Most people have their wisdom teeth extracted in their teens and late adolescence. Most times, wisdom teeth emerge between the ages of 17 and 25. Removing wisdom teeth is oftentimes necessary because your mouth likely doesn’t have room for them. But what does the typical wisdom teeth removal cost?
More than 5 million people have their third molars, or wisdom teeth, extracted each year. On average, each person has at least 2 third molars removed, meaning that 10 million third molars are removed annually. Wisdom teeth removal in San Franciso CA is considered a standard procedure in the United States and helps prevent a slew of problems, such as infections and mouth misalignment.
What are Wisdom Teeth?
Wisdom teeth are a set of third molars that are impacted under your gum lines and located behind your second molars. In most instances, your mouth doesn’t have room for a third set of molars. Allowing wisdom teeth to come in or to remain in your mouth can cause:
- Pain
- Swelling
- Cysts
- Decay
- Damage to other teeth
- Gum disease
Because wisdom teeth are impacted, they are difficult to properly clean and maintain. This means that even if you practice excellent oral hygiene and brush and floss regularly, your wisdom teeth may develop plaque, tartar, and cavities. Since wisdom teeth are more difficult to clean than other teeth, the risk of bacteria becoming trapped between your wisdom teeth and gum is relatively high.
Removing wisdom teeth is a safe procedure with quick recovery time. The cost of wisdom teeth removal may be covered, at least in part, by your dental insurance.
Wisdom Teeth Removal Cost
While wisdom teeth removal cost varies depending on your dental insurance policy and your provider, on average it typically costs between $75 and $200 per tooth. You can have up to 4 wisdom teeth. Many dental insurance companies cover a portion of your wisdom teeth removal cost.
The best way to understand what your wisdom teeth removal cost will be is to talk to your dentist directly. Your dentist can double-check your dental insurance plan and let you know how much of the cost of wisdom teeth removal is reimbursed or covered by your plan and provide you with an estimate of your out of pocket expenses.
Wisdom teeth removal in San Francisco CA ensures that your mouth stays healthy by preventing your third molars from causing dental damage. Wisdom teeth removal is an outpatient procedure, meaning you can go home immediately after your third molars are extracted. The procedure can take up to an hour and a half to complete, depending on the number of wisdom teeth you are having removed.
Finding a Dentist Today
Proper oral hygiene and care is an important part of your health. Having poor dental health can interfere with your daily life or lead to more serious problems. Removing your wisdom teeth is an important preventive measure that can stop potential problems from occurring.
If you are considering having your wisdom teeth removed and would like to learn more about your wisdom teeth removal cost, call us today at 415.792.4771.
