What D7962 means

D7962 covers a lingual frenectomy (frenulectomy). "D" is dental, "79" is this oral surgery group, and "62" is this lingual frenectomy. The lingual frenum (frenulum) is the fold of tissue under the tongue — connecting the underside of the tongue to the floor of the mouth. A lingual frenectomy is the surgical removal or release of this lingual frenum. D7962 is specifically for the lingual frenum (under the tongue), as opposed to the buccal/labial frena (D7961). The most common reason for a lingual frenectomy is to treat tongue-tie (ankyloglossia) — a condition where the lingual frenum is too tight, short, or attached too far forward, restricting the tongue's movement. Releasing the frenum (the frenectomy) frees the tongue, improving its mobility.

So it's surgically releasing the tissue under the tongue (the lingual frenum), most commonly to treat tongue-tie and improve tongue movement.

Tongue-tie (ankyloglossia) can cause various problems depending on its severity and the person's age: in infants, it can interfere with breastfeeding/feeding (the restricted tongue movement affecting latch and feeding); in children and others, it can contribute to speech difficulties (the tongue's restricted movement affecting certain sounds), difficulty with certain tongue movements (e.g., sticking the tongue out, or moving it to clean the mouth), or other functional issues. A lingual frenectomy (D7962) releases the restrictive frenum, improving tongue mobility and addressing these issues. Note: D7962 (lingual) and D7961 (buccal/labial) are the current frenectomy codes that replaced the retired single code D7960; D7963 (frenuloplasty) is a more involved related procedure (sometimes used for a lingual frenum needing more extensive revision). Coverage is under oral surgery (or medical, especially for infant feeding issues) benefits, with documentation of the functional necessity (e.g., the restricted tongue movement, the speech/feeding impact); it's often limited (e.g., once per lifetime).

When it's typically used

D7962 is reported for a lingual frenectomy — surgically removing or releasing the lingual frenum (the tissue under the tongue) — most commonly to treat tongue-tie (ankyloglossia), where a tight/short frenum restricts tongue movement, improving tongue mobility (helping with speech, feeding, and other functions). It's a current frenectomy code, distinct from the buccal/labial D7961 and frenuloplasty (D7963).

How much does D7962 cost?

A lingual frenectomy is a modest-to-moderate fee, often roughly 200 to 600 USD depending on region and the technique (traditional surgical or laser) — for releasing the lingual frenum (typically with local anesthesia; for infants, sometimes without). For infant feeding issues, it may be billed to medical insurance. The fee reflects the in-office procedure.

Is D7962 covered by insurance?

Covered under oral surgery benefits, but often relevant to medical insurance — especially for infant feeding/breastfeeding issues (where it may be a medical claim) or documented speech issues. Documentation of the functional necessity (the tongue-tie restricting movement, with the speech/feeding impact, e.g., ICD-10 for tongue-tie) is important. Coverage is often limited (e.g., one D7962 per lifetime). D7962 is a current code (the older D7960 is retired). Verifying coverage (dental vs medical) helps.

What tongue-tie (ankyloglossia) is

Tongue-tie is a restrictive lingual frenum, and understanding it clarifies the main reason for this procedure.

The lingual frenum is the fold of tissue under the tongue, connecting the underside of the tongue to the floor of the mouth. Tongue-tie (ankyloglossia) is a condition where this lingual frenum is too tight, too short, or attached too far forward (toward the tip of the tongue) — restricting the tongue's movement. Normally, the tongue can move freely (up, down, side to side, and out); with tongue-tie, the restrictive frenum limits this movement — the tongue can't move as freely (e.g., it may not lift up well, stick out far, or move side to side, and sticking the tongue out may show a heart-shaped notch at the tip from the restriction). So tongue-tie is a restricted tongue due to a tight/short lingual frenum.

Tongue-tie is present from birth (congenital) and varies in severity (from mild to significant). It can cause functional problems depending on the severity and the person: in infants, it can interfere with breastfeeding/feeding (the restricted tongue affecting the latch and the ability to feed effectively); in children and others, it can affect speech (certain sounds requiring tongue movements that are restricted), or cause difficulty with tongue movements (eating, cleaning the mouth, etc.). A lingual frenectomy treats tongue-tie by releasing the restrictive frenum. So tongue-tie is the main condition this procedure addresses. The dentist/specialist diagnoses tongue-tie and treats it when warranted. For patients, understanding what tongue-tie is — a tight/short lingual frenum restricting tongue movement — clarifies the main reason for this procedure. It's a restricted tongue. The procedure releases it. Understanding this helps patients see that tongue-tie (ankyloglossia) is a condition where the lingual frenum (the tissue under the tongue) is too tight, short, or far-forward — restricting the tongue's movement (limiting how freely it can lift, extend, or move side to side) — a congenital condition that can cause functional problems (interfering with infant feeding/breastfeeding, or affecting speech and tongue movements), which a lingual frenectomy (D7962) treats by releasing the restrictive frenum to improve tongue mobility.

Why a lingual frenectomy is done

A lingual frenectomy addresses tongue-tie's effects, and understanding them clarifies why it's done.

A lingual frenectomy is done to address the functional problems caused by tongue-tie — and understanding these clarifies why it's done. The effects of tongue-tie (and reasons for treatment) vary by age/situation: infant feeding/breastfeeding — in infants, tongue-tie can interfere with breastfeeding (the restricted tongue affecting the latch, the baby's ability to feed effectively, potentially causing feeding difficulties, poor weight gain, or pain for the breastfeeding mother); releasing the tongue-tie can improve feeding. This is a common reason for infant frenectomy (often done early); speech — in children (and others), tongue-tie can contribute to speech difficulties (certain sounds — like 'l', 't', 'd', 'th', 'r' — require tongue movements that the restriction impairs); releasing it can help with speech (often alongside speech therapy); tongue function — tongue-tie can cause difficulty with tongue movements needed for eating, swallowing, cleaning the mouth (sweeping food away), or other functions; releasing it improves these; and other issues — e.g., difficulty with certain activities, or social concerns (not being able to stick the tongue out). So a lingual frenectomy addresses these functional effects.

The decision to do a frenectomy is based on whether the tongue-tie is causing significant functional problems (feeding, speech, function) that releasing the frenum would help. Not all tongue-ties need treatment (mild ones causing no problems may be left alone); it's done when the restriction causes meaningful issues. So a lingual frenectomy is done for the functional benefit. The dentist/specialist (sometimes with input from a lactation consultant, speech therapist, or pediatrician) determines when it's warranted. For patients, understanding why a lingual frenectomy is done — to address tongue-tie's effects on feeding, speech, and tongue function — clarifies the reasons. It addresses functional problems. The provider determines it. Understanding this helps patients see that a lingual frenectomy is done to address the functional problems caused by tongue-tie — improving infant feeding/breastfeeding (a common reason for early frenectomy), helping with speech difficulties (often alongside speech therapy), and improving tongue function (for eating, cleaning the mouth, etc.) — done when the tongue-tie causes meaningful functional issues (not all tongue-ties need treatment), for the functional benefit of releasing the restriction.

The procedure across ages

The frenectomy procedure varies by age, and understanding this clarifies what's involved.

The lingual frenectomy procedure is relatively simple, with some variation by age. For infants — a simple frenotomy/frenectomy is often done quickly (sometimes called a 'tongue-tie release'): for a thin frenum, it may be released with a quick snip (scissors) or a laser, often without anesthesia or with topical anesthesia (the procedure being very quick, with minimal bleeding for a thin frenum), and the baby can usually feed right after. This is commonly done in infancy for feeding issues. For older children and others — the procedure is done under local anesthesia: removing/releasing the frenum (by a traditional surgical technique with sutures, or a soft-tissue laser), freeing the tongue, and closing as needed. The general steps: numbing (as appropriate), releasing/removing the frenum (surgically or with laser), and closing/managing the site. So the procedure releases the lingual frenum, with the approach scaled to the age/situation.

The procedure is generally quick and minor. Recovery is usually straightforward (the small site heals; for older patients, some tongue exercises/stretches may be recommended after, to maintain the mobility and prevent reattachment). After healing, the tongue's mobility is improved (the restriction released) — helping with feeding, speech, or function. Laser techniques are commonly used (often with advantages). For speech-related cases, the frenectomy is often combined with speech therapy (the release enabling the therapy to be more effective). So the procedure (scaled to age) releases the tongue. The provider performs the frenectomy appropriately for the patient. For patients (and parents), understanding that the procedure varies by age — a quick release for infants, a local-anesthesia procedure for older patients — clarifies what's involved. It's scaled to the situation. The provider performs it. Understanding this helps patients see that the lingual frenectomy procedure is relatively simple, scaled to the age — for infants, often a quick release (a snip or laser, sometimes without anesthesia, with the baby able to feed right after, commonly for feeding issues); for older children and others, done under local anesthesia (surgically or with a laser, with possible sutures and post-procedure tongue exercises) — generally quick and minor, improving the tongue's mobility after healing, often combined with speech therapy for speech-related cases.

Lingual frenectomy among the frenectomy codes

The lingual frenectomy has its own code, and understanding the frenectomy codes clarifies the coding.

The lingual frenectomy has its own current code (D7962), distinct from the other frenectomy codes — and understanding the set clarifies the coding. The current frenectomy codes (which replaced the retired single code D7960): D7961 — buccal/labial frenectomy: for a buccal (cheek-side) or labial (lip-to-gum) frenum; D7962 — lingual frenectomy: for the lingual frenum (under the tongue — this code, addressing tongue-tie); D7963 — frenuloplasty: a more involved procedure (excision of the frenum with excision/repositioning of aberrant muscle and a z-plasty or other flap closure — a more complex surgical revision). So D7962 is specifically the lingual frenectomy — distinguished by location (the lingual frenum) from the buccal/labial frenectomy (D7961), and by being a frenectomy (vs the more involved frenuloplasty, D7963).

So for a tongue-tie release (the lingual frenum), D7962 is the code (not D7961, which is buccal/labial; and not the retired D7960). If a more involved revision (frenuloplasty — with muscle repositioning and a z-plasty/flap) is done, that's D7963. The dentist codes by the location (lingual → D7962) and the procedure (frenectomy vs frenuloplasty). For coverage, especially for infant feeding issues, the claim may go to medical insurance (with the appropriate documentation). So D7962 is the current code for a lingual frenectomy. The dentist uses the appropriate code. For patients, understanding that the lingual frenectomy has its own code (D7962), among the current frenectomy codes, clarifies the coding. It's the lingual one. The dentist codes by the location/procedure. Understanding this helps patients see that the lingual frenectomy has its own current code (D7962) — among the frenectomy codes that replaced the retired D7960 — distinguished by location (the lingual frenum, for tongue-tie) from the buccal/labial frenectomy (D7961), and as a frenectomy (vs the more involved frenuloplasty, D7963) — so for a tongue-tie release, D7962 is used (with the claim sometimes going to medical insurance, especially for infant feeding issues), the dentist coding by the location and the procedure.

Frequently asked questions

What is the D7962 dental code?

It's a lingual frenectomy (frenulectomy) — surgically removing or releasing the lingual frenum (the tissue under the tongue connecting it to the floor of the mouth). It's most commonly done to treat tongue-tie (ankyloglossia), where a tight/short frenum restricts tongue movement, improving tongue mobility. It's distinct from the buccal/labial frenectomy (D7961).

What is tongue-tie (ankyloglossia)?

A condition where the lingual frenum (under the tongue) is too tight, short, or far-forward, restricting the tongue's movement (limiting how freely it can lift, extend, or move side to side). It's congenital and can interfere with infant feeding/breastfeeding, affect speech, or cause difficulty with tongue movements.

Why is a lingual frenectomy done?

To address tongue-tie's functional problems — improving infant feeding/breastfeeding (a common reason for early release), helping with speech difficulties (often alongside speech therapy), and improving tongue function (eating, cleaning the mouth). It's done when the tongue-tie causes meaningful functional issues (not all tongue-ties need treatment).

What does the procedure involve?

It varies by age — for infants, often a quick release (a snip or laser, sometimes without anesthesia, with the baby able to feed right after); for older children and others, done under local anesthesia (surgically or with a laser, with possible sutures and post-procedure tongue exercises). It's generally quick and minor, improving tongue mobility after healing.

How much does it cost?

Often around 200 to 600 USD, depending on the technique (traditional or laser), for releasing the lingual frenum. For infant feeding issues, it may be billed to medical insurance. The fee reflects the in-office procedure (for infants, sometimes done very quickly).

Is it covered by insurance?

It may be covered under dental or, often, medical insurance — especially for infant feeding/breastfeeding issues (a medical claim) or documented speech issues. Documentation of the functional necessity (the tongue-tie restricting movement, the feeding/speech impact) is important. Coverage is often limited (e.g., one per lifetime).

This page is an independent, plain-language explanation for general information only. It is not billing, coding, or clinical advice. For the official CDT descriptor and current-year wording, refer to the American Dental Association.