💲 Money - what an awkward topic

Why I Don’t Take Insurance

People often ask why I run a fee-for-service office. The short answer? Because insurance companies don’t care about what’s actually best for your child.

They care about billing codes. They care about forms. They do not care about outcomes.

A Personal Example: Medicaid

I used to accept Medicaid for frenectomies because I wanted to be part of the safety net in my community. I lost money on every single one — but I felt it was the right thing to do.

Then Medicaid told me I was doing too many frenectomies. (Which makes sense — it’s what I do.) They started requiring a pediatrician’s approval, even though most aren’t trained in ties or oral function. So my team spent hours collecting paperwork and signatures for each patient.

And after all that?

Medicaid didn’t pay me a single cent.

Would you keep working with a company that never pays you?

It’s Not Just Medicaid

That’s an extreme case, but the same thing happens with every insurance company. They decide:

• What I get paid (sometimes 25% of what the work costs)

• How much time I can spend with each patient

• What treatment they think is “necessary” — without ever meeting your child

That’s not healthcare. That’s bureaucracy. And I won’t be part of it.

Why I Do What I Do

I became a dentist because I thought teeth were freaking cool. I became a tongue-focused dentist because I saw how ties impact breastfeeding. Then I learned how tongue function affects jaw growth, breathing, and sleep — and how all of that shapes lifelong health.

I've always wanted to help people. That hasn’t changed.But I won’t let an insurance company decide what “help” is.

What This Means for You

I know this decision comes with a cost — for both of us.

Let’s say I need $400/hour to keep my practice running. If an insurance company pays me $100 for a frenectomy, that gives you 15 minutes. Total.

That’s 15 minutes for diagnosis, the procedure, and everything else. No follow-ups. No education. No feeding support. No myofunctional therapy. No massage. No lactation help.

But hey — at least you used your insurance, right?

I’m Trying to Find the Balance

Good healthcare is a tightrope between helping people and staying in business. Because if I can’t keep the lights on, I can’t help anyone at all.

I haven’t found the perfect solution yet. But I am committed to doing right by every family who walks through my door.

I will always try my hardest to make it work —So we can look each other in the eyes and know we did our best by each other.