Wisdom teeth are known for causing many problems. They can cause severe pain, infections and other dental issues. Wisdom tooth extraction is an invasive procedure that is commonly performed either in a dental office or in a private hospital.
If you have been diagnosed with impacted wisdom teeth, you are likely wondering how much wisdom teeth removal will cost. This blog post aims to answer this question by exploring some common questions about the cost of wisdom tooth removal surgery. Read on to find out more!
Content Navigation
- 1 What are Wisdom Teeth?
- 2 Why Do I Need Them Removed?
- 3 How Much is Wisdom Teeth Removal
- 4 Does Insurance Cover the Cost of Wisdom Teeth Removal
- 5 Does Medicare Cover the Cost of Wisdom Teeth Removal
- 6 Factors That Can Affect the Cost of Wisdom Teeth Extraction
- 7 Different Payment Options to Help Manage the Cost for Wisdom Teeth Extraction
- 8 Final Thoughts
What are Wisdom Teeth?
Wisdom teeth, or 3rd molars, are the last teeth to grow, typically during the late teens to early twenties. These are the teeth further back in the dental arch. Although most people have wisdom teeth, some or all of the third molars may not develop. Occasionally, a person can have more than four wisdom teeth. In some cases, they are often not visible as they are impacted beneath the gum tissue.
Wisdom teeth are known as such because they appear so late, much later than all the other teeth, at an age when people are generally wiser than they were when the other teeth first emerged.
Why Do I Need Them Removed?
It is not necessary to have all of your wisdom teeth removed. They are extracted to relieve crowding or other problems that cause discomfort or prevent you from chewing properly. If they become unhealthy, particularly if an infection is affecting the jaw bone, they may be removed.
Wisdom teeth pain
The extreme pain from wisdom teeth can be unbearable. It’s essential to see your dentist if you’re experiencing tooth pain. They’ll assess whether the problem lies with the wisdom teeth or something else. Sometimes, the considerable pain will likely go away with time, and no wisdom teeth surgery will be required.
Impacted wisdom teeth
Wisdom teeth that have become impacted are a dental issue that can cause discomfort, harm other teeth, and even lead to severe dental problems. However, impacted wisdom teeth may sometimes produce no problems at all. Since they are tough to clean, they are more prone to tooth decay and gum disease than other teeth.
If wisdom teeth are causing suffering or other dental issues, they are typically removed. Some dentists and dental surgeons, on the other hand, recommend removing impacted wisdom teeth that do not exhibit symptoms to avoid future dental problems.
Tooth decay
The location of wisdom teeth has an impact on how effectively germs are eliminated. Partially impacted wisdom teeth are more prone to tooth decay (caries) than other teeth. This is due to the fact that they are more difficult to clean, plus food debris and bacteria easily accumulate between the gum and the partially erupted tooth.
Teeth may go through the process of tooth decay if they aren’t adequately cleaned, whether caused by improper brushing or a hidden bacterial infection. Pockets between your teeth can develop if your gums are inflamed and irritated, allowing germs to spread to other teeth or areas in the mouth.
Infection
Wisdom tooth emergency extraction is frequently caused by pericoronitis. It commonly occurs when wisdom teeth have not fully erupted in the lower jaw but may also happen in the upper third molars. A gum infection is characterised by red, swollen gum tissue behind the last visible molar, an unpleasant or offensive taste/odour, jaw pain when chewing with the back teeth, and pus draining from the area.
Also, the condition can cause swelling around the gums, cheeks, and other jaw regions. A swelling can put pressure on nearby tissues and radiate to the ear, resulting in an earache. If an infection is suspected, an ear infection or sinusitis needs to be examined since they may cause unbearable pain throughout the mouth.
Abscess
A tooth abscess is an infection in which pus builds up in the tooth pulp. An abscess can develop between a tooth’s root and gum tissue or between a tooth and the flap of gum tissue that partially covers it like in the case of an impacted tooth.
An abscess can form in any of your teeth, but wisdom teeth are particularly susceptible since they tend to accumulate bacteria that causes them. It is because they are difficult to clean and floss as they are positioned at the back of the mouth. This is common when the wisdom tooth has only partially erupted.
An abscess can manifest various symptoms. These include:
- Gums that hurt when chewing
- Swelling of gums
- Persistent toothache
- A throbbing pain near the wisdom tooth
Additional symptoms include:
- Bad breath
- Unpleasant taste in the mouth
- Fever
If you have a fever or are having trouble swallowing and breathing due to inflammation, it is a dental emergency. Therefore, you should immediately visit a dentist if this situation arises. It is considered an emergency since the infection might spread to your jaw, surrounding tissues, or even other areas of your body. While you are waiting to see the dentist, rinse your mouth several times a day with a salt and warm water solution to alleviate any discomfort.
How Much is Wisdom Teeth Removal
The cost of a wisdom tooth extraction varies based on the level of complexity of your treatment. The less complicated the wisdom tooth removal procedure is, the less expensive your treatment will be.
Simple wisdom teeth removal cost – The cost of a simple extraction of wisdom teeth in Melbourne can range from $250 to $400 per tooth, depending on the complexity of the dental process.
Impacted wisdom teeth removal cost – An extraction of wisdom teeth done by an oral surgeon would cost between $450 to $600.
Having the wisdom teeth removed under general anaesthesia in Australia should cost around $1,500 to $3,000 per tooth.
Cost to remove all four wisdom teeth – A tooth extraction using a local anaesthetic for all four teeth may cost $2,322 in Australia, according to the 2020 national dental fee survey.
Does Insurance Cover the Cost of Wisdom Teeth Removal
To obtain wisdom tooth surgery covered, you’ll need a high level of extras. Wisdom teeth removals are occasionally covered by private health insurance with extra benefits such as required because of an impacted tooth. Most add-on plans cover essential dental treatments, such as fillings, but not major dental procedures like wisdom tooth extractions.
Does Medicare Cover the Cost of Wisdom Teeth Removal
Medicare does not cover all dental care in Australia, so the expense of wisdom tooth extraction is not generally reimbursed. It implies that an out-of-pocket expense will be required.
Factors That Can Affect the Cost of Wisdom Teeth Extraction
The wisdom tooth removal cost depends on several factors such as:
The number of wisdom teeth to be removed
It may be more expensive at first to have all of your wisdom teeth removed at once, but it might be the cheapest option in the long run since the anaesthetist expenses will only need to be paid once. In addition, the recovery time is about the same whether one or all four wisdom teeth are extracted so that you won’t be down and out for long.
Complexity
In general, a complex wisdom tooth removal has a higher cost than a simple wisdom teeth removal procedure.
If you have a non-impacted wisdom tooth (one that has erupted through the gums and grown naturally) being extracted chairside under a local anesthetic, you may pay a lower wisdom teeth removal price.
However, if you have an impacted wisdom tooth or teeth (a tooth that grows at an angle beneath or partially above the gum and undermines nearby teeth), your wisdom teeth removal cost is undoubtedly higher. It is because complex wisdom teeth removal frequently requires hospitalization. Therefore, the wisdom tooth extraction price is more likely to be in the thousands rather than the hundreds.
Profession fee
Professional charges are another aspect that affects wisdom tooth extraction costs. Although the Australian Dental Association (ADA) has set fee guidelines for many procedures, these regulations do not cover wisdom teeth extractions. For this reason, you would be charged more if you were to visit a specialist orthodontist dental clinic versus a general dentist in private practice. The cost of wisdom tooth extractions executed by an experienced general dentist who has removed multiple wisdom teeth is likely to be higher than its cost by a dentist with fewer than ten wisdom teeth removed.
Overhead cost: Wisdom tooth extraction is commonly done with a local anesthetic. In certain situations, dental x-rays, general anesthesia, or a CT jaw scan are required, adding to the cost of the procedure.
Different Payment Options to Help Manage the Cost for Wisdom Teeth Extraction
In-house Finance Payment Plan
Wisdom teeth removal surgery is not always covered by a health insurance policy, and it may be costly depending on the circumstances. Because of this, you’ll have to pay out-of-pocket costs if you want to get a wisdom tooth extraction. Your dentist may provide you with a flexible financing option that would allow you to receive the treatment right away while spreading the payments out over time for several years.
Afterpay
Quality dental treatment can be made more affordable with Afterpay. It allows patients to pay for dental services in four equal instalments. You do not need to worry about incurring additional fees for booking appointments on interest-free credit, provided all payments are made on time and within the outlined two-week span. Additionally, Afterpay allows you to get up to $1,400 worth of dental treatments.
Humm
You can choose from two types of products: Buy Big Things and Buy Little Things.
Buy Big Things: As soon as your application is approved online or through the app, you’ll get a $5,000 credit. The repayment period can be 6, 12 or 24 months, or monthly instalments up to 60 months.
Buy Little Things: You may be eligible for up to $2,000. A repayment schedule of five fortnightly or ten weekly instalments is in place. In addition, once your balance is paid off, you are free to start spending again.
Zippay
Zip Pay is used when patients are getting minor treatments for less than $1,000. On the other hand, they also offer Zip Money, which covers procedures of more than $1,000. The repayment plan is flexible, allowing payments to be made weekly, fortnightly or monthly. However, payments are required to be made for at least $40 per month.
By making only the minimum payments, your balance will not be paid off in full before the interest-free period expires. After that, a 19.90% APR plus a $6 monthly account fee will be applied to your remaining balance.
Final Thoughts
If you are considering having surgical extraction of your third molars, it is vital to know the costs of wisdom teeth removal. Wisdom tooth extraction can be expensive, and many people don’t realize that they need to prepare for this expense in advance.
Before you decide to remove your wisdom teeth, it’s essential that you discuss potential costs with an affordable option with an expert dentist who has experience in this field. This will allow for an accurate assessment based on what your insurance coverage may or may not provide and any other factors. We would love to give you more information about our dentistry services or answer any questions you might have. Contact us today at 03-7003 2011 or book an appointment online for a consultation.
We look forward to hearing from you soon!