ICD-10-PCS Code For Lower Gingiva: Procedure Code Group Overview

The International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Procedure Coding System (ICD-10-PCS) code group 0C96 includes procedures performed to drain fluids or gases from the lower gingiva in the mouth and throat. These ICD-10-PCS codes are used for inpatient documentation when removal of accumulated fluid or pus from the lower gum tissues is performed to treat infection, abscess, or other collections. Accurate coding within the ICD-10-PCS 0C96 group is essential for proper inpatient reimbursement, as it captures the procedure performed and supports clinical documentation accuracy.

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Lower Gingiva Drainage Procedure Overview

Procedures in this group involve drainage of the lower gingiva and target the mouth and throat body system. These procedures remove fluids or gases from the lower gum tissues to treat abscesses, infections, or other accumulations. Accurate ICD-10-PCS coding of drainage procedures on the lower gingiva ensures inpatient records reflect the procedure performed and supports appropriate reimbursement.

Code Attributes

Character	ICD-10-PCS Category	Code Group Details
0	Section	Medical and Surgical
C	Body System	Mouth and Throat
9	Operation	Drainage
6	Body Part	Lower Gingiva

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ICD-10-PCS Code For Lower Gingiva: Procedure Code Group Overview

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Lower Gingiva Drainage Procedure Overview

Code Attributes

Character	ICD-10-PCS Category	Code Group Details
0	Section	Medical and Surgical
C	Body System	Mouth and Throat
9	Operation	Drainage
6	Body Part	Lower Gingiva

When to Use

Use codes from this group when a procedure specifically drains fluid, pus, or other collections from the lower gingiva. These codes apply when the documented operation on inpatient records is drainage of the lower gum tissues for treatment of infection or accumulation.

ICD-10-PCS Codes

9 rows

ICD-10-PCS Code	Description
0C9600Z	Drainage of Lower Gingiva with Drainage Device, Open Approach
0C960ZX	Drainage of Lower Gingiva, Open Approach, Diagnostic
0C960ZZ	Drainage of Lower Gingiva, Open Approach
0C9630Z	Drainage of Lower Gingiva with Drainage Device, Percutaneous Approach
0C963ZX	Drainage of Lower Gingiva, Percutaneous Approach, Diagnostic
0C963ZZ	Drainage of Lower Gingiva, Percutaneous Approach
0C96X0Z	Drainage of Lower Gingiva with Drainage Device, External Approach
0C96XZX	Drainage of Lower Gingiva, External Approach, Diagnostic
0C96XZZ	Drainage of Lower Gingiva, External Approach

Typical Clinical Scenarios

A 45-year-old male presents to the emergency department with a rapidly enlarging, painful swelling of the lower gum after a molar extraction. Clinical exam and imaging demonstrate a loculated gingival abscess with purulent drainage confined to the lower gingiva; incision and open drainage at the bedside or operating room is performed to evacuate pus and allow placement of a drain for continuous egress. Inpatient documentation reflects an open approach drainage with placement of a drainage device to control infection and prevent reaccumulation. Typical codes: 0C9600Z
A 60-year-old diabetic patient is admitted for planned surgical management of a chronic, recurrent subgingival periodontal collection on the lower gums that has failed multiple courses of antibiotics. In a controlled operative setting, the surgeon performs an open incision and drainage of the lower gingiva to debride the cavity and assess the wound, without need for diagnostic exploration only. The procedure is recorded as open drainage of the lower gingiva to definitively remove the collection and promote healing. Typical codes: 0C960ZZ
A 70-year-old patient with an existing external drainage device for a lower gingival abscess develops recurrent pain and decreased output; imaging suggests a tract obstruction and persistent collection requiring percutaneous re-evaluation. The interventional team performs a percutaneous drainage procedure to clear the tract and place or adjust a drainage device through the mucosa into the lower gingiva to restore drainage and resolve the infection. Inpatient records document percutaneous drainage with placement of a drainage device for management of the persistent collection. Typical codes: 0C9630Z

Related Codes

0C90-UPPER-LIP-TAKING-OR-LETTING-OUT

ICD-10-PCS Code For Upper Lip: Procedure Code Group Overview

0C91-LOWER-LIP-DRAINAGE

ICD-10-PCS Code For Lower Lip: Procedure Code Group Overview

0C92-HARD-PALATE-DRAINAGE

ICD-10-PCS Code For Hard Palate: Procedure Code Group Overview

0C93-SOFT-PALATE-DRAINAGE

ICD-10-PCS Code For Soft Palate: Procedure Code Group Overview

0C94-BUCCAL-MUCOSA-DRAINAGE

ICD-10-PCS Code For Buccal Mucosa: Procedure Code Group Overview

0C95-UPPER-GINGIVA-DRAINAGE

ICD-10-PCS Code For Upper Gingiva: Procedure Code Group Overview

0C97-TONGUE-DRAINAGE

ICD-10-PCS Code For Tongue: Procedure Code Group Overview

0C98-PAROTID-GLAND-RIGHT-DRAINAGE

ICD-10-PCS Code For Parotid Gland Right: Procedure Code Group Overview

0C99-LEFT-PAROTID-GLAND-DRAINAGE

ICD-10-PCS Code For Parotid Gland, Left: Procedure Code Group Overview

0C9B-PAROTID-DUCT-DRAINAGE

ICD-10-PCS Code For Parotid Duct: Procedure Code Group Overview

Showing 1–10 of 26

Frequently Asked Questions

References

1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.Maintains the CPT code set's official descriptions and guidelines, licensed from the American Medical Association, used as the definitional source for CPT codes on this page.
2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's quarterly release of HCPCS Level II codes and short/long descriptors, the source for HCPCS code definitions and update history.
3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's complete ICD-10-CM diagnosis code list, used to cross-reference diagnosis codes associated with this procedure or service.

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When to Use

ICD-10-PCS Codes

9 rows

ICD-10-PCS Code	Description
0C9600Z	Drainage of Lower Gingiva with Drainage Device, Open Approach
0C960ZX	Drainage of Lower Gingiva, Open Approach, Diagnostic
0C960ZZ	Drainage of Lower Gingiva, Open Approach
0C9630Z	Drainage of Lower Gingiva with Drainage Device, Percutaneous Approach
0C963ZX	Drainage of Lower Gingiva, Percutaneous Approach, Diagnostic
0C963ZZ	Drainage of Lower Gingiva, Percutaneous Approach
0C96X0Z	Drainage of Lower Gingiva with Drainage Device, External Approach
0C96XZX	Drainage of Lower Gingiva, External Approach, Diagnostic
0C96XZZ	Drainage of Lower Gingiva, External Approach

Typical Clinical Scenarios

A 45-year-old male presents to the emergency department with a rapidly enlarging, painful swelling of the lower gum after a molar extraction. Clinical exam and imaging demonstrate a loculated gingival abscess with purulent drainage confined to the lower gingiva; incision and open drainage at the bedside or operating room is performed to evacuate pus and allow placement of a drain for continuous egress. Inpatient documentation reflects an open approach drainage with placement of a drainage device to control infection and prevent reaccumulation. Typical codes: 0C9600Z
A 60-year-old diabetic patient is admitted for planned surgical management of a chronic, recurrent subgingival periodontal collection on the lower gums that has failed multiple courses of antibiotics. In a controlled operative setting, the surgeon performs an open incision and drainage of the lower gingiva to debride the cavity and assess the wound, without need for diagnostic exploration only. The procedure is recorded as open drainage of the lower gingiva to definitively remove the collection and promote healing. Typical codes: 0C960ZZ
A 70-year-old patient with an existing external drainage device for a lower gingival abscess develops recurrent pain and decreased output; imaging suggests a tract obstruction and persistent collection requiring percutaneous re-evaluation. The interventional team performs a percutaneous drainage procedure to clear the tract and place or adjust a drainage device through the mucosa into the lower gingiva to restore drainage and resolve the infection. Inpatient records document percutaneous drainage with placement of a drainage device for management of the persistent collection. Typical codes: 0C9630Z

Related Codes

0C90-UPPER-LIP-TAKING-OR-LETTING-OUT

ICD-10-PCS Code For Upper Lip: Procedure Code Group Overview

0C91-LOWER-LIP-DRAINAGE

ICD-10-PCS Code For Lower Lip: Procedure Code Group Overview

0C92-HARD-PALATE-DRAINAGE

ICD-10-PCS Code For Hard Palate: Procedure Code Group Overview

0C93-SOFT-PALATE-DRAINAGE

ICD-10-PCS Code For Soft Palate: Procedure Code Group Overview

0C94-BUCCAL-MUCOSA-DRAINAGE

ICD-10-PCS Code For Buccal Mucosa: Procedure Code Group Overview

0C95-UPPER-GINGIVA-DRAINAGE

ICD-10-PCS Code For Upper Gingiva: Procedure Code Group Overview

0C97-TONGUE-DRAINAGE

ICD-10-PCS Code For Tongue: Procedure Code Group Overview

0C98-PAROTID-GLAND-RIGHT-DRAINAGE

ICD-10-PCS Code For Parotid Gland Right: Procedure Code Group Overview

0C99-LEFT-PAROTID-GLAND-DRAINAGE

ICD-10-PCS Code For Parotid Gland, Left: Procedure Code Group Overview

0C9B-PAROTID-DUCT-DRAINAGE

ICD-10-PCS Code For Parotid Duct: Procedure Code Group Overview

Showing 1–10 of 26

Frequently Asked Questions

References

1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.Maintains the CPT code set's official descriptions and guidelines, licensed from the American Medical Association, used as the definitional source for CPT codes on this page.
2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's quarterly release of HCPCS Level II codes and short/long descriptors, the source for HCPCS code definitions and update history.
3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's complete ICD-10-CM diagnosis code list, used to cross-reference diagnosis codes associated with this procedure or service.

Published by

Trek Health powers OpenPayer with a leading commercial payer intelligence platform, seamlessly converting fragmented payer data into actionable insights for provider organizations.

ICD-10-PCS Code For Lower Gingiva: Procedure Code Group Overview

Sign up for ICD-10-PCS Code For Lower Gingiva: Procedure Code Group Overview policy alerts

Lower Gingiva Drainage Procedure Overview

Code Attributes

ICD-10-PCS Code For Lower Gingiva: Procedure Code Group Overview

Sign up for ICD-10-PCS Code For Lower Gingiva: Procedure Code Group Overview policy alerts

Lower Gingiva Drainage Procedure Overview

Code Attributes

When to Use

ICD-10-PCS Codes

Typical Clinical Scenarios

Related Codes

Which body system and operation are defined for ICD-10-PCS code group 0C96?

What procedures are included in the 0C96 code group for approaches and devices?

How should individual ICD-10-PCS codes from this group be documented when coding?

Why is accurate coding within ICD-10-PCS group 0C96 important for inpatient records?

Are there related DRGs listed for the 0C96 Lower Gingiva drainage codes?

References

When to Use

ICD-10-PCS Codes

Typical Clinical Scenarios

Related Codes

Which body system and operation are defined for ICD-10-PCS code group 0C96?

What procedures are included in the 0C96 code group for approaches and devices?

How should individual ICD-10-PCS codes from this group be documented when coding?

Why is accurate coding within ICD-10-PCS group 0C96 important for inpatient records?

Are there related DRGs listed for the 0C96 Lower Gingiva drainage codes?

References