How Much Does Wisdom Teeth Extraction Cost?

When your third set of molars starts causing you discomfort, you may find that you are avoiding the dentist as long as possible to avoid the fees that come along with wisdom teeth extraction cary nc .  While not everyone has to have their wisdom teeth removed because they have room in their mouth or the teeth will not create any issues for your other teeth, most people have to have their wisdom teeth removed.  If the dentist has determined that wisdom teeth removal is the best treatment plan for you, then you will need to plan for the cost of the teeth removal.  The cost is determined by the complication of your case, the number of teeth the pre-surgery needs, the anesthesia you choose and the geographic location of the dental office.

Generally speaking the tooth can be erupted, impacted under the gum, impacted partially under bone or impacted fully under bone.  Erupted wisdom teeth are molars that have started to break through the gums.  Impacted under soft tissue wisdom teeth are teeth that have not broken through the gums and are stuck in place.  Impacted partially under bone wisdom teeth are unable to break through the gums because they are partially blocked by the jaw bone.  Impacted fully under the bone are wisdom teeth that can’t break through the gum tissue as the jaw bone has completely blocked the way.  Erupted extractions cost less than impacted fully under bone.  The price for erupted teeth can range from $200 - $700 a tooth, impacted under the gum can range from $250 to $850, impacted partially under bone can range from $300 to $950, and impacted fully under bone can range from $350 to $1,100 a tooth.  To determine a narrower range than $200 to $1,100, the dentist needs to consider the state of your wisdom teeth and any additional procedures that you may need for the best results.

The dentist may need to perform an exam, take a panoramic x-ray, periapical x-ray, or even cone beam CT.  Your average dental exam will cost between $50 to $200 for the dentist to properly review your wisdom teeth removal needs.  The dentist will want to look at the teeth completely with the use of an x-ray or radiographic image.  Panoramic x-rays cost between $100 to $250, periapical x-rays cost between $25 and $50 and cone beam CTs cost between $150 and $750.

Depending on the condition of your teeth and the type of procedure your dentist will perform you may have the choice between local anesthesia, moderate sedation or deep sedation.  Each of these can vary between $100 to $450 depending on the complication of the extraction and your comfort level.  Some people are more anxious in general at the dentist so a deeper sedation is important to allow for the dentist to be able to complete the procedure.  If the extraction involves a fully impacted under bone tooth, then a deeper sedation is recommended due to the more complicated procedure.

Does insurance cover wisdom tooth removal?

If you do not have dental insurance, you may face large bills before the end of your treatment plan for your wisdom tooth extraction.   It is important to reach out to the dental office staff to talk about payment plan options.  If you have medical insurance, you may find that your medical insure will cover part of the procedure.

If you do have dental insurance, be sure to reach out to the company to talk about what your policy will cover and how much you will be expected to contribute.  Even with dental insurance, you be responsible for some of the cost.  Planning for the upcoming dental bills now will help keep you from spending more on dental emergencies from ignoring your wisdom teeth in the future.

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