How many wisdom teeth
Rough total
$1,000–$2,400
- Under the gum (soft tissue impaction)
- $1,000–$2,400
- Full fee
- $1,000–$2,400
- Each tooth is priced by how it sits, so four teeth can have four different fees.
- Sedation and who does the surgery (general dentist or oral surgeon) are the other big factors.
- This is not a quote. Ask the dental office for a written estimate with procedure codes before you agree to treatment.
Typical US ranges · Fees vary widely · Nothing you enter is saved
Low end
$1,000
Average
$2,000
High end
$3,500
- Without insurance
- $1,000–$3,500
- With insurance · out of pocket
- $500–$1,000
- Typical coverage
- Varies by plan
With dental insurance that covers it, out-of-pocket cost is often around $500–$1,000, depending on your plan, deductible and annual maximum.
What you are paying for
What goes into the cost of a wisdom teeth removal
Wisdom teeth removal is shown at roughly $1,000 to $3,500 without insurance, averaging about $2,000, and a bill in that range is really several charges added together. There is a surgical fee for each tooth, set by how deeply it is impacted. There is the anesthesia, which is often billed by how long you are under. There is the consultation and the panoramic X-ray. A total at that level generally reflects more than one tooth and some form of sedation, so a single wisdom tooth that has fully come through and is removed with local anesthesia would normally fall well below it. The unexpected items tend to be the imaging, the anesthesia time, and anything picked up at the pharmacy afterward, none of which appear in a per-tooth quote.
Ways the bill can come down
Ask for an itemized estimate listing each tooth, the anesthesia and the imaging, so nothing arrives as a surprise. Having all the necessary teeth removed in one session avoids paying for anesthesia and recovery twice. If your teeth are not deeply impacted, ask the surgeon whether local anesthesia, with or without laughing gas, would be reasonable for you. Have the office check both dental and medical insurance, because some medical plans contribute to bony impactions or anesthesia. Dental schools and hospital oral surgery residency clinics offer reduced fees. Avoid postponing removal of a tooth that keeps getting infected, since emergency treatment on top of the eventual surgery costs more.
Table 1 — Factors that affect wisdom teeth removal cost
Factors That Affect Wisdom Teeth Removal Cost
- 01
How many teeth are removed
Each tooth carries its own surgical fee, so four teeth cost more than two. The anesthesia and consultation are shared across however many are done in the session.
- 02
How impacted each tooth is
Fees step up from a tooth that has fully erupted, to one covered by gum, to one partly in bone, to one completely encased in bone. Lower teeth are more often in the higher categories.
- 03
Type of anesthesia
Local anesthesia is the least expensive. Intravenous sedation and general anesthesia add a substantial charge for the drugs, the monitoring equipment and the trained staff, and it rises with the length of the surgery.
- 04
Oral surgeon or general dentist
Some general dentists remove straightforward wisdom teeth. Impacted teeth are usually referred to an oral surgeon, whose fees reflect specialist training and the ability to provide deeper sedation in the office.
- 05
Imaging
A panoramic X-ray is standard. If a lower root appears to overlap the nerve canal, the surgeon may ask for a three-dimensional scan, which is an additional cost.
- 06
Region and setting
Fees are higher in expensive metropolitan areas. Surgery that has to be done in a hospital or surgical center for medical reasons adds facility charges on top of the surgeon's fee.
Table 2 — Payment options
Payment Options
Dental Insurance
Plans usually pay part of the cost of covered procedures after a deductible, up to an annual maximum. Ask for a pre-treatment estimate.
Payment Plans
Many dentists offer in-house financing or work with CareCredit.
Dental Discount Plans
A yearly membership that gives reduced fees at participating dentists. Not insurance; check what it covers.
Dental Schools
Dental school clinics charge lower fees for care by supervised students. Appointments take longer.
Cost disclaimer
Cost estimates are based on national averages and may vary significantly based on your location, dentist, insurance coverage, and specific treatment needs. These figures are for informational purposes only and are not quotes or guarantees of pricing. Ask your dental office for a written estimate before treatment.