Why Do You Need Your Wisdom Teeth Removed?
If your wisdom teeth fully erupt in proper alignment, you may not need a tooth extraction. However, wisdom teeth often present themselves as impacted under the bone and gum tissue. The impaction positions them with the inability to breach the gum line and puts them at greater risk for developing cysts or tumours. Others begin to erupt and stop partially in place, allowing bacteria to grow around the tooth and under the gums. Still, others may crowd and damage neighbouring teeth if there is not enough room to erupt. Misplaced wisdom teeth can also trap food or be difficult to floss, giving cavity-causing bacteria a place to grow. If your wisdom teeth need to go, it's best to have them taken out as a young adult. The roots have not fully developed at this age, increasing chances for a more successful procedure and a quicker healing process.
What Does Wisdom Teeth Removal Cost?
Simple wisdom tooth extractions can be done by general dentists. For more complicated procedures, you will be referred to an oral maxillofacial surgeon (OMS). These are dental specialists equipped with the skills and experience to remove impacted wisdom teeth, who will consider all factors before recommending the removal of impacted wisdom teeth. Several factors may affect the cost of your procedure, including age of the patient, how complex the procedure is and where you go to get your procedure done. The Ministry of Health publishes a table of average fees for dental procedures in public institutions. According to this DoctorxDentist article, "Guide To Wisdom Tooth Extraction Costs In Singapore (2021)":
- The average cost of a wisdom tooth extraction is $700 in government hospitals and $1500 in private clinics and hospitals.
- Expect to pay $1200–$2000 in total for wisdom tooth surgery by an OMS.
- General anaesthesia (where you go to "sleep" and wake up with your wisdom teeth extracted) will cost an additional $800 (on average) for an anaesthetist to administer the sedation. This tends to be more common among those who are extracting all four wisdom teeth at one go.
- Other costs to consider include dental x-rays, which are around $150, and CT scans, which are around $400.
Your initial and follow-up exams may also come with a price tag, which is, on average, about $100 per appointment.
You can always pay for the extraction out of pocket, but there are also other ways of keeping your costs manageable.
If you're concerned about the cost of wisdom teeth removal, talk to your dental professional and insurance agency about your options. Though it seems like a high price to pay, removing your wisdom teeth now may prevent more serious — and more costly — problems later.