Oral aphthae

This code represents recurrent aphthous stomatitis, commonly known as canker sores. These are painful, non-contagious, shallow ulcers that appear on the movable soft tissues inside the mouth, such as the tongue, soft palate, or inside the cheeks and lips.

Use this code for documented cases of oral aphthae, including minor, major, or herpetiform types, when the etiology is not specified as infectious. This code is appropriate when the patient presents with characteristic oral lesions consistent with aphthous ulcers.

• Differentiate from herpetic stomatitis (054.2), which is caused by the herpes simplex virus and typically presents on keratinized tissue.
• Ensure documentation specifies "aphthae" or "canker sores" rather than general "mouth sores" to support this code.
• Consider additional codes for any underlying systemic conditions if documented as contributing factors.