Insurance for Wisdom Teeth Removal

Wisdom teeth usually appear by the time a person is 21years old. In most people, these teeth erupt naturally and painlessly. In fact, the person may hardly even notice that the tooth is in the process of eruption. However, in some people, the wisdom tooth may become impacted. This means that the tooth is not able to emerge as it should. This condition is often accompanied by pain and discomfort. While you can take painkillers to temporarily elevate the pain, your dentist will recommend wisdom teeth removal to treat the problem permanently. Even if you don’t experience pain, your dentist will still recommend wisdom tooth removal to avoid any complications later. 

Removal of the wisdom tooth is more complex than a simple tooth extraction. It may be performed by a dentist or by an oral surgeon. The cost of extraction of a wisdom tooth is likely to much more than a simple tooth extraction. The price of extraction can also depend on what kind of impaction it is. For instance, a soft tissue impaction may cause much lesser than a wisdom tooth with a bony impaction. Broadly, a wisdom tooth extraction may cost between $150 to $350 per tooth. This cost is just the cost of extraction, and may not include other expenses for sedation and X-rays. There may be more expenses associated in case of a wisdom tooth that has to be removed by oral surgery .The fees can also increase in case of a wisdom tooth that is located too close to the surrounding teeth. Besides, extraction costs for a wisdom tooth that has already erupted tends to be lower than extraction of a wisdom tooth that is impacted.

The cost of extracting a wisdom tooth can also differ depending on your dentist. While comparing prices, use a common code. Calling up different dentists and asking for their fees for wisdom tooth extraction may give you an apples and oranges kind of estimate. The American Dental Association has established code numbers for specific dental treatments. These codes are used by dentists as well as insurers. So if you plan to compare costs, call a dentist's office and ask for a price quote for that particular ADA code. This can help you shop for a favorable cost.

Your dental insurance plan will typically reimburse 50 to 80 percent reimbursement for the cost of the procedure. Insurance plans that cover 100 percent of the treatment cost are extremely rare. However, if you and your spouse possess a family dental insurance cover that is provided by both your employers, then you may be eligible for a100 percent coverage of the cost of the extraction.

There are also discount dental plans available that offer coverage for wisdom tooth removal. The good news is that many plans consider removal of impacted wisdom teeth as an important procedure that can’t be avoided. Wisdom teeth don’t typically come under cosmetic treatment, and therefore, you may find it easy to find an insurance plan that covers wisdom tooth removal.