What D7981 means

D7981 covers the excision of a salivary gland, by report. "D" is dental, "79" is this oral surgery area, and "81" is this salivary gland excision. 'Excision' means surgical removal (cutting out). So D7981 is the surgical removal of a salivary gland. 'By report' means the procedure is documented/reported individually (with a narrative), because the specific gland, the condition, and the extent of the excision vary.

So it's surgically removing a salivary gland — done when the gland is diseased, damaged, or has pathology that warrants its removal.

The salivary glands (the major ones: parotid, submandibular, sublingual; plus many minor glands) produce saliva. A gland may need to be excised (removed) for various reasons: a tumor/neoplasm — a benign or malignant tumor of the salivary gland is treated by removing the gland (or the affected portion) — a common reason for salivary gland excision (e.g., a pleomorphic adenoma, a common benign parotid/submandibular tumor, or a malignant salivary tumor); chronic/recurrent disease — a gland irreversibly damaged or chronically diseased (e.g., from recurrent obstruction by stones, recurrent infection/sialadenitis, or chronic inflammation) that no longer functions well and causes ongoing problems — removal resolves the recurrent issues; an unremovable stone situation — when a stone can't be removed while preserving the gland (so the gland is removed with it); and other pathology — cysts or other conditions of the gland. The extent varies — removing a whole gland (e.g., submandibular gland excision) or a portion (e.g., a superficial parotidectomy for a parotid tumor, removing the part of the parotid with the tumor while protecting the facial nerve that runs through it). Because the gland, the condition, and the extent vary, it's a 'by report' code (documented individually). It's performed by an oral and maxillofacial surgeon (or head/neck surgeon). These procedures treat medical conditions (tumors, chronic disease), so medical coverage applies. This code is in the oral surgery area (D7900-D7999). Documentation supports the claim.

When it's typically used

D7981 is reported for the excision (surgical removal) of a salivary gland — done when the gland is diseased, damaged, or contains pathology warranting removal (e.g., a salivary gland tumor, chronic/recurrent salivary disease, an irreparable stone situation, or other gland pathology). 'By report' means it's documented individually (the gland, condition, and extent vary). The extent ranges from a whole gland to a portion.

How much does D7981 cost?

Excision of a salivary gland's cost depends on the gland, the extent (a whole gland vs a portion), and the complexity (e.g., a parotidectomy involving careful facial-nerve dissection is more complex than a submandibular gland removal) — typically a significant surgical procedure (often under general anesthesia). As a 'by report' code, the specifics are documented. Sample fee-schedule values are in the several-hundred-dollars-and-up range (varying widely). As it treats a medical condition, medical coverage applies. Verify your specific coverage.

Is D7981 covered by insurance?

Excision of a salivary gland treats a medical condition (a tumor, chronic disease, or other pathology), so it's generally covered under medical benefits (check both medical and dental plans). As a 'by report' code, documentation of the gland, the condition/diagnosis (often with imaging and pathology), the medical necessity, and the extent of excision is essential. Preauthorization may be required. Verifying coverage helps.

Why a salivary gland is removed

Glands are excised for tumors or chronic disease, and understanding this clarifies the indications.

Understanding why a salivary gland is excised clarifies the indications for D7981. A salivary gland may need removal for several reasons: a tumor (neoplasm) — a growth in the salivary gland, benign or malignant; salivary gland tumors are typically treated by surgical removal of the gland or the affected portion (both to remove the tumor and to obtain a diagnosis); this is a major reason for gland excision (e.g., a pleomorphic adenoma — a common benign tumor — is removed to treat it and prevent problems, and malignant tumors require removal as part of cancer treatment); chronic or recurrent salivary disease — a gland that's irreversibly damaged or chronically diseased — for example from recurrent stone obstruction, recurrent infections (chronic sialadenitis), or chronic inflammation — and that no longer functions well, causing ongoing pain/swelling/infections; removing the diseased gland resolves the recurrent problems; a stone that can't be managed gland-sparingly — when a stone is in a position or situation where it can't be removed while preserving the gland, the gland may be removed; and other pathology — salivary gland cysts or other conditions.

So gland excision addresses gland pathology — tumors (the big one) and chronic/recurrent disease being the main reasons. The decision is based on the diagnosis (often from exam, imaging, and sometimes biopsy/FNA). So a salivary gland is removed for tumors or chronic disease. Understanding this helps patients see that a salivary gland may need removal for several reasons — a tumor/neoplasm (a growth in the gland, benign or malignant, salivary gland tumors typically treated by surgical removal of the gland or the affected portion, both to remove the tumor and obtain a diagnosis, a major reason for excision, e.g., a pleomorphic adenoma, a common benign tumor, removed to treat it and prevent problems, and malignant tumors requiring removal as part of cancer treatment), chronic or recurrent salivary disease (a gland irreversibly damaged or chronically diseased, e.g., from recurrent stone obstruction, recurrent infections/chronic sialadenitis, or chronic inflammation, that no longer functions well and causes ongoing pain/swelling/infections, removing it resolving the recurrent problems), a stone that can't be managed gland-sparingly (when a stone can't be removed while preserving the gland, the gland may be removed with it), and other pathology (salivary gland cysts or other conditions) — so gland excision addresses gland pathology (tumors being the big one, alongside chronic/recurrent disease), the decision based on the diagnosis (often from exam, imaging, and sometimes biopsy/FNA).

Which gland and how much is removed

The extent varies by gland and condition, and understanding this clarifies the 'by report' nature.

Understanding the variability clarifies why D7981 is 'by report.' The salivary glands include the major glands — the parotid (in front of/below the ear), the submandibular (under the jaw), and the sublingual (under the tongue) — plus numerous minor salivary glands throughout the mouth. Which gland is involved, and how much is removed, varies by the condition: submandibular gland — typically removed in its entirety (e.g., for chronic disease or a tumor); parotid gland — often only part is removed: a 'superficial parotidectomy' removes the superficial lobe (where many tumors are), carefully preserving the facial nerve (which runs through the parotid — a critical structure controlling facial movement); a larger tumor may require removing more (a total parotidectomy), still protecting the nerve where possible; sublingual/minor glands — removed as needed for their pathology; and a portion vs the whole gland — depending on the extent of disease.

So the procedure ranges widely — from removing a small minor gland to a parotidectomy with delicate facial-nerve dissection — which is why it's a 'by report' code: the specific gland, extent, and complexity must be documented to define what was done. (A parotidectomy, for instance, is a notably complex procedure due to the facial nerve.) So the gland and extent removed vary, hence 'by report.' Understanding this helps patients see that the salivary glands include the major glands (the parotid in front of/below the ear, the submandibular under the jaw, and the sublingual under the tongue) plus numerous minor salivary glands throughout the mouth, and which gland is involved and how much is removed varies by the condition — the submandibular gland typically removed in its entirety (e.g., for chronic disease or a tumor), the parotid gland often only partly removed (a 'superficial parotidectomy' removing the superficial lobe where many tumors are, carefully preserving the facial nerve that runs through the parotid, a critical structure controlling facial movement; a larger tumor possibly requiring a total parotidectomy, still protecting the nerve where possible), the sublingual/minor glands removed as needed, and a portion vs the whole gland depending on the extent of disease — so the procedure ranges widely (from removing a small minor gland to a parotidectomy with delicate facial-nerve dissection), which is why it's a 'by report' code (the specific gland, extent, and complexity documented to define what was done).

The 'by report' requirement

Documentation defines the individual case, and understanding this clarifies the coding.

Understanding the 'by report' requirement clarifies the coding of D7981. Because the excision of a salivary gland varies so much (which gland, how much, the condition, the complexity), the code is 'by report' — meaning the procedure must be documented with a narrative describing the specifics, so the payer can understand and adjudicate it. A proper report for D7981 should document: the gland — which salivary gland was excised; the condition/diagnosis — why the gland was removed (the tumor, chronic disease, etc.), ideally with supporting imaging and any pathology/biopsy results; the extent — how much was removed (the whole gland, a portion, e.g., superficial parotidectomy) and the complexity (e.g., facial-nerve preservation); and the medical necessity — the clinical justification.

This documentation defines the individual procedure (since the code itself is general) and supports the claim and its medical necessity. The 'by report' nature reflects that salivary gland excision isn't one standardized procedure but a category covering a range of surgeries. So good documentation is essential. So D7981's 'by report' requires documenting the specifics. Understanding this helps patients see that because the excision of a salivary gland varies so much (which gland, how much, the condition, the complexity), the code is 'by report' (the procedure documented with a narrative describing the specifics so the payer can understand and adjudicate it) — a proper report documenting the gland (which salivary gland was excised), the condition/diagnosis (why the gland was removed — the tumor, chronic disease, etc., ideally with supporting imaging and any pathology/biopsy results), the extent (how much was removed — the whole gland, a portion such as a superficial parotidectomy — and the complexity, e.g., facial-nerve preservation), and the medical necessity (the clinical justification) — this documentation defining the individual procedure (since the code itself is general) and supporting the claim and its medical necessity, the 'by report' nature reflecting that salivary gland excision isn't one standardized procedure but a category covering a range of surgeries.

Where D7981 fits in the codes

D7981 is the gland-removal salivary code, and understanding this clarifies the coding.

Understanding where D7981 sits clarifies the coding. D7981 is among the salivary gland/duct procedure codes (D7980-D7983) in the oral surgery area: surgical sialolithotomy (D7980) — removing a salivary stone (gland-sparing); excision of salivary gland, by report (D7981, this code) — removing a salivary gland; sialodochoplasty (D7982) — repairing/reconstructing a salivary duct; and closure of salivary fistula (D7983) — closing a salivary fistula. So D7981 is the gland-removal procedure among these.

It contrasts with D7980 (which removes a stone while preserving the gland) — D7981 removes the gland itself, used when the gland needs to come out (tumor, irreversible disease, etc.). The surgeon codes D7981 for excising a salivary gland (vs D7980 for a gland-sparing stone removal, D7982/D7983 for duct/fistula procedures). As a 'by report' code, it's documented per case. So D7981 is the salivary gland excision among the salivary codes. Understanding this helps patients see that D7981 is among the salivary gland/duct procedure codes (D7980-D7983) in the oral surgery area — surgical sialolithotomy (D7980 — removing a salivary stone, gland-sparing), excision of salivary gland, by report (D7981, this code — removing a salivary gland), sialodochoplasty (D7982 — repairing/reconstructing a salivary duct), and closure of salivary fistula (D7983 — closing a salivary fistula) — so D7981 is the gland-removal procedure among these, contrasting with D7980 (which removes a stone while preserving the gland) by removing the gland itself (used when the gland needs to come out — tumor, irreversible disease, etc.), coded for excising a salivary gland (vs D7980 for a gland-sparing stone removal, D7982/D7983 for duct/fistula procedures), and documented per case as a 'by report' code.

Frequently asked questions

What is the D7981 dental code?

It's the excision (surgical removal) of a salivary gland, by report — removing a salivary gland that's diseased, damaged, or contains pathology. It's used for conditions like a salivary gland tumor, chronic/recurrent salivary disease, an irreparable stone situation, or other gland pathology. 'By report' means it's documented individually, as the gland, condition, and extent vary.

Why would a salivary gland be removed?

Most commonly for a tumor (benign or malignant) — salivary tumors are treated by removing the gland or affected portion. Also for chronic/recurrent disease (a gland irreversibly damaged by recurrent stones, infection, or inflammation that no longer functions well), a stone that can't be removed while sparing the gland, or other pathology (cysts, etc.).

Which salivary gland is removed?

It depends on where the problem is — the major glands are the parotid (near the ear), submandibular (under the jaw), and sublingual (under the tongue), plus minor glands throughout the mouth. The submandibular gland is typically removed whole; the parotid is often partially removed (a superficial parotidectomy), carefully preserving the facial nerve that runs through it.

Is removing the gland a major surgery?

It can be — the extent and complexity vary. A submandibular gland excision is a defined procedure; a parotidectomy is notably complex because the facial nerve (controlling facial movement) runs through the parotid and must be carefully identified and preserved. The 'by report' nature reflects this range — from a small minor gland to a complex parotidectomy.

How is it different from removing the stone (D7980)?

D7980 (sialolithotomy) removes just a stone while preserving the gland (gland-sparing). D7981 removes the gland itself. So D7980 is used when the gland can be saved (just take out the stone), and D7981 when the gland needs to come out (a tumor, irreversible disease, or a stone that can't be removed gland-sparingly). Preserving the gland is generally preferred when possible.

What does it cost, and is it covered?

Cost depends on the gland, the extent (whole vs portion), and the complexity (a parotidectomy with facial-nerve dissection is more complex) — typically a significant surgical procedure. As it treats a medical condition (a tumor or chronic disease), it's generally covered under medical benefits (check both plans; documentation and often preauthorization required). Verify your 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.