Impacted Wisdom Tooth Extraction Cost and Procedure Guide

One of the common (and often uncomfortable) rites of passage from childhood into early adulthood is the emergence of wisdom teeth. These third molars are called wisdom teeth because they often occur as a child is maturing into young adulthood, typically from the age of 17 to 21.¹

Sometimes, wisdom teeth are present but don't erupt through the gums like other molars. These impacted wisdom teeth often have to be surgically removed (extracted) to prevent potential harm to other teeth or the jawbone.¹

Read on to learn about the symptoms of impacted wisdom teeth, when to get them removed, how much you can expect to pay and more.

What Is an Impacted Wisdom Tooth?

Impacted wisdom teeth are molars without enough space in a person's jaw to come through, therefore getting stuck in the jaw or gums. If left alone, they could eventually crowd out the rest of the teeth, as well as cause other problems ranging from infection to bone loss. Dentists often recommend wisdom tooth removal to prevent these potential issues from occurring.¹

Symptoms

Symptoms of an impacted wisdom tooth that may need to be removed can include:²

• Bad breath
• Pain in the gums or jaw
• Redness or swelling of the gums
• Tenderness or bleeding in the gums
• Trouble opening the mouth

Further problems that necessitate immediate removal of wisdom teeth include:¹

• Cavities that can't be fixed
• Cysts or tumors in neighboring gums
• Infections
• Periodontal disease in the neighboring teeth
• The wisdom teeth are causing damage to neighboring teeth

Types

While it's common to have impacted wisdom teeth, not every one is impacted in the same way. There are four types of impactions, all of which relate to tooth positioning:³

• Mesial impaction. This is the most common type of impaction, resulting from the wisdom tooth being angled toward the front of the mouth.
• Vertical impaction. This is when the wisdom tooth is in the right place, but it remains trapped below the gums.
• Horizontal impaction. This is when the wisdom tooth is angled on its side. Horizontally impacted wisdom teeth can cause the most pain due to the pressure they place on the teeth ahead of them.
• Distal impaction. This occurs when a wisdom tooth comes in angled toward the back of the mouth.

Treatment

The best way to get a good look at the state of wisdom teeth is for a dentist or oral surgeon to perform an X-ray.¹ If the teeth are determined to be impacted, a dentist will typically make one of two recommendations:

1. Observe and monitor the impacted teeth. If worrisome symptoms such as pain or swelling aren't present, the dentist may monitor the impacted wisdom teeth with regular checkups or until symptoms develop.¹
2. Surgical removal. If it has been determined that the impacted wisdom teeth should be removed, the dentist will likely provide a referral to an oral surgeon.⁴

Wisdom Tooth vs. Impacted Wisdom Tooth Removal

Wisdom teeth that have emerged through the gums can be removed in much the same way other molars are removed: anesthetic is applied, and the tooth is pulled. Impacted wisdom teeth, on the other hand, are trapped under the gums and require surgical extraction.⁴

How Much Does It Cost to Remove Impacted Wisdom Teeth?

The national average cost* to remove impacted wisdom teeth is $363 per tooth, but the cost can range from $281 to $702 per tooth, depending on where the extraction takes place, type of anesthetic used and other factors.⁵

Average cost of impacted wisdom teeth removal by state/district

Below is a breakdown of the average cost* of impacted wisdom teeth removal across all 50 states and the District of Columbia:⁵

These costs do not reflect any cost reduction that may be provided by a health insurance plan or dental discount plan.⁵

How Impacted Wisdom Teeth Are Removed

Wisdom tooth removal surgery is typically done by an oral surgeon as an outpatient procedure, meaning the patient can go home on the day of surgery.²

Procedure

Depending upon the patient's health profile and comfort level, they will receive either intravenous (IV) anesthesia or general anesthesia, where they are asleep for the procedure. Once the patient is fully numb or asleep, the surgeon will cut through the gum tissue covering the wisdom teeth, use handheld instruments to extract any bone covering the teeth and remove the teeth. The areas will then be stitched closed.²

Recovery

The patient should not experience any pain during the procedure, though there will be some soreness and swelling for several days afterward. Light bleeding may occur within the 24-hour period following the extraction and can be controlled with gauze. If heavy bleeding or bleeding that continues after that first 24 hours occurs, the patient should contact the oral surgeon right away.²

With age comes wisdom — and wisdom teeth. But if they become impacted, they might need to be extracted. Visit your dentist regularly so they can keep an eye on your wisdom teeth and check for signs of impaction.

Financing Impacted Wisdom Tooth Removal With the CareCredit Credit Card

Whether you're getting your impacted wisdom teeth removed or you're simply paying for a dental exam, the CareCredit credit card can help you pay for costs not covered by insurance.** Use our Acceptance Locator to find a dentist or oral surgeon near you that accepts CareCredit. Use the CareCredit credit card, again and again, to pay for your health and wellness wants and needs, and download the CareCredit Mobile App to manage your account, find a provider on the go and easily access the Well U blog for more great articles, podcasts and videos.

In addition to dental care, you can also use your CareCredit credit card for pet care, cosmetic, vision, hearing, health systems, dermatology, pharmacy purchases, spa treatments and so much more within the CareCredit network. How will you invest in your health and wellness next?

Author Bio

Jordan Rosenfeld has been freelance writing for 21 years about finances, health, education and more. Her work has appeared in The Atlantic, The Billfold, Good Magazine, GOBankingRates, Daily Worth, Quartz, Medical Economics, The New York Times, PayPal, The Washington Post and more.