Will insurance cover the consult visit or procedure?
While many dental insurance companies deny the procedure, classifying the tie as a congenital medical condition, many medical insurance companies cover both the consultation exam and the procedure. We will provide you with a health insurance claim form that you may submit to your insurance company. We find that most patients receive some reimbursement. We are not in network with medical insurance companies, thus filing the claim is the responsibility of the patient, and is not a guarantee that your insurance plan will cover the procedure. Payment is due at the time of service. All fees will be discussed before treatment is completed.
Are follow up visits required?
Dr. Sledge prefers to see her patients for a follow up appointment one week after the procedure to monitor the patient’s healing. This visit is free of charge.
My pediatrician or other trusted doctor doesn’t think my child has a tie. But something just doesn’t feel right. How do I know what to do?
We see this often. Unfortunately, in our current medical education system, there is no significant training on ties in medical, dental, nursing, or other health related professional school. Doctors who treat ties must seek out additional training to gain expertise. Since 2013, Dr. Sledge has pursued additional education about tethered oral tissues. She now is a continuing education speaker to other medical professionals, helping spread awareness and knowledge about this important condition.
Will the procedure be painful for my child?
One of the most unsettling things a parent or caregiver can experience is an upsetting medical procedure for their child. At Mississippi Tongue Tie Center, we treat your child as if they were our own. While of course an infant cannot verbally indicate to us whether they feel pain, we know from research studies and from our own monitoring of patients after their procedures, that infant fussiness after the procedure is minimal, if present at all. Older children rarely mention any discomfort. The procedure itself takes 10-15 seconds. Any discomfort your baby may feel is likely similar to that of a routine vaccination. We believe the lifetime benefits of releasing the tethered tissues far outweighs a few brief seconds of discomfort. Dr. Sledge treated one of her own children for tethered tissues, and making your child comfortable during the procedure is one of her highest priorities.
Could tongue tie be just a fad?
Although some media outlets might have readers believing otherwise, tongue ties are as old as humanity. There is literature from Bible times and before documenting the need for a midwife to cut the string of tissue beneath the tongue. In the 1700s and 1800s doctors documented the need to surgically cut this tissue in order for a nursing infant to be able to eat, live, and thrive. Treatment for tongue ties is not new. But the safest and most effective treatment IS new. Laser technology allows Mississippi Tongue Tie Center to treat your baby safely, effectively, and quickly. Our CO2 laser allows for an amazingly precise treatment, with a quicker and safer healing process than traditional treatment with a scalpel.