Wisdom teeth are the final third set of molars that emerge during your late teens or early twenties, and rather than offering wisdom they typically cause a number of painful problems. Unfortunately, many people are reluctant to undergo wisdom tooth extraction due to the cost involved. But, the wisdom teeth removal cost could be more affordable than you think.
Wisdom Tooth Removal Procedure
During your initial consultation, your dentist will take detailed x-rays of your mouth to determine the position and angle of the wisdom teeth and the effect that they are having on the surrounding teeth and tissues.
Before the procedure you will be given a local anaesthetic to numb the area, and if you desire you may choose sedation to facilitate the wisdom teeth removal procedure. If you need to get your wisdom teeth removed at a hospital, you will be put under general anaesthesia.
If your wisdom tooth is impacted, the dental surgeon will then remove the gum tissue surrounding the wisdom tooth or make an incision in the gum to expose the impacted wisdom tooth. The tooth is then loosened from the connective tissues that hold it inside the socket. At this point, the tooth may need to be cut into smaller pieces for easier removal. Once the tooth is extracted, the socket is packed with gauze to stop the bleeding, and sutured if necessary.
How Much Does Wisdom Teeth Removal Cost?
One of the biggest deterrents to having your wisdom teeth removed is the cost. However, if an infected or impacted tooth is not removed, it could end up costing you significantly more. Replacing damaged or missing teeth due to infection may require bridges, crowns or dental implants which cost a lot more than having your wisdom teeth removed.
You can help to reduce the wisdom teeth removal cost by catching the problem early. Simple extraction does not require general anaesthesia and can be performed in a dentist’s chair. Whereas, impacted or complex wisdom teeth removal may need to be treated by a specialist in a hospital and costs more.
The overall wisdom teeth removal cost depends largely on how many teeth you need extracted, as well as whether you require a dentist or a specialist. The price of removing wisdom teeth is not standardised in Australia, which means that different dentists can charge varying amounts depending on their location and experience. However, if you want to check what is a fair price for extraction, the Australian Dental Association offers guidelines for the costs associated with wisdom tooth removal.
Does Private Insurance or Medicare Cover the Wisdom Teeth Removal Cost?
Like most dental procedures, wisdom tooth removal is not covered by Medicare unless it constitutes an emergency surgery. You may be a candidate for subsidised dental work under the Child and Adult Public Dental Scheme. However, you must be an Australian concession card holder to be eligible. Check with your state government for how to apply and what procedures are covered.
If you have private insurance, you may be covered for the wisdom teeth removal cost under your extras cover if it is a simple in-chair extraction. However, if you need to have your wisdom teeth extracted in a hospital, it would fall under “hospital cover” which is usually another optional extra. Without insurance, you may find yourself hundreds of dollars in out-of-pocket costs, so check your policy and call your provider to find out exactly what type of dental coverage you have.
It may be worth changing your policy or provider to get better coverage for wisdom tooth removal, but be aware that many insurers have waiting periods for major dental procedures which means you could not claim your money back straight away.
Another option is to apply for a personal loan to cover the wisdom teeth removal cost. This option means you will incur interest payments in addition to the principal that you borrowed.
National Dental Plan
At Beyond Infinity Dental, we are participating members of the National Dental Plan to make wisdom teeth removal affordable for all our patients. The National Dental Plan is partnered with HUMM one of Australia’s biggest payment plan providers. The National Dentist Plan allows patients to apply quickly and easily for up to $12,000 in dental procedures and pay off the cost in affordable monthly installments with no interest.
Final Thoughts
Removing your infected or impacted wisdom teeth is essential for maintaining good oral health. The earlier you see your dentist to monitor the development of your wisdom teeth, the less likely it will be that you will need a complex extraction which can reduce the overall wisdom teeth removal cost.
At Beyond Infinity Dental we monitor your wisdom teeth at biannual checkups for any changes and will recommend extraction if the tooth is coming in at an angle or you have overcrowding.
At Beyond Infinity Dental, we believe that all our patients deserve affordable dental care, so call us on (02) to ask us about how the National Dental Plan can help cover the cost of your wisdom teeth removal.
