What D7982 means

D7982 covers a sialodochoplasty. "D" is dental, "79" is this oral surgery area, and "82" is this sialodochoplasty. Breaking down the term: 'sialo-' refers to saliva/salivary, 'docho' (from the Greek for duct) refers to the duct, and '-plasty' means surgical repair/reshaping/reconstruction. So a sialodochoplasty is the surgical repair/reconstruction of a salivary duct. So D7982 is repairing or reconstructing a salivary duct.

So it's surgically repairing or reconstructing a salivary duct — fixing a problem with the duct (the tube carrying saliva) to restore proper saliva flow.

The salivary ducts carry saliva from the glands to the mouth (e.g., the submandibular/Wharton's duct opens under the tongue; the parotid/Stensen's duct opens near the upper molars). A duct can develop problems that impair the flow of saliva or cause issues — and a sialodochoplasty repairs/reconstructs the duct to correct these. Indications include: a stricture or stenosis — a narrowing of the duct (from scarring, chronic inflammation, prior stones/injury) that obstructs saliva flow — the duct is repaired/widened/reconstructed to relieve the narrowing; duct injury/damage — repairing a duct that's been injured (e.g., by trauma or surgery); duct repositioning/reconstruction — for example after stone removal or to reroute/reconstruct a duct opening (a duct may be reconstructed and re-opened into the mouth — sometimes done in conjunction with stone surgery, creating a new duct opening); and other duct abnormalities — correcting a duct problem affecting saliva drainage. The goal is to restore proper drainage of saliva from the gland into the mouth — relieving obstruction and preserving gland function. The specific technique depends on the duct problem. It's performed by an oral and maxillofacial surgeon. These procedures treat a medical condition (the duct problem), so medical coverage may apply. This code is in the oral surgery area (D7900-D7999). Documentation supports the claim.

When it's typically used

D7982 is reported for a sialodochoplasty — surgically repairing or reconstructing a salivary duct — used to correct a duct problem that obstructs or impairs the flow of saliva (e.g., a stricture/narrowing, stenosis, injury, or other duct abnormality), or to reconstruct/reposition a duct (sometimes in conjunction with stone surgery), to restore proper saliva drainage and preserve gland function.

How much does D7982 cost?

A sialodochoplasty's cost depends on the duct problem and the complexity of the repair/reconstruction — typically a defined surgical procedure (often under anesthesia). Sample fee-schedule values are in the several-hundred-dollars range (varying by region/case). As it treats a medical condition (the duct problem), medical coverage may apply. Verify your specific coverage.

Is D7982 covered by insurance?

A sialodochoplasty treats a medical condition (a salivary duct problem affecting saliva flow), so it may be covered under medical benefits (check both medical and dental plans). Documentation of the duct condition (the stricture/injury/abnormality and its effect, often with imaging) and the repair/reconstruction supports the claim. It's sometimes done in conjunction with other salivary surgery (e.g., stone removal). Verifying coverage helps.

What a salivary duct does and how it fails

Ducts carry saliva and can narrow or be damaged, and understanding this clarifies the indication.

Understanding the salivary ducts clarifies the indication for D7982. The salivary glands produce saliva, which travels through ducts (tubes) to drain into the mouth — for example, the submandibular gland's duct (Wharton's duct) runs forward to open under the tongue, and the parotid gland's duct (Stensen's duct) opens on the inside of the cheek near the upper molars. For saliva to flow normally, the duct must be open and intact. A duct can develop problems that impair this: a stricture/stenosis (narrowing) — the duct narrows (from scarring, chronic inflammation, or damage from prior stones/infection/injury), obstructing the flow — saliva backs up, causing swelling/pain (similar to a stone obstruction, but from the duct itself being narrowed); injury/damage — the duct can be injured (e.g., by trauma or during surgery), disrupting it; and other abnormalities — structural problems with the duct or its opening.

When the duct itself is the problem (narrowed, damaged, or abnormal), repairing/reconstructing it (the sialodochoplasty) addresses the cause — restoring a patent, functional duct so saliva can drain. So a sialodochoplasty fixes a failing duct. Understanding this helps patients see that the salivary glands produce saliva that travels through ducts (tubes) to drain into the mouth (e.g., the submandibular gland's duct/Wharton's duct running forward to open under the tongue, the parotid gland's duct/Stensen's duct opening on the inside of the cheek near the upper molars), and for saliva to flow normally the duct must be open and intact — so a duct can develop problems impairing this: a stricture/stenosis/narrowing (the duct narrowing from scarring, chronic inflammation, or damage from prior stones/infection/injury, obstructing the flow so saliva backs up, causing swelling/pain similar to a stone obstruction but from the duct itself being narrowed), injury/damage (the duct injured by trauma or during surgery, disrupting it), and other abnormalities (structural problems with the duct or its opening) — so when the duct itself is the problem (narrowed, damaged, or abnormal), repairing/reconstructing it (the sialodochoplasty) addresses the cause, restoring a patent, functional duct so saliva can drain.

Repairing or reconstructing the duct

The procedure restores the duct's function, and understanding this clarifies what it does.

Understanding what the sialodochoplasty does clarifies D7982. A sialodochoplasty surgically repairs or reconstructs the salivary duct to restore its function (carrying saliva to the mouth). Depending on the duct problem, this can involve: relieving a stricture — opening up or widening a narrowed segment of the duct (and reconstructing it so it stays open), restoring the flow past the narrowing; repairing an injury — surgically repairing a damaged/disrupted duct (re-establishing its continuity); creating/reconstructing a duct opening — in some cases, reconstructing the duct's opening into the mouth, or creating a new opening — for example, after removing a stone deep in the duct, the surgeon may reconstruct the duct and bring its opening into the mouth (so the duct drains properly going forward); and otherwise restoring the duct — addressing the specific abnormality to re-establish proper drainage.

The overarching goal is to restore proper drainage of saliva from the gland through the duct into the mouth — relieving the obstruction/problem and, importantly, preserving the gland (a functional duct lets the gland keep working, avoiding the need to remove the gland). So the sialodochoplasty is a gland-preserving way to fix duct problems. So it repairs/reconstructs the duct to restore saliva flow. Understanding this helps patients see that a sialodochoplasty surgically repairs or reconstructs the salivary duct to restore its function (carrying saliva to the mouth), which depending on the duct problem can involve relieving a stricture (opening up or widening a narrowed segment and reconstructing it so it stays open, restoring the flow past the narrowing), repairing an injury (surgically repairing a damaged/disrupted duct, re-establishing its continuity), creating/reconstructing a duct opening (in some cases reconstructing the duct's opening into the mouth or creating a new opening — e.g., after removing a stone deep in the duct, the surgeon reconstructing the duct and bringing its opening into the mouth so it drains properly going forward), and otherwise restoring the duct (addressing the specific abnormality to re-establish proper drainage) — the overarching goal being to restore proper drainage of saliva from the gland through the duct into the mouth (relieving the obstruction/problem and, importantly, preserving the gland, since a functional duct lets the gland keep working, avoiding the need to remove it), so the sialodochoplasty is a gland-preserving way to fix duct problems.

Often related to stones and obstruction

Duct repair connects to stone/obstruction management, and understanding this clarifies the context.

Understanding the connection to stones/obstruction clarifies the context of D7982. Salivary duct problems are often related to the same issues as salivary stones — obstruction and its consequences. The connections include: after stone removal — removing a stone (sialolithotomy, D7980), especially a deeper one, may involve or be followed by duct reconstruction — repairing the duct where the stone was removed, or reconstructing/repositioning the duct opening to ensure good drainage afterward (so a sialodochoplasty can accompany or follow stone surgery); strictures from stones/inflammation — chronic stones, obstruction, or infection can scar and narrow the duct (a stricture), which the sialodochoplasty then repairs; and preserving the gland — fixing the duct (rather than removing the gland) is the gland-preserving approach to obstruction caused by a duct problem — keeping the gland functional.

So the duct repair fits into the broader management of salivary obstruction — alongside stone removal (D7980) and, when the gland can't be saved, gland excision (D7981). The sialodochoplasty is the option that addresses the duct itself to restore flow and preserve the gland. So D7982 often relates to stones and obstruction management. Understanding this helps patients see that salivary duct problems are often related to the same issues as salivary stones (obstruction and its consequences) — the connections including after stone removal (removing a stone via sialolithotomy D7980, especially a deeper one, may involve or be followed by duct reconstruction — repairing the duct where the stone was removed, or reconstructing/repositioning the duct opening to ensure good drainage afterward, so a sialodochoplasty can accompany or follow stone surgery), strictures from stones/inflammation (chronic stones, obstruction, or infection scarring and narrowing the duct into a stricture, which the sialodochoplasty repairs), and preserving the gland (fixing the duct rather than removing the gland being the gland-preserving approach to obstruction caused by a duct problem, keeping the gland functional) — so the duct repair fits into the broader management of salivary obstruction (alongside stone removal D7980 and, when the gland can't be saved, gland excision D7981), the sialodochoplasty being the option that addresses the duct itself to restore flow and preserve the gland.

Where D7982 fits in the codes

D7982 is the duct-repair salivary code, and understanding this clarifies the coding.

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

It's distinguished by targeting the duct (the tube) — vs the stone (D7980), the gland (D7981), or a fistula (D7983). The surgeon codes D7982 when a salivary duct is surgically repaired/reconstructed (whether for a stricture, injury, or in conjunction with stone surgery). It's a gland-preserving procedure (fixing the duct to keep the gland functional). So D7982 is the sialodochoplasty among the salivary codes. Understanding this helps patients see that D7982 is among the salivary gland/duct procedure codes (D7980-D7983) in the oral surgery area — surgical sialolithotomy (D7980 — removing a salivary stone), excision of salivary gland, by report (D7981 — removing a salivary gland), sialodochoplasty (D7982, this code — repairing/reconstructing a salivary duct), and closure of salivary fistula (D7983 — closing a salivary fistula) — so D7982 is the duct-repair procedure among the salivary codes, distinguished by targeting the duct (the tube) vs the stone (D7980), the gland (D7981), or a fistula (D7983), coded when a salivary duct is surgically repaired/reconstructed (whether for a stricture, injury, or in conjunction with stone surgery), a gland-preserving procedure (fixing the duct to keep the gland functional).

Frequently asked questions

What is the D7982 dental code?

It's a sialodochoplasty — the surgical repair or reconstruction of a salivary duct (the tube carrying saliva from a gland to the mouth). It's used to correct a duct problem — like a stricture (narrowing), stenosis, injury, or other abnormality that obstructs or impairs saliva flow — repairing/reconstructing the duct to restore proper saliva drainage.

What does 'sialodochoplasty' mean?

'Sialo-' refers to saliva, 'docho' refers to the duct, and '-plasty' means surgical repair/reconstruction. So a sialodochoplasty is the surgical repair/reconstruction of a salivary duct — fixing a problem with the duct (the tube that carries saliva) to restore proper flow.

When is it needed?

When a salivary duct itself is the problem — a stricture/stenosis (narrowing from scarring, chronic inflammation, or prior stones/injury, obstructing flow), a duct injury (from trauma or surgery), or another duct abnormality. It's also done to reconstruct or reposition a duct opening, sometimes in conjunction with removing a stone, to ensure good drainage afterward.

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

D7980 (sialolithotomy) removes a stone blocking the duct. D7982 (sialodochoplasty) repairs/reconstructs the duct itself — for a narrowing, injury, or to reconstruct the duct (which can be needed in addition to, or after, stone removal). So D7980 takes out a stone; D7982 fixes the duct. They can be related (a duct repair may follow stone surgery).

Does it preserve the gland?

Yes — that's a key point. By fixing the duct (restoring drainage), the gland is preserved and can keep functioning. So a sialodochoplasty is the gland-preserving approach to a duct-related obstruction — as opposed to removing the gland (D7981), which is needed only when the gland itself can't be saved.

What does it cost, and is it covered?

Cost depends on the duct problem and the complexity of the repair/reconstruction — typically a defined surgical procedure (several hundred dollars range, varying by case). As it treats a medical condition (the duct problem), 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.