Your wisdom teeth are the last set of pearly whites that will grow in, usually showing up in your late teens and early 20s. Unfortunately, these molars might not grow in properly and they may end up being impacted, increasing the risk of problems like pain, infection, earache, bad breath, and inflammation. At that point, an extraction might be your only option to restore oral health.
If your dentist has told you that you need to have one or more of your wisdom teeth pulled, you might be wondering how much you should expect to pay for this procedure.
Although common, it can be expensive to have wisdom teeth removed, especially if you don’t have the right type of dental insurance to help cover the fees. Also, various factors, including where you’re located, the dental professional you use, and the severity of the impaction, will play a role in determining the total impacted wisdom teeth removal cost.
So, how much does it cost to remove wisdom teeth? Check out our breakdown of the average prices below.
Wisdom Teeth Removal Cost Depends on the Type of Impaction
One of the main factors that will determine your bill when you need a wisdom tooth removed is the type of impaction.
- The more severe the impaction, the higher the cost of the extraction, and the greater the odds that you’ll need to see a specialist, such as an oral surgeon. If a wisdom tooth has erupted (meaning: it came out of the gums just fine), the extraction will be pretty simple, and your regular dentist might be able to do it. The procedure should be fairly quick, and you might only need local anesthesia to make it pain-free. Therefore, the price will also be lower for this type of extraction, so you might be charged as little as $75 or as much as $200, on average.
- A soft tissue impaction occurs when the wisdom tooth is still covered by some amount of gum tissue. The procedure to remove the tooth will be more complicated, so it will cost more because an incision will need to be made to get through the tissue. You’ll likely require more anesthesia, and stitches may also be necessary. The average price is around $350, but it could range from as low as $225 to as high as $850.
- A partially bony impaction means the wisdom tooth hasn’t erupted completely from the jawbone. To remove this tooth, the oral surgeon will need to not only make an incision to get into the gums but will also need to get into the bone that covers the tooth. For this procedure, which will take more time, general anesthesia or sedation might be recommended. The average cost is around $450, but the range can be anywhere from $300 to $950.
- A full bony impaction is the most severe type of impaction because the tooth is still completely in the jaw, and it might even be resting horizontally. General anesthesia may be used as you may need to be completely sedated and unconscious while the surgeon works on getting through the gums and bone that surround the tooth. Plus, the tooth might also be cut into pieces to make it easier to remove. This is the most complex and, therefore, the most expensive type of extraction, averaging $550, with a range of $350 to $1,100.
What If You Have All Four Wisdom Teeth Removed at the Same Time?
If you need to have all four of your wisdom teeth extracted, you might be given a little bit of a break on the cost, especially if it’s done in one appointment.
Even when you’re having more than one tooth removed at once, the average cost of wisdom teeth removal will depend on several factors, including the type of impaction:
- For fully erupted teeth that require simple extractions, the cost of removing all four might be anywhere from $300 to $800.
- If it’s a soft tissue impaction, the cost of removing all four during the same procedure might be anywhere from $800 to $1,500.
- If it’s a bony impaction, the cost might be anywhere from $1,000 to $1,800.
Don’t Forget to Add in Additional Fees That Will Affect the Final Price
In addition to the cost of the extraction procedure, there are other fees to tack on as well. These include:
- Exam fees, which may cost anywhere from $50 to $200.
- Panoramic X-rays, which can range from $100 to $250.
- Sedation, which might cost $100 to $500.
Note: There may also be follow-up appointments after the extraction, so you might be charged for those visits as well.
Wisdom Teeth Removal Cost with Insurance
As you can see, wisdom teeth removal cost without insurance can be hard on your wallet. If you don’t have the right dental plan, you’ll need to cover the entire bill all on your own. Paying out-of-pocket might mean you spend thousands when everything is said and done. Ouch!
Does Dental Insurance Cover Wisdom Teeth Removal? Yes!
How much does it cost to get wisdom teeth removed when you have insurance? Well, that will depend on the plan you’ve signed up for, as well as how complicated the extraction will be.
With a comprehensive dental plan, you can dramatically reduce what you’re required to pay out of pocket, even when you consider premiums, deductibles, coinsurance, and copays.
Whether your insurance covers 50% of the cost or as much as 80%, you can save a lot of money, especially if the procedure will cost you hundreds or thousands of dollars!
Tips:
- Remember, you might be able to save some money if you have more than one problematic wisdom tooth extracted during the same appointment.
- If your insurance has an annual maximum and you need more than one wisdom tooth removed, you might be able to do one at a time over the course of two years to remain within coverage limits, and to save the most money possible.
Shop for Dental Insurance to Take Care of Your Wisdom Teeth
How much does wisdom teeth removal cost, particularly when a tooth is impacted? The straightforward answer is a lot! Thankfully, the simple act of signing up for high-quality dental insurance will allow you to get the best care, without needing to worry about the price tag.
It can be tough to sort through the many options on the dental insurance market these days, but Direct Benefits makes it easy to find the ideal plan for your needs. Browse and compare policies available in your area, and sign up whenever you’re ready. That way, you won’t have to live with the pain of an impacted wisdom tooth or the pain of paying for expensive treatment out-of-pocket!
Sources:
https://omegadentists.com/blog/wisdom-teeth-removal-cost/
https://www.authoritydental.org/wisdom-teeth-removal
http://www.nanookdental.com/procedures/wisdom-teeth-extractions/
https://www.webmd.com/oral-health/qa/how-much-does-wisdom-teeth-extraction-cost
https://health.costhelper.com/wisdom-teeth-removal.html
https://www.angieslist.com/articles/6-important-wisdom-teeth-questions-answered.htm