Tongue-Tie Care for Tuscaloosa Families

Why families come to see us, from Tuscaloosa and much farther

An hour’s drive is short compared to what some of our families make. Parents bring their children to Pelham from all corners of Alabama, from other states, and from other countries. That’s partly because Dr. Baxter wrote the book Tongue-Tied and trains other doctors and providers through Tongue-Tied Academy, and partly because tongue and lip ties are a specialized area where a careful evaluation matters. Our two doctors, Dr. Baxter and Dr. Trego, are both pediatric dentists.

Traveling for this makes sense. One visit covers the consult, the exam, and treatment if your child needs it. The one-week follow-up can be in person or by email with photos, whichever is easier for you.

If you’ve been told there’s no tie, or only a mild one, but you’re still seeing feeding, speech, or sleep problems, it’s reasonable to get another look. Ties are easy to miss because they’re judged by how the tongue and lip work, not how they look. A free pre-screen is an easy place to start.

Is the drive from Tuscaloosa worth it?

• The drive: about 1 to 1.25 hours (about 55 miles) to 2480 Pelham Pkwy, Pelham, AL 35124.
• One visit: consult, exam, and treatment if it’s needed, all the same day.
• Follow-up made easier: families traveling a long distance can do the one-week follow-up by email. Send us photos of the treated areas and we’ll review them and advise you.

Being close also makes follow-up simple. You’re welcome to come back in person for the one-week follow-up, and you can always call us with questions. If you’re still not sure a visit is needed, our free pre-screen is open to you too.

How a same-day visit works

• Call or send a message. Call 205-419-4333 (Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) or use our contact page to schedule. You don’t need a referral.
• Not sure it’s worth the drive? Start with a free pre-screen. Email us photos of your child’s tongue and lip and our symptom sheet, and we’ll tell you whether a visit makes sense.
• The consult. You’ll meet with Dr. Baxter or Dr. Trego. We go over your child’s history and your feeding, sleep, and comfort concerns, and we typically spend 30 minutes or more just talking with you.
• The exam. We check the lip, tongue, and cheeks for restrictions and look at how the tongue moves. If we find a restriction, we take photos with a small camera so you can see it too. Then we recommend the most appropriate care, never more and never less.
• Treatment at the same visit, if it’s needed. If a release will help, we can usually do it the same day, so you only make one trip. It takes about 10 to 15 seconds per area, with no sedation or general anesthesia, just numbing jelly or sugar water.
• Before you head home. Babies can nurse right afterward, and a weighted feed is available. Older kids get a popsicle and can go play on our playground.

Want more detail? See how the procedure works.

Planning the drive from Tuscaloosa

• Most of the drive is interstate, heading east toward Birmingham and then south to Pelham.
• Allow extra time on game days and for weekday traffic around Birmingham.
• Our office is on Pelham Parkway, a few minutes off I-65.

Our hours are Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

What to bring

• The completed symptom sheet (for babies, our infant symptom sheet (PDF)) or your quiz results
• For babies under 6 months: the vitamin K shot (not oral drops) must have been given at least 12 hours before the procedure. Bring the record if you have it, and call us first if your baby had drops
• A list of any medicines your child takes
• Names of your pediatrician and lactation consultant or therapist, if you have them
• Your health insurance information, so you can file the claim form we give you
• Your payment method, or your Cherry or CareCredit approval (apply before your visit)
• For babies: extra diapers, a change of clothes, and your bottle or pump if you use one
• For older kids: a favorite comfort item and a snack for the drive home

After you go home

• Improvement isn’t always instant. Your child’s tongue has to learn a new way of moving, and there may even be a little regression in sucking for a day or two. That’s normal.
• Before you leave, we’ll go over aftercare and the exercises we recommend. Our aftercare videos are also on our website if you want a refresher at home.
• We follow up one week after the procedure. Families traveling a long distance can do the one-week follow-up by email: send us a photo of the treated areas and of the tongue or lip, and we’ll review it and let you know how things look. No need to make the drive again.
• Follow-up exams are at no charge, and if a restriction grows back within 12 months, we fix it at no charge.
• Ongoing support close to home can help, and we can help you find local lactation and feeding support.
• Questions after you get home? Call us at 205-419-4333. If you’re ever worried about your baby’s weight, feeding, or wet diapers, call your pediatrician right away.

What it costs

Consult $175. Release of each treated area (tongue, lip, or cheek) $500, and we charge for a maximum of two areas. A tongue and lip visit totals $1,175, and tongue only is $675. Follow-up exams are at no charge. We’re out-of-network and self-pay, and we give you a detailed claim form to send to your insurance for possible reimbursement. A $50 deposit holds your consult time and goes toward the $175 consult fee. It’s non-refundable if you cancel with less than 24 hours’ notice or miss the appointment. See fees and what’s included.

Questions from Tuscaloosa families

Ready when you are

Call us at 205-419-4333 or send us a message to schedule. If you’d like an opinion before you make the drive from Tuscaloosa, start with a free pre-screen.