Wisdom Teeth Removal Costs With & Without Insurance

Wisdom Teeth Removal Costs with and Without Insurance

For most people, the last set of adult teeth to emerge is a third set of molars, known as wisdom teeth. About 90% of people have at least one impacted wisdom tooth (a tooth that a dentist predicts won’t grow in properly), which is why wisdom teeth removal is a common oral surgery.¹ Let’s explore how much wisdom teeth removal can cost without insurance and how to help reduce these costs with dental insurance.

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Key Takeaways

Removing wisdom teeth can cost an average of $1,200 to $4,175 without insurance.² However, dental insurance can help significantly reduce these costs. For instance, if your dental insurance plan covers 50% of major procedures, removing 4 impacted wisdom teeth could cost $1,000 instead of $2,000.
Teeth that have already erupted are the least costly to extract, while impacted teeth already encased in the jawbone can cost more.
The cost of wisdom teeth removal varies significantly depending on the complexity of the procedure and your insurance.

When is wisdom teeth removal necessary?

Some of the reasons why wisdom tooth removal becomes necessary include:¹

Impaction: If a wisdom tooth can’t fully erupt from the gum, it can become impacted, which means it’s stuck below the gumline. This can lead to decay, plaque buildup, and infection because you can’t properly care for an obstructed tooth.
Risk of crowding other teeth: Erupted, visible teeth can crowd others, moving them out of position or making them difficult to care for.
Developing cysts: Impacted wisdom teeth can cause sacs of fluid to form in the jawbone, which may damage the bone, tooth, and nerve.
Risk of causing inflammation, tooth decay, or dental disease: Even non-impacted wisdom teeth may bother gums or nerves in your mouth and complicate oral care.

Removing wisdom teeth can help prevent these problems before they occur.

How much does wisdom teeth removal cost without insurance?

The average cost of a wisdom tooth extraction ranges from $1,200 to $4,175.² The cost with insurance is typically more manageable, but it’s important to understand the out-of-pocket costs per tooth without dental insurance:²

Type of extraction	Description	Average cost range
Simple	Tooth is visible above the gum line.	$137-$335
Surgical	Tooth can’t be easily removed, requiring bone removal, gum incisions or breaking the tooth into pieces.	$281-$702
Soft tissue impaction	Tooth hasn’t fully erupted through the gum.	$325-$829
Fully bony impaction	Tooth is fully encased in the jawbone.	$413-$1,041
Complicated impaction	Tooth is fully encased in the jawbone or partially buried beneath the gum and bone.	$639-$1,620

Factors that affect the cost of wisdom teeth removal

It’s important to understand these major factors that can affect the cost of wisdom teeth removal:

Number of wisdom teeth that need to be extracted

Sometimes, people only need one or two wisdom teeth removed, while other patients need all four. Extractions are priced per tooth. Although some dentists may offer volume discounts, keep in mind that you can still end up paying more for multiple extractions.

Condition of your teeth

Your wisdom teeth removal will generally cost less if your wisdom teeth have already come in. But if they’re stuck under the gumline or in the jawbone, the price goes up — mainly because of the anesthesia needed. Some extractions can be done with just a local anesthetic, while more complicated cases may require sedation.

Whether you have dental insurance

Most dental insurance policies consider wisdom teeth extraction a medical necessity. Depending on your policy, your provider may help cover part of the cost.

Your location

Dental costs are usually higher in places where the cost of living is higher. Cities can be more expensive than rural areas, requiring higher salaries and operating costs, like rent. To keep up with these costs, dentists in those areas often have to charge more for their services.

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How much does wisdom teeth removal cost with dental insurance?

Dental insurance usually does not cover the full cost of wisdom teeth removal. Dental policies often use 100/80/50 terms, which means your insurance provider will cover 100% of preventative care, 80% of basic procedures, and 50% of major procedures.

Wisdom teeth can be considered a basic or major procedure, depending on whether your teeth have erupted or are impacted. For example:

The dentist charges $1,200 to extract fully erupted teeth. The insurance company covers 80% of basic procedures, which means you pay 20% of $1,200, or $240.
The dentist charges $2,000 to surgically extract four teeth that are fully impacted. The insurance company covers 50% of major procedures, which means you pay 50% of $2,000, or $1,000.

Additionally, it’s important to note that most dental insurance plans have an annual maximum coverage amount. Review your plan or contact a representative from your insurance company before a major procedure to figure out how much you’ll be responsible for paying. Pricing differs from carrier to carrier.

What costs does Aflac dental insurance help cover?

Aflac dental insurance helps cover a range of services and procedures. Aflac’s 100/80/50 coverage can help reduce your out-of-pocket costs, even on certain procedures for serious issues.

Get a quote for Aflac dental insurance

Many of us may have at least one wisdom tooth extracted in our lives. Getting your wisdom teeth out is a major dental procedure that can be expensive without dental insurance. Learn about the benefits of Aflac dental insurance and how it can help reduce your out-of-pocket costs. Discuss your coverage options with an Aflac agent and get a policy quote today.

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