing the flow of saliva — which causes the classic symptoms: pain and swelling of the gland, often worse around mealtimes (when saliva production increases but can't flow past the stone), and sometimes infection of the obstructed gland (sialadenitis). A sialolithotomy surgically removes the stone — accessing it (e.g., through an incision in the duct/floor of the mouth over the stone, or within the gland) and extracting it — relieving the obstruction and allowing saliva to flow again. The approach depends on the stone's location and size (a stone near the duct opening may be removed relatively simply, while a deeper stone or one in the gland is more involved). It's performed by an oral and maxillofacial surgeon (or relevant specialist). These procedures address a medical condition (the obstruction/stone), so medical coverage may apply. This code is in the oral surgery area (D7900-D7999). Documentation supports the claim.

When it's typically used

D7980 is reported for a surgical sialolithotomy — surgically removing a salivary stone (sialolith) from a salivary gland or duct — used when a stone is blocking the flow of saliva (causing pain and swelling, often worse around meals, and sometimes infection), to remove the stone, relieve the obstruction, and restore saliva flow. The approach depends on the stone's location and size.

How much does D7980 cost?

A surgical sialolithotomy's cost depends on the stone's location/size and the complexity (a stone near the duct opening is simpler; a deeper or intraglandular stone is more involved, possibly requiring more extensive surgery/anesthesia). Sample fee-schedule values run from a couple hundred dollars upward (varying by region/case). As it treats a medical condition, medical coverage may apply. Verify your specific coverage.

Is D7980 covered by insurance?

A sialolithotomy treats a medical condition (an obstructing salivary stone causing pain/swelling/infection), so it may be covered under medical benefits (check both medical and dental plans). Documentation of the condition (the stone, the obstruction, the symptoms — often confirmed by imaging) and the surgical removal supports the claim. The coverage/complexity may depend on the stone's location and the extent of surgery. Verifying coverage helps.

What salivary stones are and why they cause problems

Stones block saliva flow and cause pain/swelling, and understanding this clarifies the indication.

Understanding salivary stones clarifies the indication for D7980. A salivary stone (sialolith) is a hard, calcified deposit that forms within a salivary gland or its duct. The salivary glands produce saliva, which flows through ducts into the mouth; a stone can form (from mineral deposits in the saliva) and lodge in the gland or duct. The most common location is the submandibular gland/duct (under the jaw) — partly because its saliva is more mineral-rich and its duct runs uphill, predisposing to stones. When a stone partially or fully blocks the duct, it obstructs the flow of saliva — and this causes the characteristic problems: pain and swelling of the affected gland — the gland swells behind the blockage; mealtime symptoms — classically, the swelling/pain worsens around meals (eating stimulates saliva production, but the saliva can't flow past the stone, so it backs up — causing painful swelling that may subside between meals); and infection — a chronically obstructed gland can become infected (sialadenitis), with increased pain, swelling, and sometimes pus/fever.

So a stone causes obstruction-related symptoms — and removing it (the sialolithotomy) addresses the cause. So salivary stones cause problems by blocking saliva flow. Understanding this helps patients see that a salivary stone (sialolith) is a hard, calcified deposit forming within a salivary gland or its duct (the salivary glands producing saliva that flows through ducts into the mouth, a stone forming from mineral deposits in the saliva and lodging in the gland or duct), most commonly in the submandibular gland/duct under the jaw (partly because its saliva is more mineral-rich and its duct runs uphill, predisposing to stones) — so when a stone partially or fully blocks the duct it obstructs the flow of saliva, causing pain and swelling of the affected gland (the gland swelling behind the blockage), mealtime symptoms (classically the swelling/pain worsening around meals, since eating stimulates saliva production but it can't flow past the stone, so it backs up, causing painful swelling that may subside between meals), and infection (a chronically obstructed gland becoming infected/sialadenitis, with increased pain, swelling, and sometimes pus/fever) — so a stone causes obstruction-related symptoms, and removing it (the sialolithotomy) addresses the cause.

How the stone is removed

The stone is surgically accessed and extracted, and understanding this clarifies the procedure.

Understanding how the stone is removed clarifies D7980. A surgical sialolithotomy accesses the stone and extracts it — the approach depending on the stone's location: a stone in the duct (near the opening) — a stone in the duct, especially toward the front (e.g., in the floor of the mouth for a submandibular stone), can often be removed through an intraoral incision over the stone — incising the duct/tissue to expose the stone and lifting it out, then allowing the duct to heal/drain; a deeper duct or hilum stone — a stone further back (deeper in the duct or at the gland's hilum) is more challenging to access intraorally, requiring more careful surgical exposure; and a stone within the gland — a stone deep within the gland substance may not be removable by a simple duct incision, and in some cases the management differs (occasionally involving more extensive surgery — see the relationship to gland excision in the next section).

The goal is to remove the stone and relieve the obstruction, ideally preserving the gland (so it can resume normal function once the blockage is gone). After removal, saliva can flow again, and the symptoms resolve. (Modern approaches may also include techniques like sialendoscopy — a tiny scope in the duct — to locate/remove stones minimally invasively, though the basic surgical removal is the sialolithotomy.) So the stone is surgically accessed and extracted. Understanding this helps patients see that a surgical sialolithotomy accesses the stone and extracts it, the approach depending on the stone's location — a stone in the duct near the opening (especially toward the front, e.g., in the floor of the mouth for a submandibular stone) often removed through an intraoral incision over the stone (incising the duct/tissue to expose the stone and lifting it out, then allowing the duct to heal/drain), a deeper duct or hilum stone (further back) being more challenging to access intraorally and requiring more careful surgical exposure, and a stone within the gland substance possibly not removable by a simple duct incision (the management sometimes differing, occasionally involving more extensive surgery) — the goal being to remove the stone and relieve the obstruction, ideally preserving the gland (so it can resume normal function once the blockage is gone), after which saliva can flow again and the symptoms resolve (modern approaches sometimes including sialendoscopy, a tiny scope in the duct, to locate/remove stones minimally invasively).

Sialolithotomy vs removing the gland

Removing the stone preserves the gland when possible, and understanding this clarifies the options.

Understanding the relationship between the sialolithotomy and gland removal clarifies the treatment options. For an obstructing salivary stone, there are two general directions: remove the stone (sialolithotomy, D7980) — taking out just the stone, preserving the gland — preferred when feasible, because it relieves the obstruction while keeping the gland (so the gland can recover and continue producing saliva); and remove the gland (excision of the salivary gland, D7981) — removing the affected gland itself — needed in some cases, such as when the stone can't be removed while preserving the gland, or when the gland is irreversibly damaged/chronically diseased (e.g., from recurrent obstruction/infection) and no longer functions well, making removal the better option.

So the sialolithotomy (D7980) is the gland-sparing option (remove the stone, keep the gland), while gland excision (D7981) removes the gland when that's necessary. The surgeon chooses based on the stone (its location/accessibility) and the gland's condition (whether it's salvageable). Generally, preserving the gland (removing just the stone) is preferred when possible. So D7980 removes the stone while sparing the gland, vs D7981 which removes the gland. Understanding this helps patients see that for an obstructing salivary stone there are two general directions — remove the stone (sialolithotomy, D7980: taking out just the stone, preserving the gland, preferred when feasible because it relieves the obstruction while keeping the gland so it can recover and continue producing saliva) and remove the gland (excision of the salivary gland, D7981: removing the affected gland itself, needed in some cases such as when the stone can't be removed while preserving the gland, or when the gland is irreversibly damaged/chronically diseased from recurrent obstruction/infection and no longer functions well, making removal the better option) — so the sialolithotomy is the gland-sparing option (remove the stone, keep the gland) while gland excision removes the gland when necessary, the surgeon choosing based on the stone's location/accessibility and the gland's condition (whether it's salvageable), with preserving the gland generally preferred when possible.

Where D7980 fits in the codes

D7980 begins the salivary procedure codes, and understanding this clarifies the coding.

Understanding where D7980 sits clarifies the coding. D7980 begins a small group of salivary gland/duct procedure codes within the oral surgery area: surgical sialolithotomy (D7980, this code) — removing a salivary stone; excision of salivary gland, by report (D7981) — removing a salivary gland; sialodochoplasty (D7982) — surgical repair/reconstruction of a salivary duct; and closure of salivary fistula (D7983) — closing an abnormal salivary opening/tract. So these four codes (D7980-D7983) cover the surgical management of salivary gland/duct conditions.

D7980 specifically is the sialolithotomy — the stone-removal procedure, the most common salivary surgery (since stones are a common salivary problem). The surgeon codes D7980 for removing a salivary stone (vs D7981 if the gland is excised, D7982 for duct repair, D7983 for fistula closure). These salivary procedures are in the oral surgery category because oral/maxillofacial surgeons manage the salivary glands (which are in the head/neck region). So D7980 is the sialolithotomy beginning the salivary codes. Understanding this helps patients see that D7980 begins a small group of salivary gland/duct procedure codes within the oral surgery area — surgical sialolithotomy (D7980, this code — removing a salivary stone), excision of salivary gland, by report (D7981 — removing a salivary gland), sialodochoplasty (D7982 — surgical repair/reconstruction of a salivary duct), and closure of salivary fistula (D7983 — closing an abnormal salivary opening/tract) — so these four codes (D7980-D7983) cover the surgical management of salivary gland/duct conditions, with D7980 specifically being the sialolithotomy (the stone-removal procedure, the most common salivary surgery since stones are a common salivary problem), coded for removing a salivary stone (vs D7981 if the gland is excised, D7982 for duct repair, D7983 for fistula closure), these salivary procedures being in the oral surgery category because oral/maxillofacial surgeons manage the salivary glands (in the head/neck region).

Frequently asked questions

What is the D7980 dental code?

It's a surgical sialolithotomy — the surgical removal of a salivary stone (sialolith) from a salivary gland or its duct. Salivary stones are calcified deposits that can block the flow of saliva, causing pain and swelling (especially around meals) and sometimes infection. The sialolithotomy removes the stone to relieve the blockage and restore saliva flow.

What is a salivary stone?

A sialolith — a hard, calcified deposit that forms within a salivary gland or its duct (from mineral deposits in the saliva). Most commonly in the submandibular gland/duct (under the jaw). When it blocks the duct, it obstructs saliva flow, causing the gland to swell and hurt — classically worse around meals (when saliva production increases but can't flow past the stone).

What are the symptoms of a salivary stone?

Pain and swelling of the affected gland (e.g., under the jaw), classically worse around mealtimes (eating stimulates saliva, which backs up behind the stone, causing painful swelling that may subside between meals). A chronically obstructed gland can also become infected (sialadenitis), with more pain, swelling, and sometimes pus or fever.

How is the stone removed?

By surgically accessing and extracting it — a stone near the duct opening can often be removed through a small intraoral incision over the stone (in the floor of the mouth for a submandibular stone); deeper stones need more careful exposure. The goal is to remove the stone and relieve the obstruction while preserving the gland. (Sialendoscopy — a tiny scope in the duct — is also used in some cases.)

Is the gland removed too?

Usually not — the sialolithotomy aims to remove just the stone and preserve the gland (so it can recover and keep producing saliva). The gland is removed (excision, D7981) only in some cases — when the stone can't be removed while sparing the gland, or when the gland is irreversibly damaged/chronically diseased from recurrent problems. Preserving the gland is generally preferred.

What does it cost, and is it covered?

Cost depends on the stone's location/size and the complexity (a stone near the duct opening is simpler; a deeper or intraglandular stone is more involved), running from a couple hundred dollars upward. As it treats a medical condition (the obstructing stone), medical coverage may apply (check both medical and dental plans). Verify your specific coverage.

This page is an independent, plain-language explanation for general information only. It is not billing, coding, or clinical advice. For the official CDT descriptor and current-year wording, refer to the American Dental Association.