How Much Does Wisdom Teeth Extraction Cost?
On average, the cost to extract a wisdom tooth is around $550, though this cost tends to increase when complications occur. The price of extraction is also affected by the type of the tooth and its position in the mouth, and by supplementary procedures like sedation or examinations. It’s common for dental insurance to cover part, or even most, of a wisdom tooth extraction, though annual maximums should be considered, and it’s important to check with your insurance provider for the specifics of your dental insurance coverage. If you don’t have dental insurance and need to have one or more wisdom teeth extracted, understanding out-of-pocket costs can help you plan and budget for your treatment. Budgeting should include discussing all possible costs with your dental team, and it is also advisable to ask your dentist if they work with any third-party financing organizations, which can with budgeting and overall cost.
The wisdom teeth are the third molars, located in the very back of the mouth. These teeth are the last permanent teeth to erupt into the mouth, and, because of their location and their timeline for eruption, they can cause problems that necessitate their removal. The position and status of these wisdom teeth is a significant factor in determining the cost of extraction. Teeth that are fully erupted, meaning that the crown of the tooth is fully visible above the gums, cost about $300 to extract. Teeth that have erupted from the bone but are still trapped beneath the gums cost slightly more, averaging around $350 per tooth for extraction, and teeth that have partly erupted from the bone but remain partly trapped cost about $450 per tooth to extract. When teeth are fully impacted, remaining fully situated within the bone and under the gums, their removal costs around $550 per tooth. These are average costs, and the price of your procedure may vary.
In many cases, the cost of extracting a wisdom tooth will increase the longer it’s left alone, and, as complications develop, the need for surgical intervention by a maxillofacial surgeon increases. This means that extracting a wisdom tooth sooner than later is usually recommended. In some cases, a fully erupted wisdom tooth can stay in place and won’t need to be removed, though your dentist will continuously monitor these erupted teeth to make sure complications don’t arise. In other cases, however, especially when the patient’s mouth is smaller than average, your dentist may recommend extracting a fully erupted wisdom tooth. This is because these teeth can cause crowding in the other teeth, and because they can be very difficult to properly and thoroughly clean; in these cases, removing the tooth will prevent oral health issues from arising down the road.
Additional costs that are often associated with wisdom teeth extraction include the type of anesthesia selected by the patient, which can range from local anesthesia to moderate or deep sedation; the initial dental exam; and any x-rays or CT scans required to plan treatment. If your dentist tells you that you need to have one or more of your wisdom teeth extracted, ask about budgeting options and dental discount plans. Whether you have dental insurance or not, your out-of-pocket costs shouldn’t prevent you from seeking timely treatment and nipping potential wisdom teeth complications in the bud.