How Much Does Wisdom Teeth Removal Cost?
The average cost of wisdom teeth removal is $650, according to recent reviews from RealSelf members. However, patients pay anywhere from a $600 copay to $2,900 without insurance.
The price you pay will depend on your insurance coverage, how many adult teeth you’re having removed, the type of anesthesia you have, the overall complexity of the procedure, your provider’s level of experience, and a few more key factors.
Related: Everything You Need to Know About Wisdom Teeth Removal
Is the cost of extracting wisdom teeth worth it?
Of 16 RealSelf members who have reviewed their procedure, 100% agree that wisdom teeth removal is Worth It.
Though it's an expensive procedure, wisdom teeth removal can prevent more serious (and far more costly) oral health problems from occurring down the road. Ignoring a misaligned or impacted wisdom tooth can have serious consequences.
Wisdom teeth (also called a mandibular third molar) often don't have enough room to grow, sometimes resulting in an impacted tooth that's stuck below the gum line.
Some begin to erupt and stop in place, causing cysts or abscesses to develop and allowing bacteria to grow around the tooth and under the gums, while others crowd and damage neighboring teeth. Some may trap food or be difficult to floss, giving cavity-causing bacteria a place to grow.
That said, the procedure isn't worth it for everyone. In 2016, the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS) advised their members in a white paper titled Management of Third Molar Teeth that their “best evidence-based data” showed that while wisdom teeth that “in the absence of disease or significant risk of disease, active clinical and radiographic surveillance [not removal] is indicated.” This means that if you aren’t experiencing pain, severe overcrowding, or disease due to your wisdom teeth, you probably don’t need to have them removed.
They go on to point out that “given the documented high incidence of problems associated with third molars over time, all patients should be evaluated by someone experienced and expert in third molar management.”
Basically, ask your dentist or oral surgeon if this surgery is right for you—and don’t be afraid to seek a second opinion.
What affects the cost of wisdom teeth removal?
The cost of wisdom teeth removal varies widely, depending on:
1) How many teeth you have removed
Some lucky people are only born with one or two wisdom teeth, and patients always have the choice to forgo surgery on healthy teeth.
That said, even if only a few of your wisdom teeth show signs of infection, many dentists and oral and maxillofacial surgeons (OMS) will recommend extracting them all at the same time to save you pain and the cost of a second procedure down the road.
Most providers charge per tooth, so the number of wisdom teeth you have removed could have a big impact on the overall cost of the procedure. However, some oral surgeons and dentists offer discounts for removing all four wisdom teeth at once.
2) The complexity of your procedure
Most wisdom teeth require surgical extraction, but the price per tooth can vary a lot, depending on the type of extraction you need. Wisdom teeth extraction can also be more complicated and expensive as the patient ages because the roots of the teeth become more deeply embedded and fully formed.
A simple extraction is possible when the tooth has fully erupted above the jawbone and gumline. For a simple extraction, providers charge $75 to $200 per tooth, or up to $800 for all four teeth.
Wisdom teeth become impacted when there isn’t enough room in the mouth for them to fully erupt.
Removing impacted wisdom teeth costs between $250 and $600 per tooth, depending on the type of impaction.
A removal procedure that involves soft tissue impaction (when the tooth is only covered by gum tissue) will cost less than a more complex, time-consuming extraction that involves partial or complete bony impaction (when the tooth is still encased in the jawbone).
3) Your provider's credentials and level of experience
Both oral surgeons and general dentists are qualified to remove wisdom teeth, but oral surgeons are dental specialists who have undergone additional training and are certified to administer general anesthesia sedation if needed.
For anything beyond a simple extraction, it's likely that you'll need a board-certified oral surgeon. But because of their specialized training, they tend to charge more than dentists.
4) Their practice location
You'll pay a premium for a dentist or oral surgeon who practices in an area where the cost of living and demand for wisdom teeth removal is high.
Sometimes it comes down to whether their dental office is in an upscale neighborhood (with amenities and decor to match) or the outskirts of town, with a more modest set-up.
5) The type of anesthesia you have and who administers it
Depending on how complex your surgery is, your doctor will likely give you a choice of general or local anesthesia. While some providers offer IV sedation, most use nitrous oxide, which typically costs under $100, to keep you relaxed and comfortable.
General anesthesia costs between $250 and $800 because it's administered by either a nurse anesthetist (CRNA) or an anesthesiologist (MD), who also monitors you throughout the procedure. Anesthesia fees will be lower for a CRNA than an MD, but some surgeons and patients prefer the expertise of a doctor, especially for a longer procedure.
6) Pre- and post-procedure care
While wisdom teeth removal is a common outpatient dental procedure, it still requires care before and after surgery. In addition to anesthesia and the surgeon’s fees, you may have additional costs for a pre-surgery consultation, x-rays (which can cost up to $150), pain medication, and follow-up exams that may or may not be fully covered by your insurance provider.
Does dental insurance cover wisdom tooth removal?
If wisdom teeth removal is deemed medically necessary or a dental emergency, most insurance plans will cover 50-80% of wisdom tooth extraction costs.
However, most dental insurance companies place an annual limit on how much they will pay for all dental care (typically $1,000-1,500). For this reason, some people split wisdom teeth removal into two years to ensure more coverage.
Before committing to any form of oral surgery, check your individual dental insurance plan's policies to see what they cover for dental issues like wisdom teeth removal. You may also be able to use money from a health savings account, depending on the details of your plan.
How can you pay for wisdom tooth extraction without insurance?
It’s possible to get help paying for wisdom teeth removal even without dental insurance. If you’re concerned about the cost, talk to your dentist or oral surgeon about what kinds of payment plans and package deals their practice offers.
Some may allow you to break down the surgery’s cost into smaller payments over time or give you a discount for having multiple wisdom teeth removed simultaneously.
Another option is to enroll in a discount dental plan, a program that allows you to pay one low annual fee and receive 20-50% discounts on dental procedures within a network of dentists who offer reduced prices.
If you or your family are considered low-income, you can also look into what dental assistance programs are available in your area.