D7962 — Lingual frenectomy (frenulectomy) — tongue-tie release
D7962 releases a tongue-tie, cutting the band under the tongue that is restricting its movement, feeding or speech.
It is the default code in a group of four, and the one whose fee is normally quoted when this treatment is discussed. Our frenectomy guide covers the procedure in depth.
Everything on this page is about the code itself — its conditions, its fee, its benefit handling, and the precise point at which it stops applying and a neighbouring code starts.
The nearby codes and how they differ
D7961 — Buccal / labial frenectomy (frenulectomy): It releases the band of tissue between lip and gum, the fold that can drag the gum away or hold a gap open between the front teeth.
D7963 — Frenuloplasty: It is the reconstructive version, in which the frenum is not simply cut but reshaped, repositioned and sutured.
D7960 — Frenulectomy (frenectomy) — retired code, replaced by D7961/D7962: It was the single frenectomy code before the code set split it by site, and is retired in favour of D7961 and D7962.
Those three codes and D7962 are the whole group — nothing else describes this procedure. The descriptions differ by a few words and the fees differ by a great deal, which is why mixing them up is one of the commonest billing errors in dentistry. Ask which of these codes is being submitted and why.
Every code in this group
These codes describe the same broad procedure and differ in one respect each. Each has its own page with its own fee range and coverage notes.
| Code | Procedure |
|---|---|
| D7962 | Lingual frenectomy (frenulectomy) — tongue-tie release — this page |
| D7960 | Frenulectomy (frenectomy) — retired code, replaced by D7961/D7962 |
| D7961 | Buccal / labial frenectomy (frenulectomy) |
| D7963 | Frenuloplasty |
Questions about D7962
D7962 — what is it?
On a claim, D7962 tells the insurer that what was performed was lingual frenectomy (frenulectomy), tongue-tie release.
Is D7962 expensive?
$300–$800 covers most of the country. Specialist practices and big-city addresses tend to sit in the upper half.
Is D7962 a covered benefit?
Usually yes, as basic / major oral surgery treatment at typically 50–80% — but coverage turns on your own policy, its annual maximum and any waiting period.
What is the difference between D7962 and D7961?
D7961 is buccal / labial frenectomy, frenulectomy: it releases the band of tissue between lip and gum, the fold that can drag the gum away or hold a gap open between the front teeth. They share a section of the code set and very little else, so the comparison worth making is on what each involves rather than on which is cheaper.
Also known as: frenectomy, tongue tie, lip tie, frenulum, midline diastema.