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How much does wisdom teeth removal cost?

Without insurance, wisdom teeth removal can cost $400 per tooth, but with extras cover, you could pay as little as $80.

What you need to know

  • If a dentist performs the procedure, wisdom tooth extractions cost between $200 and $400, depending on your circumstances.
  • It is possible to get it covered with extras insurance for as little as $12.40 a week.
  • On rare occasions, you might receive treatment as an in-patient in a hospital. If that is the case, both Medicare and private health insurance can foot the bill.

How much does wisdom teeth removal cost?

Wisdom teeth removal costs can vary depending on the procedure, where you're treated and whether or not you have health insurance:

Treatment typeCost rangeDetails
Simple extractions at the dentist$150 - $200+ per toothLess complex wisdom tooth extractions can usually be done "in the chair" at your dentist.
With local anaesthesia at the dentist$300 - $400+ per toothIf you need local anaesthetic, but the procedure can still be done in the chair, you'll pay extra. You may also be charged for additional consultations and X-rays.
Complex extractions in hospital$2,000 - $3,000+Complex extraction of wisdom teeth sometimes require surgery in a hospital from an oral surgeon and general anaesthesia, which is significantly more expensive.
With extras insurance$0 - $80+ per toothIf your wisdom teeth removal procedure can be done by your dentist, extras insurance can help cover the costs. Depending on your policy, it may cover 60% - 100% of the cost.
With hospital insurance$0 - $1,000+If you need hospital treatment, you'll need hospital cover with a dental surgery benefit – a silver-tier treatment. There may still be a gap to pay, depending on the details of the treatment.

Who pays for wisdom teeth removal?

Both Medicare and private health insurance can pay for wisdom teeth removal, depending on a few different circumstances:

Public system

Medicare

Medicare can only cover wisdom teeth removal on the rare occasion that you need to be treated in hospital – for example, if you require general anaesthesia due to the complexity of the case due to the position or shape of the roots. In this case, you'll be classed as an in-patient and Medicare can cover the MBS fees associated with your surgery.

Surgical Extraction

Private health insurance

Private health insurance can pay for wisdom teeth removal in and outside of hospital. Most removals are done "in the chair" at your dentist which extras cover can help pay for. If you need to be treated as an in-patient, all silver-tier hospital policies cover dental surgery.

Do I need extras or hospital cover for wisdom teeth removal?

Hospital icon

Hospital cover

If your procedure is done as an in-patient in a hospital and you're treated in a private hospital, you'll need hospital cover if you want to avoid large out-of-pocket expenses. It should be covered under dental surgery by all silver-tier hospital policies which cost around $115 per month.

It can pay for hospital accommodation, theatre fees and anaesthesia costs, which can only be covered by a hospital policy.

Extras icon

Extras cover

Wisdom tooth extractions completed in the chair can fall under extras or general treatment cover. This is known as outpatient treatment and it's where people most commonly will receive an extraction.

A mid-range extras policy can cover you for around $13 per week, though you'll usually have to serve a 12-month waiting period before you're covered, unless you get the Lifestyle Extras option from ahm which lists "tooth extraction" as a benefit in a routine dental limit and doesn't come with a waiting period.

Cost of private health insurance for wisdom teeth removal

If your procedure is looking like it may be in a hospital, the below options from Finder partners cover private hospital treatment. All have a 12-month waiting period. All prices are based on a single individual with less than $93,000 income and living in Sydney.

Name Product Treatments Price Apply
Basic Plus Hospital $750
Basic Plus$750 excess
  • Rehabilitation
  • Joint reconstructions
  • Dental surgery
  • Hernia and appendix
  • Eye excluding cataracts
  • Pain management
  • Gynaecology
  • Lung and chest
  • +6 other treatments covered
$82.21
per month
Frank Entry Hospital (Basic+)
Basic Plus$750 excess
  • Rehabilitation
  • Joint reconstructions
  • Dental surgery
  • Hernia and appendix
  • Eye excluding cataracts
  • Pain management
  • Gynaecology
  • Lung and chest
  • +5 other treatments covered
$82.48
per month
  • Rehabilitation
  • Joint reconstructions
  • Dental surgery
  • Hernia and appendix
  • Eye excluding cataracts
  • Pain management
  • Gynaecology
  • Lung and chest
  • +8 other treatments covered
$84.51
per month
  • Rehabilitation
  • Joint reconstructions
  • Dental surgery
  • Hernia and appendix
  • Eye excluding cataracts
  • Pain management
  • Gynaecology
  • Lung and chest
  • +5 other treatments covered
$85.23
per month
Basic Plus Hospital $500
Basic Plus$500 excess
  • Rehabilitation
  • Joint reconstructions
  • Dental surgery
  • Hernia and appendix
  • Eye excluding cataracts
  • Pain management
  • Gynaecology
  • Lung and chest
  • +6 other treatments covered
$85.92
per month
essentials basic plus
Basic Plus$750 excess
  • Rehabilitation
  • Joint reconstructions
  • Dental surgery
  • Hernia and appendix
  • Eye excluding cataracts
  • Pain management
  • Gynaecology
  • Lung and chest
  • +5 other treatments covered
$87.04
per month
  • Rehabilitation
  • Joint reconstructions
  • Dental surgery
  • Hernia and appendix
  • Eye excluding cataracts
  • Pain management
  • Gynaecology
  • Lung and chest
  • +7 other treatments covered
$89.42
per month
  • Rehabilitation
  • Joint reconstructions
  • Dental surgery
  • Hernia and appendix
  • Eye excluding cataracts
  • Pain management
  • Gynaecology
  • Lung and chest
  • +8 other treatments covered
$89.53
per month
  • Joint reconstructions
  • Ear nose and throat
  • Blood
  • Back neck and spine
  • Dental surgery
  • Eye excluding cataracts
  • Cancer
  • Lung and chest
  • +18 other treatments covered
$91.11
per month
  • Joint reconstructions
  • Ear nose and throat
  • Blood
  • Back neck and spine
  • Dental surgery
  • Eye excluding cataracts
  • Cancer
  • Lung and chest
  • +16 other treatments covered
$91.83
per month
  • Rehabilitation
  • Joint reconstructions
  • Dental surgery
  • Hernia and appendix
  • Eye excluding cataracts
  • Pain management
  • Gynaecology
  • Lung and chest
  • +7 other treatments covered
$94.43
per month
  • Rehabilitation
  • Joint reconstructions
  • Dental surgery
  • Hernia and appendix
  • Eye excluding cataracts
  • Pain management
  • Gynaecology
  • Lung and chest
  • +5 other treatments covered
$94.84
per month
  • Joint reconstructions
  • Ear nose and throat
  • Blood
  • Back neck and spine
  • Dental surgery
  • Eye excluding cataracts
  • Cancer
  • Lung and chest
  • +14 other treatments covered
$95.14
per month
  • Joint reconstructions
  • Ear nose and throat
  • Blood
  • Back neck and spine
  • Dental surgery
  • Eye excluding cataracts
  • Cancer
  • Lung and chest
  • +18 other treatments covered
$99.25
per month
  • Joint reconstructions
  • Ear nose and throat
  • Blood
  • Back neck and spine
  • Dental surgery
  • Eye excluding cataracts
  • Cancer
  • Lung and chest
  • +16 other treatments covered
$100.12
per month
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What affects the cost of wisdom tooth extraction?

How much you'll pay for wisdom teeth removal will depend on the:

  • Procedure. More serious extractions require surgery in hospital – that's likely to be far more expensive than being treated at the dentist.
  • Dentist. Ask your dentist how much they plan to charge. There are no limits on how much a dentist can charge, only guidelines issued by the Australian Dental Association.
  • Specialist. Some complex cases require an oral surgery specialist which will cost you more.
  • Insurance. The level of hospital or extras cover you have can have a big impact on how much you pay for treatment.
  • Location. It's often cheaper to get wisdom teeth removed in major cities than it is in rural areas.

Wisdom teeth extraction cost by state

The costs for dental vary depending on which state you live in and the level of treatment you require. The tables below show the average cost for dental procedures by state.

Queensland icon

Queensland

Item numberDescriptionAverage cost
011Comprehensive oral examination $58.25
012Periodic oral examination$52.63
013Oral examination – limited$46.22
014Consultation$62.00
022Intraoral periapical or bitewing radiograph$41.00
311Removal of tooth or part(s) thereof$164.89

New South Wales icon

New South Wales/ACT

Item numberDescriptionAverage cost
011Comprehensive oral examination $59.10
012Periodic Oral Examination$55.54
013Oral examination – limited$49.31
014Consultation$65.60
022Intraoral periapical or bitewing radiograph$41.52
311Removal of tooth or part(s) thereof$171.65

Victoria icon

Victoria

Item numberDescriptionAverage cost
011Comprehensive oral examination $58.79
012Periodic Oral Examination$53.63
013Oral examination – limited$47.75
014Consultation$65.68
022Intraoral periapical or bitewing radiograph$42.56
311Removal of tooth or part(s) thereof$158.89

Tasmania icon

Tasmania

Item numberDescriptionAverage cost
011Comprehensive oral examination $61.88
012Periodic Oral Examination$60.00
013Oral examination – limited$49.13
014Consultation$64.79
022Intraoral periapical or bitewing radiograph$43.17
311Removal of tooth or part(s) thereof$174.54

South Australia icon

South Australia

Item numberDescriptionAverage cost
011Comprehensive oral examination $56.60
012Periodic Oral Examination$52.54
013Oral examination – limited$49.14
014Consultation$62.52
022Intraoral periapical or bitewing radiograph$43.68
311Removal of tooth or part(s) thereof$145.95

Western Australia icon

Western Australia

Item numberDescriptionAverage cost
011Comprehensive oral examination$59.91
012Periodic Oral Examination$55.95
013Oral examination – limited$49.17
014Consultation$63.58
022Intraoral periapical or bitewing radiograph$44.24
311Removal of tooth or part(s) thereof$157.18

Northern Territory icon

Northern Territory

Item numberDescriptionAverage cost
011Comprehensive oral examination $68.89
012Periodic Oral Examination$62.50
013Oral examination – limited$57.47
014Consultation$76.25
022Intraoral periapical or bitewing radiograph$45.90
311Removal of tooth or part(s) thereof$174.67

How much does health insurance cost?

We ask hundreds of Australians what they're paying for health insurance every month. Here's what they told us in May 2024.
  • Basic: $110
  • Bronze: $143
  • Silver: $162
  • Gold: $197
Price based on 1,000+ responses for single hospital insurance.

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