What D7983 means

D7983 covers the closure of a salivary fistula. "D" is dental, "79" is this oral surgery area, and "83" is this fistula closure. A 'fistula' is an abnormal passage or tract connecting two spaces/surfaces that shouldn't be connected. A 'salivary fistula' is an abnormal tract through which saliva escapes/leaks abnormally — for example a connection from a salivary gland or duct to the skin surface (so saliva leaks out through the skin) or to another abnormal location, instead of the saliva draining normally through the duct into the mouth. 'Closure' is surgically closing this abnormal tract. So D7983 is surgically closing a salivary fistula.

So it's surgically closing an abnormal opening through which saliva leaks — stopping the leak and restoring normal saliva drainage into the mouth.

A salivary fistula is an abnormal communication that allows saliva to leak out of its normal pathway. It commonly arises from: injury — trauma to a salivary gland or duct (e.g., a facial laceration involving the parotid duct) can create a tract through which saliva leaks (e.g., out onto the cheek skin — a parotid/cutaneous fistula); surgery — a fistula can develop as a complication after surgery on a salivary gland/duct (saliva finding an abnormal path out); and other causes — infection or other processes creating an abnormal salivary tract. The leaking saliva (e.g., onto the skin, or pooling abnormally) is the problem — it's abnormal, can cause skin irritation/issues, won't heal on its own in some cases, and represents saliva not draining where it should. Closing the salivary fistula surgically eliminates the abnormal tract — closing the opening/tract so saliva no longer leaks through it, and redirecting saliva to drain normally (through the duct into the mouth). The technique depends on the fistula (its location, cause, the gland/duct involved) — it may involve closing the tract, repairing the duct, and ensuring proper internal drainage. It's performed by an oral and maxillofacial surgeon. These procedures treat a medical condition (the fistula), so medical coverage may apply. This code is in the oral surgery area (D7900-D7999). Documentation supports the claim.

When it's typically used

D7983 is reported for the closure of a salivary fistula — surgically closing an abnormal opening/tract through which saliva leaks abnormally (e.g., a parotid duct fistula leaking onto the skin, often resulting from injury or surgery to a salivary gland/duct) — to stop the abnormal leak and restore normal saliva drainage into the mouth. The technique depends on the fistula's location, cause, and the gland/duct involved.

How much does D7983 cost?

Closure of a salivary fistula's cost depends on the fistula's location, cause, and the complexity of the closure (which may involve duct repair and ensuring proper drainage) — typically a defined surgical procedure. Sample fee-schedule values are in the low-hundreds-and-up range (varying by region/case). As it treats a medical condition (the fistula), medical coverage may apply. Verify your specific coverage.

Is D7983 covered by insurance?

Closure of a salivary fistula treats a medical condition (an abnormal salivary leak, often from injury or surgery), so it may be covered under medical benefits (check both medical and dental plans). Documentation of the fistula (its location, cause, and the abnormal salivary leak) and the closure procedure supports the claim. As it often follows trauma or surgery, the context is documented. Verifying coverage helps.

What a salivary fistula is

It's an abnormal tract leaking saliva, and understanding this clarifies the indication.

Understanding what a salivary fistula is clarifies the indication for D7983. A fistula is an abnormal passage/tract connecting two surfaces or spaces that normally aren't connected. A salivary fistula specifically is an abnormal tract through which saliva escapes from its normal pathway. Normally, saliva travels from the gland through its duct and drains into the mouth. A salivary fistula creates an abnormal route — most classically a connection from the salivary gland or duct to the skin surface, so saliva leaks out through an opening on the skin (e.g., a parotid/cutaneous fistula, where saliva drips out onto the cheek) — instead of draining internally into the mouth.

The leaking saliva is abnormal and problematic: it can irritate or macerate the skin, it represents a failure of normal drainage, and the fistula often won't close on its own (saliva keeps flowing through the path, keeping it open). So a salivary fistula is an abnormal salivary leak that needs to be closed. So a salivary fistula is an abnormal tract leaking saliva. Understanding this helps patients see that a fistula is an abnormal passage/tract connecting two surfaces or spaces that normally aren't connected, and a salivary fistula specifically is an abnormal tract through which saliva escapes from its normal pathway — normally saliva traveling from the gland through its duct and draining into the mouth, but a salivary fistula creating an abnormal route (most classically a connection from the salivary gland or duct to the skin surface, so saliva leaks out through an opening on the skin, e.g., a parotid/cutaneous fistula where saliva drips out onto the cheek, instead of draining internally into the mouth) — the leaking saliva being abnormal and problematic (it can irritate or macerate the skin, represents a failure of normal drainage, and the fistula often won't close on its own since saliva keeps flowing through the path, keeping it open), so a salivary fistula is an abnormal salivary leak that needs to be closed.

How salivary fistulas form

They usually result from injury or surgery, and understanding this clarifies the context.

Understanding how salivary fistulas form clarifies the context of D7983. A salivary fistula usually develops after the salivary gland or duct is disrupted — most commonly from: injury/trauma — a facial injury (e.g., a deep laceration of the cheek) can cut or damage a salivary gland or its duct (classically the parotid gland or its duct, Stensen's duct, in the cheek); saliva then leaks from the injured gland/duct and, instead of draining into the mouth, finds its way out through the wound/skin — forming a fistula (or first a sialocele, a saliva collection, that then drains externally); surgery — surgery on or near a salivary gland/duct can sometimes result in a salivary leak/fistula as a complication (saliva escaping from the surgical site through an abnormal path); and other causes — infection or other processes that create an abnormal drainage tract.

So the typical setting is a disrupted gland/duct (from trauma or surgery) leading to saliva leaking out abnormally. This is why closure of a salivary fistula often comes up in the context of facial trauma or after salivary surgery. The procedure then closes the resulting fistula. So salivary fistulas form from injury or surgery. Understanding this helps patients see that a salivary fistula usually develops after the salivary gland or duct is disrupted — most commonly from injury/trauma (a facial injury such as a deep laceration of the cheek cutting or damaging a salivary gland or its duct, classically the parotid gland or its duct/Stensen's duct in the cheek, saliva then leaking from the injured gland/duct and, instead of draining into the mouth, finding its way out through the wound/skin, forming a fistula, or first a sialocele/saliva collection that then drains externally), surgery (surgery on or near a salivary gland/duct sometimes resulting in a salivary leak/fistula as a complication, saliva escaping from the surgical site through an abnormal path), and other causes (infection or other processes creating an abnormal drainage tract) — so the typical setting is a disrupted gland/duct from trauma or surgery leading to saliva leaking out abnormally (which is why closure of a salivary fistula often comes up in the context of facial trauma or after salivary surgery), the procedure then closing the resulting fistula.

How the fistula is closed

The tract is closed and drainage redirected, and understanding this clarifies the procedure.

Understanding how the fistula is closed clarifies D7983. Closing a salivary fistula surgically eliminates the abnormal tract and restores normal drainage — which generally involves: closing the abnormal tract — surgically closing the fistula tract/opening (e.g., the opening on the skin and the tract leading to it) so saliva can no longer leak through it; repairing the duct/gland if needed — if the underlying problem is a damaged duct (e.g., a cut parotid duct), repairing the duct so saliva drains properly internally again (a key step — if the duct isn't fixed, saliva may keep leaking and re-form the fistula); and re-establishing internal drainage — ensuring saliva drains the normal way (through the duct into the mouth) — sometimes by repairing/reconstructing the duct (which may overlap with a sialodochoplasty, D7982) or creating proper internal drainage.

The goal is to stop the abnormal external leak and get saliva flowing into the mouth normally — resolving the fistula. (Conservative measures, like measures to reduce salivary flow, are sometimes tried for small/early fistulas, but persistent ones need surgical closure.) The technique is tailored to the specific fistula. So the fistula is closed by sealing the tract and restoring normal drainage. Understanding this helps patients see that closing a salivary fistula surgically eliminates the abnormal tract and restores normal drainage, generally involving closing the abnormal tract (surgically closing the fistula tract/opening — e.g., the opening on the skin and the tract leading to it — so saliva can no longer leak through it), repairing the duct/gland if needed (if the underlying problem is a damaged duct, e.g., a cut parotid duct, repairing it so saliva drains properly internally again — a key step, since if the duct isn't fixed saliva may keep leaking and re-form the fistula), and re-establishing internal drainage (ensuring saliva drains the normal way through the duct into the mouth, sometimes by repairing/reconstructing the duct, which may overlap with a sialodochoplasty D7982, or creating proper internal drainage) — the goal being to stop the abnormal external leak and get saliva flowing into the mouth normally (resolving the fistula), with conservative measures sometimes tried for small/early fistulas but persistent ones needing surgical closure, the technique tailored to the specific fistula.

Where D7983 fits in the codes

D7983 completes the salivary procedure codes, and understanding this clarifies the coding.

Understanding where D7983 sits clarifies the coding. D7983 completes the small group of 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) — repairing/reconstructing a salivary duct; and closure of salivary fistula (D7983, this code) — closing a salivary fistula. So these four codes cover the surgical management of the salivary glands and ducts — addressing stones, the gland, the duct, and a fistula respectively.

D7983 specifically is the fistula-closure procedure — addressing an abnormal salivary leak (often a complication of trauma/surgery). It may relate to the other codes (e.g., a duct repair/sialodochoplasty as part of closing a duct-related fistula). The surgeon codes D7983 for closing a salivary fistula (vs the other salivary codes for stones, gland removal, or duct repair). So D7983 is the salivary fistula closure completing the salivary codes. Understanding this helps patients see that D7983 completes the small group of 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 — repairing/reconstructing a salivary duct), and closure of salivary fistula (D7983, this code — closing a salivary fistula) — so these four codes cover the surgical management of the salivary glands and ducts (addressing stones, the gland, the duct, and a fistula respectively), with D7983 specifically being the fistula-closure procedure (addressing an abnormal salivary leak, often a complication of trauma/surgery), which may relate to the other codes (e.g., a duct repair/sialodochoplasty as part of closing a duct-related fistula), coded for closing a salivary fistula (vs the other salivary codes for stones, gland removal, or duct repair).

Frequently asked questions

What is the D7983 dental code?

It's the closure of a salivary fistula — surgically closing an abnormal opening or tract through which saliva leaks abnormally (instead of draining normally into the mouth). A salivary fistula often results from injury or surgery to a salivary gland/duct. Closing it stops the abnormal leak and restores normal saliva drainage.

What is a salivary fistula?

An abnormal passage/tract through which saliva escapes from its normal pathway — most classically a connection from a salivary gland or duct to the skin surface, so saliva leaks out through the skin (e.g., a parotid fistula leaking onto the cheek) instead of draining internally into the mouth. The leaking saliva is abnormal and often won't close on its own.

How does a salivary fistula form?

Usually after the salivary gland or duct is disrupted — most commonly from injury/trauma (e.g., a deep cheek laceration cutting the parotid gland or its duct, so saliva leaks out through the wound) or as a complication of surgery on/near a salivary gland or duct. Saliva then escapes through an abnormal path instead of draining into the mouth.

How is it closed?

By surgically closing the abnormal tract (so saliva can't leak through it), repairing the underlying duct/gland if it's damaged (e.g., a cut duct — a key step, or the fistula may re-form), and re-establishing normal internal drainage (saliva flowing through the duct into the mouth). The technique is tailored to the specific fistula (its location, cause, and the gland/duct involved).

Can a salivary fistula heal on its own?

Small or early salivary leaks sometimes resolve with conservative measures (e.g., measures to reduce salivary flow while it heals). But persistent fistulas often won't close on their own (saliva keeps flowing through the tract, keeping it open) and need surgical closure (D7983). The surgeon decides based on the fistula and how it's responding.

What does it cost, and is it covered?

Cost depends on the fistula's location, cause, and the complexity of the closure (which may include duct repair) — typically a defined surgical procedure (low hundreds and up, varying by case). As it treats a medical condition (the fistula, often from trauma/surgery), medical coverage may apply (check both 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.