The cost of tooth extraction in Australia can vary depending on factors such as the type of tooth, type of required anesthesia, and if any additional work is needed. This blog post will provide you with information on what to expect during tooth extraction in Australia so that you are prepared for your next procedure. If you have health insurance, then your costs will be lower than the actual cost.
Tooth extraction is a dental treatment in which a single tooth or number of teeth are extracted from their sockets in the jaw bone. The tooth and its root structure determine the complexity of tooth removal. Molar teeth (back teeth), for example, are often more difficult to extract than other adjacent teeth.
Your dentist will determine if you need to refer to an oral surgeon or if they can perform the tooth extraction themselves. The dentist will administer either local anaesthesia or general anaesthesia during the procedure, depending on the type of tooth extraction (simple extraction or surgical extraction). It will keep the area around the damaged tooth numb during the extraction and prevent you from pain.
While tooth extraction is generally known as “having a tooth pulled,” it is actually a combination of rocking and pulling, known as luxation. The action gradually loosens the space in the bone where the tooth is placed and breaks the small fibres that attach the tooth to the bone.
Dental professionals recommend tooth extraction for several reasons. One of them is the following:
- Impacted wisdom tooth
- Advanced tooth decay or cavities
- Injured due to accidents
- Gum disease
- Infection
The priority is to preserve and save the natural tooth. However, if the infection and the affected tooth, neighbouring teeth, and gums may be compromised, your oral health tooth extraction is a viable treatment. It is also necessary if other dental restorations and treatments will not be able to save the tooth.
How Much Does Tooth Extraction Cost?
It can be challenging to discuss the specific cost of tooth extraction. The fee may range as various factors typically determine it. These include the severity of the procedure, location, the affected tooth (or teeth), etc.
If the procedure becomes quite complex, meaning that there is a lot more effort involved, you may have to pay more.
The following information is based on the survey conducted by the Australian Dental Association.
Simple extraction
Simple extractions are carried out without the need for an incision or any other special tooth removal techniques. Unlike complex procedures, this type of extraction involves removing visible teeth. Although most dentists do simple extractions, sometimes simple extraction cases are referred to oral surgeons.
The majority of simple extractions need only a local anaesthetic to numb the area surrounding the damaged tooth, including the gum, jaw bone, and teeth. The procedure is not painful, but you will experience a great deal of pressure during the extraction.
The average cost of simple extraction in Victoria, Australia, may range from $187.69 to $300.
Surgical extraction
Surgical tooth extraction is performed to remove an affected tooth that is typically beneath the gums. This type of extraction requires the surgeon (or dentist) to make an incision to expose the tooth.
Both a general dentist and an oral surgeon can perform a surgical extraction. An oral surgeon has the specific knowledge and skills needed to perform this type of removal safely. Surgical extractions take longer and may require the use of general anesthesia.
In contrast, the average cost of a surgical extraction like wisdom tooth removal may range between $284.67 and $2,300.
Most dental insurance will cover the expense of dental care partially. Thus, it may be helpful to contact your insurance provider to check whether they cover the procedure and how much the coverage will be.
If you don’t have insurance, you’ll have to pay the entire cost out-of-pocket, but a payment plan may be available. On top of the cost of the tooth extraction, you may be charged for other services. Such as the dental x-ray, which can cost $45.01 and an oral examination that may cost $50.54.
Factors that Affect the Cost of Tooth Extraction
The overall cost of a tooth extraction ranges and is determined by many factors.
As mentioned, it is always determined by the complexity of the procedure and additional techniques necessary to perform the removal process. (raising flaps, bone removal, and tooth division).
It may be helpful to inquire at the clinic ahead of time so that you can prepare.
Listed below are the factors that can influence the actual cost of your tooth removal procedure. These are the following, but are not limited to:
The location of the dental office.
Different countries and states have different fees for dental treatments. The dental office’s location also plays a role in determining how much each procedure they will offer. For instance, a dental office pays monthly for the rent, mortgage, taxes, supplies, etc. All these factors affect the average cost of specific dental treatments.
The type of extraction required for the case.
There are different types of tooth extraction, mainly simple extraction and surgical tooth extraction. Simple tooth extraction involves removing (rocking and pulling) a tooth that is visible at the gumline.
It is less invasive and typically less expensive. In contrast, surgical tooth extraction is recommended for more complex cases, such as removing impacted wisdom teeth. This procedure involves an incision in the gums and removing parts of the bone to expose the tooth. Hence, surgical removal can be more costly.
The expertise
If you have a more complicated tooth extraction, you may require or refer to a specialised oral surgeon. The dentist’s location and special expertise can be more costly. Furthermore, suppose you are living in a more remote area. In that case, the extraction may be more expensive due to the lower accessibility of resources in these areas, which costs the dental practise more money to stock items.
Insurance coverage
If you have private medical insurance, it’s essential that you choose a dental clinic that accepts the insurance company you’re with. This will help to keep out-of-pocket costs to a minimum. If you’ve recently joined a private health provider, make sure to check the waiting period, as most of these companies require you to wait 6-12 months before they’ll cover any dental procedures.
It is essential to schedule an appointment with a dentist or oral surgeon ahead of time to discuss the costs of the treatment.
Tooth Extraction and Insurance
The estimated rate of a tooth extraction varies depending on the conditions. For instance, a simple extraction is usually the most affordable option, although it can still be expensive without insurance coverage, making the cost still a burden for many people.
It is possible to pay less for tooth extractions if you have approved dental insurance.
According to Medicare, they do not cover most routine dental care and procedures, and patients are responsible for paying 100% for such non-covered services. Yet, in some cases, they can provide coverage if a person requires dental care to improve their general health or improve their chances of receiving a positive outcome from another approved service.
The following are the only instances in which Medicare may cover public-sector dentistry, such as tooth extractions:
- Treatment is medically required. If your oral health compromises your general health, there is a valid medical purpose, and you cannot afford the entire cost of treatment, you may be able to get covered. In most cases, you will require a referral from your primary care physician.
- Concession Card holders. Among these are Health Care Cards, Pensioner Concession Cards, and Commonwealth Seniors Health Cards.
- Child Dental Benefits Schedule. Children whose parents are eligible for Medicare may be covered by this plan.
What to Expect During a Tooth Extraction
Before pulling the tooth, your dentist will provide a local anaesthetic injection to numb the area where the tooth will be extracted. Your dentist may use strong general anesthesia in some more complex cases. This will prevent you from feeling pain during the procedure and put you to sleep during the operation.
You should not experience pain, but you may feel pressure against the tooth. They may also hear bone or tooth grinding and cracking. Some individuals find the experience distressing.
If you experience pain, they should inform the dentist or oral surgeon right away. But, be careful not to confuse firm pressure with pain to avoid inducing unnecessary anaesthesia.
When a tooth is extracted, a blood clot typically forms in the socket. The dentist will insert a gauze pad into the socket and advise you to bite down on it to stop the bleeding. To close the gum lines over the extraction site, the dentist may place a few stitches, which usually are self-dissolving.
FAQs About Tooth Extractions
Benefits of tooth extraction
Patients often complain of dental pain when they see the dentist. Common causes include stuck debris and dental decay, which are simple oral problems that can be treated. But there are other underlying causes for such distress. Most likely, you have an infection that has spread to the tooth roots or a wisdom tooth that has emerged. Untreated, it causes more discomfort. If the dental issue is severe, removing the tooth is the only option.
It solves your dental problem.
An infection in the tooth can spread quickly, making treatment more difficult. When this occurs, the issue becomes more complicated and needs additional dental treatments. Not only that, but postponing treatment will increase your pain and discomfort. The damage to the tooth is already severe and irreversible at this point. Simply put, the only solution is to extract the tooth.
Saving your remaining teeth
One significant risk that dentists attempt to minimise is allowing a cavity or infection to spread to neighbouring teeth. Unfortunately, some patients are only aware of this until it is too late. The infection has already infected the remaining teeth. This will necessitate additional treatments and more complex dental procedures. If the treatment is not provided appropriately, you may lose more than one or two teeth. That is why tooth removal is necessary to prevent infection from spreading to neighbouring teeth and possibly the surrounding tissues and bones.
Save Your Teeth
Broken or damaged teeth are not only unpleasant, but they can also cause nerve death or the formation of an abscess, which may require extraction if the infection or damage has progressed beyond effective endodontic repair. As soon as you notice or suffer a broken tooth or noticeable fracture lines, you must seek treatment from a specialist.
Achieve a healthier and new, beautiful smile.
Dentists may recommend removing a tooth even though there is no problem with it. Overcrowding causes crooked teeth in some people, as it does in orthodontics. It indicates that there are more teeth than the patient’s mouth can accommodate or that the teeth are all too big to fit in the mouth. Typically, the solution is to extract a tooth, such as a molar extraction, so that the other teeth can adjust to their normal positions. This eventually leads to a more attractive smile.
Potential risks and complications of tooth extraction include:
Tooth extractions are a common dental treatment that is typically performed efficiently and safely. However, there are risks, like any medical procedure.
A dry socket is the most common complication after tooth extraction. A dry socket occurs when the blood clot at the tooth extraction site does not form, dislodges or dissolves before the lesion heals. It can cause intense, throbbing pain, which usually starts a few days after the procedure. It can also cause bad breath. If you are in severe pain 2–3 days after surgery, contact your dentist.Though a dry socket can be painful, it is rarely dangerous if treated immediately.
Other possible problems can be experienced after tooth extraction, such as the following:
- Bleeding
- Swelling
- Inflammation
- Pain
Serious risks should be observed for days after tooth extraction. If you experience any of the following, contact your dentist immediately:
- Pus or discharge at the extraction site.
- Excessive bleeding that lasts longer than 12 hours.
- High fever and chills can be an indication of an infection.
- Chest pain
- Jaw fracture
- Nearby teeth around the extracted tooth may be damaged.
- If the extracted tooth is in the upper back of the mouth, this will cause a sinus hole.
- The numbness can be permanent in very rare cases.
Alternatives to tooth extraction
The most common alternative to extraction is root canal therapy. If the tooth’s nerve or pulp is infected or damaged, the dentist can recommend a root canal. The nerve and pulp are removed during a root canal treatment, and the inside of the tooth is cleaned and sealed.
However, tooth extraction may be necessary if the affected tooth is so severely damaged that dental fillings, crowns, or other dental treatments cannot restore the tooth.