A few questions about a frenulectomy?

Question

this is my tongue-tie:
http://img356.imageshack.us/img356/5391/tonguetiedn7.jpg

I didn't know what this was until my sister started nursing school...I just knew my tongue was different from everyone elses.

But anyway, so I'm 20 years old and I want the surgery. I want to be able to stick my tongue out...to lick an ice cream cone...to sing a higher range because I'd be able to lift my tongue on higher notes.

What kind of doctor would perform this surgery? Is it a dentist? Do you think insurance might cover it, health insurance or dental insurance? How much would it cost (my tongue-tie is the most extreme of types of cases)? And do you think I'd have to have speech therapy in learning to keep my tongue down while I talk so it doesn't all hang out? They've never had to use a tongue depressor on me lol...

I've looked on websites and I know the technical information like what they do...but I'd really like to hear some personal experiences.

Answer 1

well you need to get a frenectomysurgery done by a oral and maxillofacial surgeon , such kind of surgeries are orthognathic surgeries, in frenectomy they remove the tissue which is leading to tongue tie from its most anterior position and followed by sutures. well even though after surgey if you are not able to speak properly than you can go for speech therapy.

Answer 2

Consult an ear, nose and throat specialist (ENT); they do frenulectomies every day. You most likely will not need speech therapy, as your tongue won't "hang out". The size/length of the tongue doesn't change. Health insurance will cover it if it interferes with function. In your case, it limits functional tongue movement; for example, you can't lick food from around your teeth, which contributes to tooth decay and gingivitis. I'm sure that any ENT worth his/her salt can come up with justification for insurance coverage. The same is true of speech therapy; it has to be "medically necessary", and will need a doctor's prescription (though I'm 99% sure you won't need it).

Answer 3

Lingual frenectomy is pretty common these days. Some dentists do the suregery or you may have to go to a specialist. Doing the surgery with a laser heals the best. You will be able to speak much clearer. Most tongue tie patients have crowding of their teeth.
Good Luck

Answer 4

I have a toddler daughter that was evaluated to see if her being tongue tied was enough of an issue for the surgery your talking about. Someone getting the surgery would depend on the doctor, I think some doctors will do anything for money and others see if there really is a need for the surgery. The doctors told us she was tongue tied since she was born, but since she didn't have any problems breathing or drinking her bottles, the doctors didn't refer us to anyone for it to be checked out. With my daughter-she was an extremely late talker-didn't make a sound til 2, they wouldn't agree to do the surgery. Good luck finding a doctor to help you. My daughter was seen by an ENT doctor, my son has a lingual frenectomy (under the top lip) that was done by a periodontist.

Answer 5

Okay... where si the frenectomy. If you want to do the frenum under your upper lip, see a surgeon who specialises in upper lip augmentation, as the procedure can also roll out your upper lip to make it seem fuller and more natural.
I have found a great website for you.
http://www.oceansurgical.com.au/orthognathicadvance.html which explains how the upper lip can be made fuller (through frenectomy)
If it is of the tongue, you need to see an oral & maxillofacial surgeon, as frenectomy can also lenghtne the tongue
Cheers
Paul James

Answer 6

After looking this up it would be E.N.T. specialist. If it Was life threating they would of done it when you were younger. Now it would probably be cosmetic. The insurance would not cover it or the speech therapy after. You know as much as I do when it comes to the cost.

Answer 7

Frenulectomy

Answer 8

Frenulectomy Tongue