Fees and
treatment costs
We publish our fees openly because we believe you should be able to plan financially before committing to an appointment. Treatment costs vary by age group and individual pathway - here we explain exactly what is involved at each stage and what each element costs.
The initial evaluation
Every patient - regardless of age - begins with the same first step: a comprehensive evaluation appointment. This involves a functional physiotherapy or feeding assessment followed by a medical consultation with Dr. Justin Roche. A recommended management plan is then discussed with you. No surgery takes place at this appointment.
The evaluation fee is the same for all age groups.
Children (6 months to 16 years): Functional assessment with a chartered physiotherapist, followed by medical consultation with Dr. Roche. Management plan discussed.
Adults (16+): Functional assessment with a chartered physiotherapist, followed by medical consultation with Dr. Roche. Management plan discussed.
CO₂ laser frenectomy pathway
For infants in the newborn period, our pathway focuses on thorough preparation before a CO₂ laser frenectomy, followed by structured post-operative feeding support. The preparation phase is not a delay - it builds the functional foundation that makes surgery more effective and recovery more predictable.
Frenuloplasty under conscious sedation
Infants aged 12 weeks to 6 months are beyond the newborn period but too young for the approach used in older children. This age group requires functional frenuloplasty - a more comprehensive surgical procedure - performed under conscious sedation. This service is, to our knowledge, unique to the National Tongue Tie Centre in Ireland. Conscious sedation means your baby breathes independently throughout and is kept comfortable by local anaesthetic, avoiding the risks of general anaesthesia.
Frenuloplasty with myofunctional rehabilitation
Children in this age group have established oral movement patterns - for eating, speaking, and breathing - that have been built around their restriction. The pathway addresses not only the structural release but the retraining of function that is clinically essential to achieving lasting outcomes. Pre-operative myofunctional therapy is required before surgery in all but exceptional clinical circumstances.
Functional frenuloplasty under local anaesthetic
Adult patients bring years or decades of compensatory patterns - in jaw mechanics, posture, swallowing, and breathing - that must be addressed alongside the structural release to achieve meaningful functional outcomes. The adult pathway is the most comprehensive, combining pre-operative physiotherapy and myofunctional therapy with a frenuloplasty under local anaesthetic and a structured rehabilitation programme.
What your insurance may cover
We provide official receipts for all appointments and procedures. Coverage varies significantly between health insurance providers and between policy tiers - we recommend contacting your insurer directly to confirm what is covered under your specific plan before attending.
The majority of health insurance providers in Ireland reimburse for a lactation consultation (IBCLC). This includes the feeding assessment component of the infant evaluation appointment.
Depending on your policy, a portion of the medical consultation with Dr. Roche may be claimable. A facility fee is charged for surgical procedures, meaning the full surgical cost is not covered by insurance.
Physiotherapy appointments may be partially covered depending on your policy. Check the annual physiotherapy benefit on your plan. Cover varies significantly between policy tiers.
A facility fee applies to all surgical procedures, meaning the full procedure cost is not covered by health insurance even where some coverage exists. Receipts provided for all components.
We understand that the cost of a full treatment pathway is a significant investment. A payment plan can be arranged to spread the cost. Please contact the clinic directly to discuss the options available to you.
Call us: 052 610 8009Fees - frequently asked questions
Why does the full pathway cost more than a single procedure elsewhere?
Am I committed to the full pathway when I book the evaluation?
Can I get a more exact cost before the evaluation?
Is there a fee if we decide not to proceed with treatment after the evaluation?
Do you offer a payment plan?
What documentation do you provide for insurance claims?
Book your evaluation - or talk to us first
If you would like to speak with a member of our clinical team before committing to an appointment, our free Concerns Call is a 15-minute call where we listen to what is happening and advise honestly on whether an assessment is likely to be helpful in your situation.
All fees are stated in Euro (€) and include VAT where applicable. Treatment price varies according to the support required and type of surgery for each individual patient. You will be informed of all costs following your consultation before any further commitment is required. Fees are reviewed periodically - please confirm current fees with the clinic at the time of booking. Frenuloplasty is a surgical procedure; full information on associated risks is provided at assessment.
Why integrated tongue tie care
costs more - and delivers more
We publish our fees openly. We also believe you deserve a clear explanation of what you are paying for - and an honest account of what a lower-cost alternative does and does not include. This page explains both.
A single procedure vs. a full pathway
Tongue tie treatment in Ireland ranges from a single-appointment scissor frenotomy for a few hundred euro to the full integrated pathway at the National Tongue Tie Centre. These are not different versions of the same thing. They are different approaches with different clinical intentions. The comparison below sets out what each typically includes.
| What is included | Single-appointment frenotomy | NTTC Integrated Pathway |
|---|---|---|
| Comprehensive clinical assessment | Varies - often brief | ✓ Full evaluation + written report |
| Pre-operative feeding therapy | ✗ Typically not included | ✓ Included - builds functional foundation before surgery |
| Pre-operative physiotherapy and bodywork | ✗ Typically not included | ✓ Included - addresses tension patterns before release |
| Surgical procedure | ✓ Scissors frenotomy | ✓ CO₂ laser frenectomy or frenuloplasty with suture closure |
| Post-operative feeding therapy | ✗ Typically not included | ✓ Included - retrains movement patterns after release |
| Post-operative physiotherapy | ✗ Typically not included | ✓ Included - continued bodywork and rehabilitation |
| Wound review and Diamond Care guidance | ✗ Typically not included | ✓ Included - reduces reattachment risk |
| Medical follow-up with Consultant Paediatrician | ✗ Typically not included | ✓ Included at 6 weeks |
| IBCLC lactation support | Varies | ✓ 7 IBCLCs in-house across medicine, physio and nursing |
| Conscious sedation option (infants 12wk–12yr) | ✗ Not available | ✓ Ireland's only service of this kind |
| Written clinical report | ✗ Typically not provided | ✓ Every patient, at every assessment |
The above reflects typical inclusions. Individual services vary. Always ask what is and is not included when comparing costs.
Everything in the NTTC pathway is there for a reason
We did not design the pathway to be expensive. We designed it to work. Each component addresses a specific clinical need. Removing any element reduces the likelihood of a lasting outcome.
Evaluation and written report
No treatment decision is made without a thorough assessment. You leave the evaluation with a clear clinical recommendation in writing - whether or not you proceed with treatment at NTTC.
Pre-operative bodywork
A tongue tie creates years of compensatory tension throughout the jaw, neck, and fascial chain. Releasing the frenulum without addressing this tension produces a less predictable surgical result.
CO₂ laser frenuloplasty
CO₂ laser with suture closure allows deeper, more complete release with lower reattachment risk than scissors frenotomy. The surgical technique is not interchangeable.
Post-operative feeding therapy
The release creates the structural possibility of normal function. Feeding therapy builds the function. Without it, compensatory patterns that developed around the restriction remain.
Medical follow-up
Six-week review with Dr. Roche is a clinical appointment, not administrative. Wound assessment, functional review, and honest outcome evaluation - included in every pathway.
Conscious sedation (where indicated)
For infants 12 weeks to 6 months and children to age 12 where indicated - Ireland's only service of this kind. Allows complete surgical release without the risks of general anaesthetic.
What your insurance may cover
Coverage varies significantly between insurers and between policy tiers. We recommend contacting your insurer directly before attending to confirm your specific cover. The following is a general guide to what is typically claimable. Official receipts are provided for all appointments.
Lactation consultation (IBCLC)
The majority of Irish health insurers cover lactation consultations. The feeding assessment component of the infant evaluation is typically claimable.
Medical consultation - Dr. Roche
Depending on your policy, a portion of the medical consultation with Dr. Roche may be claimable as a specialist consultation. VHI, Laya, and Irish Life all have specialist consultation benefits that may apply.
Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy appointments may be partially covered under the physiotherapy benefit on your plan. Cover varies significantly between tiers - a basic plan may offer €25 per session; a higher tier plan may offer more.
Surgical procedure
A facility fee applies to all surgical procedures, meaning the full surgical cost is not covered by insurance even where partial coverage exists. Receipts are provided for all components to support your claim.
We can provide itemised receipts and medical letters to support insurance claims. Please let the clinic know in advance if you require specific documentation.
What your insurer is likely to cover
Coverage for tongue tie assessment and treatment varies between insurers and between policy tiers. The table below provides a general guide based on the typical position of the main Irish health insurers. Always contact your insurer directly to confirm your specific cover before attending.
| Insurer | IBCLC consultation | Specialist medical consultation | Physiotherapy | Surgical facility fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VHI Healthcare | ✓ Usually covered | Partial - check tier | Partial - annual limit applies | Not fully covered - facility fee applies |
| Laya Healthcare | ✓ Usually covered | Partial - check tier | Partial - annual limit applies | Not fully covered - facility fee applies |
| Irish Life Health | ✓ Usually covered | Partial - check tier | Partial - annual limit applies | Not fully covered - facility fee applies |
| HSF Health Plan | Varies by plan | Varies by plan | Varies by plan | Not typically covered |
| GloHealth (now Laya) | ✓ Usually covered | Partial | Partial | Not fully covered |
