Infant Laser Tongue and Lip Tie Treatment

Thrive Pediatrics can offer holistic care that goes beyond the procedure, including in-house lactation support, feeding therapy, and comprehensive follow-up. Dentists may focus solely on the release without addressing broader feeding or developmental concerns. Traditionally, parents would have to connect with their pediatrician, lactation consultant, and dentist (sometimes even a speech therapist, and/or myofunctional therapist). That's 3-5 different providers families would have to follow up with!

A tongue tie restricts the tongue's range of motion due to a tight or short lingual frenulum, while a lip tie affects the upper lip’s ability to move freely because of a restrictive labial frenulum. Both can impact feeding, speech, and oral development.

Tongue ties affect approximately 10% of infants, and lip ties are also relatively common. Both conditions often occur together, making a thorough evaluation essential for proper diagnosis.

Tongue ties limit the tongue's ability to move effectively, preventing a proper latch. This can lead to poor milk transfer, prolonged feeding sessions, maternal nipple pain, and slow weight gain for the baby. Not all tongue ties require a release. Please schedule an appointment for an evaluation to determine the best course of action for your child.

The CO2 laser provides precise, quick, and minimally invasive treatment. Unlike scissors or diode lasers, the CO2 laser minimizes thermal damage, seals blood vessels during the procedure, and allows for faster healing with less discomfort.

We are in-network with the following commercial health insurance companies, while also enhancing accessibility to our services for Medicaid participants as well:

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• Premera

• Aetna

• Regence

• Cigna

• Kaiser (PPO only)

• United Healthcare

• First Choice First Health

• Apple Health

• Molina

• Coordinate Care

• Amerigroup

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As there are multiple health plans and coverage options within each network, please contact your insurance provider to confirm that we are in-network prior to scheduling an appointment. Please note, some plans may necessitate designating our office as your primary care provider.

The procedure is minimally invasive and quick, lasting only a few minutes. Babies experience little discomfort, and many can feed immediately after, which also provides soothing relief.

Most insurance plans cover well visits (preventive visits) at no cost to you.

Well visits encompass a comprehensive exam including various assessments for growth and development, screening for medical, and behavioral concerns. While we are able to review and address these concerns, any new problems which require an evaluation and/or diagnosis, or existing problems that involve extensive discussions beyond the standard scope of a well visit, may incur additional charges beyond what your insurance covers for a well visit exam. If necessary, we may recommend scheduling a separate visit to ensure all your questions and concerns are adequately addressed.

Providers at Thrive Pediatrics adhere to federal and insurance guidelines when documenting services rendered, and the respective insurance companies' determination of coverage is unfortunately, beyond our control.

Our billing team is available to answer basic insurance inquiries, but if you have specific questions about your coverage, please contact your insurance provider directly.

Signs include difficulty latching, prolonged feeding times, clicking noises during feeding, weight loss, and frustration during feeds. Mothers may also experience nipple pain or damage.

Yes, untreated tongue ties can restrict tongue mobility, leading to challenges with articulating certain sounds, such as “L,” “R,” and “T.”

Easy! Follow this link right here: https://www.thrivepeds.org/record-requests

Easy! Follow this link right here: https://www.thrivepeds.org/record-requests

Yes, post-procedure care includes gentle stretching exercises to prevent reattachment of the frenulum. Some babies may benefit from feeding therapy or lactation support for optimal outcomes.

For non-urgent matters, please utilize the portal to send a message to your provider.

You may contact our after hours on call provider line by calling our office number, 425-247-3362, and follow the prompt to be connected to the on call provider. Please be advised the provider may not be immediately available, and should your concerns be urgent, we strongly recommend seeking care at the nearest emergency room or urgent care facility.

If needing to cancel or reschedule an appointment, we ask that you do so 24 hours before your scheduled appointment.

Appointments that are canceled or rescheduled within 24 hours of the appointment time will incur a $100 late cancellation fee.

Late cancellations are costly to our clinic, and also to other families who could otherwise be seen, but was forced to seek care at urgent care due to appointment unavailability.

Due to the aforementioned reasons above, we do not allow "holding" appointment slots, to subsequently cancel the appointment last minute in the event your child feels better.

If you have any questions or concerns about your child's health, please feel free to reach out to your PCP through the portal.

We kindly request that you arrive promptly at your scheduled appointment time.

If you arrive 10 minutes or later for your appointment, we will give you an option to either reschedule your visit or to keep a shortened visit. This prevents delays for other families who have scheduled that day.

Canceled and/or rescheduled appointments due to being late will also incur a $100 fee.

We understand that unforeseen circumstances may occasionally delay your arrival, and we will strive to accommodate our patients and their families while maintaining punctuality for all appointments.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation in helping us provide the best care possible for your child.

A "no show" occurs when a patient misses their scheduled appointment without prior notification or cancellation.

Patients who fail to show up for their appointments without proper notification will incur a $100 no show fee. This fee helps us cover the costs associated with unused appointment slots and ensures that our resources are used efficiently to benefit all patients.

We understand that emergencies and unforeseen circumstances may arise, and exceptions to the no show fee may be considered on a case-by-case basis. Patients experiencing extenuating circumstances are encouraged to contact our office as soon as possible to discuss their situation.

After the third consecutive no show, patients will be discharged from our clinic.