How Much Does Wisdom Teeth Removal Cost?

Your wisdom teeth are an important part of your dental health that you shouldn't ignore. Not everyone needs to get their wisdom teeth removed. But if your jaw isn't big enough, your wisdom teeth could cause all sorts of problems, from crowding the rest of your teeth to leaving you susceptible to major infections.¹

You can't always tell if you need your wisdom teeth removed, which is why it's so important to see your dentist regularly.¹ The sooner your wisdom teeth are taken out, the less complicated the procedure will likely be.²

What Are Wisdom Teeth?

Your third set of molars are nicknamed "wisdom teeth" because they typically arrive when you're between the ages of 17 and 21 (when people tend to be maturing).¹ But they may come in when you're as young as 12 or 13, or not until your early 20s.³

Wisdom teeth are your last set of molars, located in the very back of your mouth. Most people have four (one in each corner). However, some people only develop one or two wisdom teeth, and others never develop any.⁴

Over time, human jaws have gotten smaller. This is why many people simply don't have enough space in their mouth for their wisdom teeth to fit. If that's the case for you, you'll need them extracted.⁴

When Should Your Wisdom Teeth Be Taken Out?

If you have enough space in your jaw to fit your wisdom teeth, your dentist will let you know. Then you don't have to worry about doing anything but continuing to see your dentist regularly.⁵

But when there's not enough room, wisdom teeth can grow at an angle and become impacted.⁵ This means they don't break through the gums and may even come in sideways.⁶ These impacted teeth can cause infections or damage your other teeth.⁶ Partially exposed wisdom teeth might lead to cavities, infections or cysts that damage nerves, bones and your other teeth.⁶

If you didn't get your wisdom teeth removed when you were younger, your opportunity's not gone — you may just have a more complicated procedure, and your healing may take longer.³

How Do You Know if It's Time to Remove Your Wisdom Teeth?

The best way to know if you need your wisdom teeth removed is by consulting a dentist. Your dentist will take X-rays so they can see the position of your wisdom teeth roots and determine if there's enough room for them.⁵ Your dentist will check for this regularly, even if you don't have pain.²

Your wisdom teeth should be removed if:⁵

• There's not enough space for them in your jaw.
• They're causing pain.
• They only came in partially and are decaying.
• They're damaging other teeth.²
• They came in but now have a cavity that can't be fixed.² (When tooth infections aren't treated for a long time, the infection can spread to your organs.)¹

Wisdom Teeth Removal Cost

The average cost* of a wisdom tooth extraction in the United States ranges from $1,200 to $4,175.⁷ The cost depends on several factors, such as the complexity of the procedure and the geographic location where it's performed. The type of anesthesia used can also impact the cost.⁸

Below is a look at the average cost ranges* for different types of single-tooth extractions with only a local anesthetic.⁸

Wisdom teeth removal cost by type of extraction

You'll also need to factor in sedation costs.* Here's a look at how much these might run. Prices can vary based on the type of sedation, the length of sedation and the geographic location.⁷

Sedation costs for wisdom teeth removal

Factoring in all of these prices, the cost of wisdom teeth removal can amount to a substantial expense. Even if you only need an uncomplicated surgical extraction (averaging $363 per tooth) with sedation (averaging $349 total), the cost might still come out to $1,801 for all four teeth, and that's on the lower side.

Is Wisdom Teeth Removal Covered by Insurance?

Wisdom teeth removal is often at least partially covered by insurance. A complicated extraction that involves surgery and general anesthesia, for example, might be covered by health insurance.⁹ Your health insurance will likely require pre-authorization, and the exact amount covered will vary based on your policy.¹⁰

If your health insurance only covers part of the cost, your dental plan may help with more. Your dentist may send a pretreatment estimate request to both insurers to get a better understanding of what the cost will be for you. And if your health insurance doesn't cover any of it, you may still get at least some of the cost covered by your dental plan.⁹

Without insurance, wisdom teeth removal can get very expensive. If all four of your teeth are complicated impactions, you'd be looking at an average cost* of $3,340 before factoring in sedation. In some locations, this could be even costlier.⁷ Even with health and dental insurance coverage, you might still be left with unpaid expenses, depending on your deductible, dental insurance maximum payout and the like. That's why having an alternate method of financing ready, like the CareCredit credit card, is so important.

How Does Wisdom Teeth Removal Work?

Wisdom tooth extraction may be done in a dentist's office or by a dental specialist, depending on how complicated the removal is expected to be.⁵ The procedure typically takes about 90 minutes.¹

Preparation

Before your procedure, you should discuss any concerns with your dentist. They will provide preoperative instructions that you should follow closely, which may include:³

• Arrange for someone to drive you to and from your appointment.
• Don't eat or drink for six hours beforehand.
• Pick up any prescriptions.
• Buy soft foods to eat for a few days (some good options include mashed bananas or avocado, yogurt, soups like tomato or pumpkin, smoothies, scrambled eggs and porridge).¹¹
• Prepare ice packs for swelling and bruising.¹¹

Procedure

On the day of your surgery, one of three types of numbing agents will typically be used:¹²

• Local anesthetic: This is similar to what's given for a dental filling.⁵ You may also be given laughing gas to help you relax, but you'll stay awake.
• Sedation: You may be given an IV to calm you.
• General anesthesia: This renders you unconscious or unaware during the procedure.

To extract the tooth, the dentist or surgeon will:¹³

• Make an incision in the gum if the tooth hasn't come through yet.
• Remove a small piece of bone if it's blocking the root.
• Remove the tooth, which may require dividing it into pieces first.
• Stitch the gum closed if necessary, usually with dissolvable stitches. Alternately, your dentist may remove the stitches in one to two weeks.¹⁴<
• Apply gauze over the extraction site to stop bleeding and allow a clot to form.

Recovery

After a typical procedure, you should be able to return to work or school within two to three days and resume your normal activities after two weeks. If your job is physically strenuous, however, your dentist may recommend a longer downtime.¹¹

Here's what to expect during recovery:¹¹

• For the first 24 hours, expect some bleeding or oozing. You may need to keep gauze over the extraction site or apply a cold pack to your face to minimize swelling.
• On days two and three, your pain may start to lessen. You may still need a cold pack for swelling.
• On days four through seven, you can rinse gently with warm salt water to keep the wounds clean. If you have non-dissolvable stitches, your dentist may need to remove them.
• By the second week, surface wounds will be healed, but deeper tissue and bone may take a few months to heal fully.

Wisdom Tooth Removal Recovery Tips

Try these tips during recovery:¹⁵

• Don't drink alcohol or carbonated beverages.
• Don't smoke.⁵
• If your teeth aren't sensitive to cold, sip on cold water to stay hydrated and help reduce swelling.
• Don't use straws, since these can dislodge vital blood clots and cause a painful dry socket.
• For pain, you'll probably only need ibuprofen or acetaminophen. However, if you need a prescription painkiller, talk to your dentist.¹¹
• For the first 24 hours, eat cold or room-temperature food to heal faster. Hot foods can possibly disrupt the formation of blood clots that are essential to healing.
• For the first two to three days, stick to soft foods and liquids, avoiding spicy foods or anything that can irritate the wounds.¹¹

Potential Side Effects

Some possible side effects after your procedure are normal, such as:¹⁶

• Slight bruising or dry lips
• Slight earache, stiff muscles or a sore throat for a few days
• Slight swelling and discomfort, which should only last a few days

As with any surgery, there are potential issues that might arise. These can be reduced if you follow all your dentist's post-op instructions. Possible, rare complications include:¹⁷

• Dry socket: This is very painful and happens when a blood clot becomes displaced and your bone and nerves are exposed.
• Temporary or permanent nerve injury
• Sinus complications
• Trismus (restricted jaw movement)
• Excessive bleeding
• Infection
• Adverse reaction to anesthesia

If you have excessive bleeding, your pain or swelling gets worse after four days or you notice another unusual symptom, contact your dentist right away. Most people have an uncomplicated recovery.¹¹

Wisdom teeth removal isn't fun, but it doesn't have to be overly complicated either. The most important thing you can do today is start seeing your dentist regularly so they can keep an eye on your teeth. The sooner you act if your wisdom teeth need to be removed, the easier the surgery will likely be.

Financing Wisdom Teeth Removal With the CareCredit Credit Card

Whether you're getting your 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

Stephanie Dwilson specializes in science journalism, breaking news and animal health and is a business owner, non-practicing attorney and writer.