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    OpenPayerBilling CodesIncision Procedures on the Tongue and Floor of MouthCPT cpt-41008-submandibular-intraoral-incision-drainage
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    CPT 41008: Intraoral Submandibular Incision and Drainage

    Medicare pays $429 on average nationally for this procedure.

    CPT code 41008 describes an intraoral surgical procedure involving an incision in the submandibular area beneath the lower jaw to drain an abscess, cyst, or hematoma; service type: surgical drainage of a submandibular space infection or collection; typical site of service: ambulatory surgery center, hospital outpatient department, or operating room when performed under appropriate anesthesia.

    For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: Orthopedic Joint Procedures of the Knee for Managed Medicaid (MMC), Health and Recovery Plan (HARP), Child Health Plus (CHP), and Essential Plan (EP) Members, Autologous Chondrocyte Transplantation or Implantation Corporate Medical Policy, Autologous Platelet-Derived Growth Factors (Platelet-Rich Plasma [PRP]).

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    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A 34-year-old adult presents to the emergency department with a 48-hour history of progressive painful swelling beneath the left lower jaw, fever, trismus, and purulent drainage intraorally. Examination reveals a fluctuant submandibular swelling with erythema of the floor of mouth and induration along the submandibular region. Imaging (ultrasound or CT) confirms a localized abscess in the submandibular space. The patient is consented for an intraoral approach to drainage. Under appropriate anesthesia and airway management, the provider makes an incision through the oral mucosa in the submandibular area, bluntly dissects to the abscess cavity, evacuates purulent material, obtains cultures, irrigates the cavity, and places packing or a drain as indicated. Postprocedural care includes antibiotics guided by culture, analgesia, wound care instructions, and follow-up for drain removal and reassessment of swelling and infection control.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    41008Incision and drainage, submandibular space, intraoralPrimary procedure for intraoral incision and drainage of submandibular abscess, cyst, or hematoma.
    41800Incision and drainage of abscess, intraoral, e.g., gum boil, including simple tooth extraction if performedMay be performed for more superficial intraoral infections or in conjunction with dental source control when odontogenic origin is present.
    41820Incision and drainage of floor of mouth gland abscess; external approachAlternative or additional approach when the abscess cannot be adequately drained intraorally or when external drainage is required.
    10060Incision and drainage of abscess; simple or singlePerformed for superficial cutaneous abscesses that may coexist or require separate management from deep submandibular space infection.
    10140Incision and drainage of hematoma, seroma or fluid collectionUsed if a sterile fluid collection or hematoma in the submandibular region requires drainage rather than purulent abscess drainage.
    87070Culture, bacterial; aerobic, with isolation and presumptive identification of coloniesMicrobiology testing commonly ordered on specimens obtained during drainage to guide antibiotic therapy.

    Related Modifiers

    12 rows

    ModifierDescriptionWhen to Use
    23Modifier -23 (Unusual Anesthesia) is used on anesthesia service CPT codes when a procedure that normally requires no anesthesia or only local anesthesia must be performed under general anesthesia…- Use modifier -23 only on anesthesia CPT codes (00100–01999) when a procedure that normally requires no anesthesia or only local anesthesia must be performed under general anesthesia because of…
    22Modifier –22 (Increased Procedural Services) is used when a reported procedure is substantially more extensive than normally required. The CPT Manual and CMS state it may be appended only when the…- When to use: Append modifier -22 to a procedural CPT code when the service performed is substantially more extensive than the usual service described by that code — i.e., the procedure required…
    51Modifier –51 (Multiple Procedures) is used when the same provider performs multiple procedures in the same session to identify secondary, non‑exempt procedures and indicate payment reduction logic…- Use modifier -51 when the same provider performs multiple distinct procedures during the same patient encounter: report the highest‑valued procedure first (no modifier) and append -51 to…
    52Modifier ‑52 (Reduced Services) indicates that a service or procedure was partially reduced or omitted at the provider’s discretion, allowing reporting of the basic procedure number with a qualifier…- Use modifier -52 when a physician or qualified health professional electively reduces or omits part of a procedure or service (for example, performing fewer required views or omitting a portion of…
    53Modifier 53 (Discontinued Procedure) signals that a surgical or diagnostic service was begun by the physician but terminated because of extenuating circumstances that threatened the patient’s…- Use modifier -53 when a physician/qualified healthcare professional has started a surgical or diagnostic procedure (e.g., anesthesia administered, incision or scope insertion) and then discontinues…
    26Modifier 26 (Professional Component) identifies and bills only the professional portion of a split service — the physician’s interpretation, report, and medical judgment — when the technical…- Use CPT Modifier -26 when you are billing only the professional component (PC) of a split‑bill eligible service—i.e., you performed the physician interpretation, medical judgment and prepared a…
    62Modifier 62 indicates that two surgeons function as co‑surgeons, each performing distinct parts of the same primary surgical procedure. It is appended to the primary procedure code (and any…- Use modifier -62 when two surgeons act as co‑surgeons (both primary surgeons) on a single definitive primary procedure, each performing distinct parts of the same surgical procedure (append -62 to…
    79Modifier 79 indicates a surgical procedure performed during the postoperative global period of a prior surgery that is unrelated to the original procedure. Per AMA/CPT and CMS guidance, it is…- Use modifier 79 when the same physician (or same‑specialty physician in the same group) performs a surgical procedure during the postoperative global period of a prior surgery and the new procedure…
    76Modifier -76, Repeat Procedure or Service by Same Physician or Other Qualified Health Care Professional, is appended when the same provider performs an identical, medically necessary procedure or…- Use modifier -76 when the same physician or other qualified health care professional performs an identical procedure or service a second (or subsequent) time on the same date of service and the…
    63Modifier‑63 is appended to surgical CPT codes (20000–69990) when a procedure is performed on a neonate or infant weighing ≤ 4 kg (about 8.8 lbs). The AMA/AAPC definition specifies this use and notes…- Use modifier -63 only for surgical procedures in the CPT 20000–69990 series performed on a neonate or infant who weighs ≤ 4 kg at the time of the procedure; it indicates increased complexity due to…

    Showing 1–10 of 12

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy Code
    207Y00000X
    1223G0001X
    163W00000X
    2085R0204X
    364SC0200X
    293D00000X
    261QM0801X
    202D00000X

    Related Payer Policy Updates

    Specialty: Orthopedics/Musculoskeletal1 / 2

    10 rows

    PolicyPayerEffective Date
    Orthopedic Joint Procedures of the Knee for Managed Medicaid (MMC), Health and Recovery Plan (HARP), Child Health Plus (CHP), and Essential Plan (EP) Membersuniverahealthcare2027-01-01
    Autologous Chondrocyte Transplantation or Implantation Corporate Medical Policybcbsvermont2026-12-01
    Autologous Platelet-Derived Growth Factors (Platelet-Rich Plasma [PRP])Cigna2026-10-15
    Metatarsophalangeal Joint ReplacementCigna2026-10-15
    Shoulder Arthroplasty (Total, Partial, Reverse, Revision and Resurfacing)univerahealthcare2026-10-15
    Hip Arthroplasty (partial and total hip replacement)univerahealthcare2026-10-15
    Artificial Lumbar Intervertebral Disc (Lumbar Total Disc Arthroplasty)univerahealthcare2026-10-15
    Osteochondral Grafting of the Kneeuniverahealthcare2026-10-15
    Lumbar Fusion (arthrodesis) with decompressionuniverahealthcare2026-10-15
    Metal-on-Metal Total Hip Resurfacinguniverahealthcare2026-10-15

    Related Codes

    CPT-41000-INTRAORAL-INCISION-AND-DRAINAGE-TONGUE

    CPT 41000: Intraoral Incision and Drainage of Tongue Abscess

    CPT-41005-SUBLINGUAL-INTRAORAL-INCISION-DRAINAGE

    CPT 41005: Sublingual Intraoral Incision and Drainage

    CPT-41006-SUBLINGUAL-INTRAORAL-DRAINAGE-ABSCESS-CYST-HEMATOMA

    CPT 41006: Deep Intraoral Incision and Drainage, Sublingual

    CPT-41007-SUBMENTAL-INTRAORAL-DRAINAGE-ABSCESS-CYST-HEMATOMA

    CPT 41007: Intraoral Incision and Drainage of Submental Space

    CPT-41009-INTRAORAL-DRAINAGE-MASTICATOR-SPACE

    CPT 41009: Intraoral Drainage of Masticator Space

    CPT-41010-LINGUAL-FRENUM-INCISION-TONGUE-TIE-RELEASE

    CPT 41010: Lingual Frenotomy (Release of Tongue-Tie)

    CPT-41015-SUBLINGUAL-SPACE-INCISION-AND-DRAINAGE

    CPT 41015: Sublingual Space Incision and Drainage

    CPT-41016-SUBMENTAL-SPACE-DRAINAGE-EXTERNAL-APPROACH

    CPT 41016: Incision and Drainage, Submental Space

    CPT-41017-SUBMANDIBULAR-SPACE-DRAINAGE-EXTERNAL-INCISION

    CPT 41017: External Incision and Drainage of Submandibular Space

    CPT-41018-EXTRAORAL-INCISION-DRAINAGE-MASTICATOR-SPACE

    CPT 41018: Extraoral Incision and Drainage of Masticator Space

    Showing 1–10 of 11

    Frequently Asked Questions

    References

    1. 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. 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. 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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