Having your wisdom teeth removed is so common, it’s almost become a high school rite of passage. So, as a parent, you’re naturally expecting this eventual cost. And the good news is that your dental insurance is definitely going to help you out; wisdom tooth extractions are a preventative procedure.
But that’s all vague; how much does it cost to remove wisdom teeth? That depends on a variety of factors, but most oral surgeons will perform wisdom teeth extractions for anywhere from $300 to $700 per tooth. Let’s explain how the cost of a wisdom tooth excision is affected by insurance coverage, billing methods, and the level of complication of the procedure.
Will Insurance Pay the Wisdom Teeth Removal Cost?
In most cases, insurance will pay for all or most of the cost of the procedure. Most wisdom teeth extractions are not cosmetic — they are done out of medical necessity. If your dentist or maxillofacial surgeon maintains that removing your wisdom teeth is critical to your dental health, the procedure will be covered by insurance. Your dental insurance would much rather help you cover a simple preventative oral surgery than several more intensive ones later, should wisdom teeth left unchecked cause other issues in your mouth.
The exact amount of coverage will depend on the quality of your insurance plan. We can speak to your insurance company to see how much will be covered. Keep in mind that most insurance plans will cap coverage at a certain amount. Because of this, it’s important to plan expensive procedures like wisdom teeth removal around a time you aren’t getting other costly treatments done. This will ensure that your insurance coverage is able to pay for a greater portion of the wisdom teeth removal cost.
Wilmington Oral Surgery Dramatically Lowers the Cost to Remove Wisdom Teeth
If you noticed our wording above, we said “most oral surgeons” when we estimated the average cost to remove wisdom teeth. The good news is Dr. Puckett is better than most — for a number of reasons. Our affordable cost and gentler approach to oral surgery is why so many people are willing to make the drive from Cincinnati, Dayton, and Columbus. We make it worth their effort.
Compared to other maxillofacial surgeons, we can save our patients $600 to $1,000 on the price to remove wisdom teeth, depending on the location of the teeth and if the teeth are impacted. We do this by taking a careful approach to surgery and insurance stipulations. We’re able to provide as good if not better quality of treatment for less because we care. We’ve taken the time to lower the cost.
- First, we only charge for the anesthesia time required. Most oral surgeons will charge for the ‘insurance allowed’ anesthesia time (60 minutes in four 15-minute increments), even when the procedure usually takes far fewer than 60 minutes.
- Second, we only code for the actual position of the teeth — we’ll never code to a higher level. This alone can save you up to $100 per tooth. It’s all about fairness. We like to treat our patients right.
- Third, we base our fees on a fair and reasonable understanding of our costs and value of the service provided. We do not base our fees on the recommended amounts listed in the ‘Fee Schedule’ book which most oral surgery and dental offices use.
- Finally, we don’t allow the insurance company to dictate your needs. This is your mouth, your dental care after all. We advocate with your priorities in mind. Dr. Puckett won’t let the insurance companies push you around.
Our oral surgery practice is patient-focused, and that includes helping our patients manage and reduce costs for wisdom tooth procedures that they need. We do everything we can to lower the expense of removing wisdom teeth; you get the care you need for less than nearly anywhere else.
The Longer You Put Off Wisdom Teeth Surgery, the More It Costs
Unless a dentist or oral surgeon specifically tells you that you don’t need your wisdom teeth removed, you should plan to have them out, even if they erupt and don’t cause any discomfort. Wisdom teeth can become impacted, they can shift your other teeth and change your bite, and they’re a greater risk for decay, abscesses and infections. These complications will make extracting the wisdom teeth more expensive because the procedure will be much more involved.
So, what if you have waited several years and high school is long behind you now? While it’s true you can have your wisdom teeth extracted at any age, the older you get, the more complicated and expensive the procedure becomes. That’s why we recommend having your wisdom teeth removed in your early 20s at the latest. This will cause less damage to your surrounding teeth, fewer problems with your jawbone, and will heal more quickly.
Ask Your Oral Surgeon if You Need Your Wisdom Teeth Extracted
All that being said, some lucky individuals don’t need to have their wisdom teeth removed. If the new teeth don’t crowd the surrounding teeth, and they are coming in at a healthy angle, the time and expense of a wisdom tooth surgery might not be necessary, so long as you can properly care for those new molars – they’re way back there.
However, opting out of wisdom tooth removal isn’t a decision to make on your own if you’ve got your long-term health in mind. It’s best to have your wisdom teeth inspected by a dentist or oral surgeon over time to see if you are developing any problems and will need to have them taken out.
