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Having your wisdom teeth taken out is one of the most dreaded dental procedures for many Australians, but it’s also one of the most common. In total, you would be looking at around $200-400 without extras cover in the dentist chair for a basic wisdom tooth extraction.
Using extras cover from private health insurance could help you reduce this cost, and it's not too late to get it.
Your costs will depend on whether your extraction is completed in the chair by a dentist, or if you are admitted to hospital as an in-patient.
If your procedure is done as an inpatient in a hospital, it falls to a hospital cover. Extractions completed in the chair can fall under extras or general treatment cover. If you have your quote from the dentist already, you can check exactly how much is covered with the insurer.
If you’re having a simple extraction, the Lifestyle Extras option from ahm lists 'tooth extraction' as a benefit in a routine dental limit. This could include your wisdom tooth if it's a fairly straightforward procedure done at the dentist. You don't have to serve a waiting period. Best of all, this policy starts at $11.70 a week.
Less complex wisdom tooth extractions can usually be done “in the chair” and are cheaper than more complicated cases, which require hospital admission. For a basic case, the average cost of tooth extraction can be anywhere from $150 to $200 per tooth.
If you require a local anaesthetic but the procedure can still be done in the chair, this could rise as high as $400 per tooth. Add in the cost of an initial consultation and any X-rays that are required, and if you don’t have any private health cover in place you could end up significantly out of pocket.
However, if you need to be given sedatives or general anaesthesia, the cost of surgical extraction of wisdom teeth can be up to $3,000.
Not only does the severity and complexity of the procedure affect the wisdom teeth removal cost, it also determines whether you are treated as an outpatient or an inpatient. Outpatient procedures can be done “in the chair” by your dentist or perhaps an oral surgeon, and they can be partially or even fully covered by an extras policy. Inpatient wisdom teeth removal means you will incur hospital accommodation, theatre fees and anaesthesia costs which can only be covered by a hospital policy.
There are several factors that affect wisdom teeth removal costs including:
The costs for dental vary depending on which state you live in and the level of treatment you require. The tables below shows the average cost for a dental procedures by state.
Item number | Description | Average cost |
---|---|---|
011 | Comprehensive oral examination | $59.10 |
012 | Periodic Oral Examination | $55.54 |
013 | Oral examination – limited | $49.31 |
014 | Consultation | $65.60 |
022 | Intraoral periapical or bitewing radiograph | $41.52 |
311 | Removal of tooth or part(s) thereof | $171.65 |
Item number | Description | Average cost |
---|---|---|
011 | Comprehensive oral examination | $68.89 |
012 | Periodic Oral Examination | $62.50 |
013 | Oral examination – limited | $57.47 |
014 | Consultation | $76.25 |
022 | Intraoral periapical or bitewing radiograph | $45.90 |
311 | Removal of tooth or part(s) thereof | $174.67 |
Item number | Description | Average cost |
---|---|---|
011 | Comprehensive oral examination | $58.25 |
012 | Periodic Oral Examination | $52.63 |
013 | Oral examination – limited | $46.22 |
014 | Consultation | $62.00 |
022 | Intraoral periapical or bitewing radiograph | $41.00 |
311 | Removal of tooth or part(s) thereof | $164.89 |
Item number | Description | Average cost |
---|---|---|
011 | Comprehensive oral examination | $56.60 |
012 | Periodic Oral Examination | $52.54 |
013 | Oral examination – limited | $49.14 |
014 | Consultation | $62.52 |
022 | Intraoral periapical or bitewing radiograph | $43.68 |
311 | Removal of tooth or part(s) thereof | $145.95 |
Item number | Description | Average cost |
---|---|---|
011 | Comprehensive oral examination | $61.88 |
012 | Periodic Oral Examination | $60.00 |
013 | Oral examination – limited | $49.13 |
014 | Consultation | $64.79 |
022 | Intraoral periapical or bitewing radiograph | $43.17 |
311 | Removal of tooth or part(s) thereof | $174.54 |
Item number | Description | Average cost |
---|---|---|
011 | Comprehensive oral examination | $58.79 |
012 | Periodic Oral Examination | $53.63 |
013 | Oral examination – limited | $47.75 |
014 | Consultation | $65.68 |
022 | Intraoral periapical or bitewing radiograph | $42.56 |
311 | Removal of tooth or part(s) thereof | $158.89 |
Item number | Description | Average cost |
---|---|---|
011 | Comprehensive oral examination | $59.91 |
012 | Periodic Oral Examination | $55.95 |
013 | Oral examination – limited | $49.17 |
014 | Consultation | $63.58 |
022 | Intraoral periapical or bitewing radiograph | $44.24 |
311 | Removal of tooth or part(s) thereof | $157.18 |
Source: http://www.privatehealth.gov.au/healthinsurance/whatiscovered/averagedental.htm
In many people, wisdom teeth can cause a wide range of potentially serious problems if they are simply left in place. There are several reasons why you may need to have your wisdom teeth removed, including:
Pain. That’s the first word that springs to most people’s minds at the mention of getting wisdom teeth removed, but often the fear of what could happen is actually much worse than the actual procedure.
With simple extractions, such as where the tooth is visible in the mouth and easy to access, it can be removed by forceps under local anaesthetic. This procedure can be done in your dentist’s chair.
However, more complex cases require admission to hospital and surgery, as well as a sedative or general anaesthesia. The surgeon will then cut open your gums, remove any teeth, bone and other debris, and in some situations you may require stitches.
Of course, the exact details of the procedure will vary depending on your wisdom teeth and how your dentist or surgeon decides to remove them. Your dentist or surgeon will give you a full rundown of what to expect before the procedure begins.
Once the surgery is complete and your teeth have been removed, remember to follow your dentist’s or surgeon’s instructions to ensure the quickest possible recovery. If you’ve been “put under”, your vital signs will be monitored by nurses before you’ve recovered from the anaesthesia.
Gauze may be left in your mouth for up to half an hour after surgery, and you may need to apply ice packs periodically for the next 48 hours. Your dentist or surgeon will also be able to advise you on any pain relief medication you should take.
You’ll also be given tips and advice on how to ensure a speedy recovery, such as:
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 & a $500 excess.
Use this free tool to see more options from Australian health funds.
Picture: Shutterstock
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