“Toothache is not a disease, it really hurts”, this saying has been heard by many people, and the pain brought by wisdom teeth makes many people miserable. When wisdom teeth begin to “make trouble”, removal has become the choice of many people. But before you decide to have a tooth extracted, you often have a question: How much are wisdom teeth worth? This seemingly simple problem, but behind the hidden many influential factors. Next, let’s take a closer look at the cost of wisdom tooth extraction.
The Growth of Wisdom Teeth Determines the Basic Cost
Wisdom teeth, also known as the third molar, usually begin to erupt around the age of 18 to 25. Due to the gradual reduction of the jaw in the process of human evolution, and the relative lag in tooth size changes, many people’s wisdom teeth do not have enough space for normal growth, resulting in a variety of growth conditions, which is also a key factor affecting the cost of removal.
(1) Normal eruption of wisdom teeth
If the wisdom teeth can erupt normally from the gums like other teeth, and the position is correct, the relationship with the neighboring teeth is harmonious, the bite is normal, and does not cause any discomfort, in this case, the wisdom teeth removal is relatively simple. The doctor can easily remove it under local anesthesia using conventional tools such as forceps and braces. The operation time is short, the operation difficulty is low, the damage to oral tissue is small, and the postoperative recovery is fast. Therefore, the cost of removing such wisdom teeth is relatively low, generally around 200-500 yuan.
(2) Impacted wisdom teeth
However, most people’s wisdom teeth do not erupt normally, but exist in an impacted form, which is the main cause of pain, inflammation and other problems. According to the degree and direction of impact, it can be divided into a variety of types, each type of removal difficulty and cost are different.
Horizontally impacted wisdom teeth: The crown of this type of wisdom tooth grows horizontally with neighboring teeth and is completely embedded in the alveolar bone or partially erupts. Because the direction of its growth is different from that of normal teeth, it is not only necessary to cut the gum during extraction, but also to remove part of the alveolar bone, or even to divide the tooth into small pieces and then remove them one by one. The surgical process is complicated, the technical requirements of doctors are high, the operation time is long, and the risk of postoperative complications such as swelling, pain and bleeding is relatively high. Therefore, the cost of removing horizontally impacted wisdom teeth is higher, usually around 800-2000 yuan.
Vertically impacted wisdom teeth: Although the crown grows vertically, the wisdom teeth cannot fully erupt due to insufficient position or gum flap coverage. This type of wisdom tooth may form a blind bag, where food debris is easy to remain, breeding bacteria and causing pericoronitis. When removing vertically impacted wisdom teeth, it is generally necessary to cut the gum to remove part of the blocked bone, and the operation is moderate. The cost is usually around 500 to 1000 yuan.
Mesio-impacted wisdom teeth: The crown of the wisdom tooth is tilted in the mesio-medial direction, and some of the crown is blocked by neighboring teeth and cannot erupt normally. When removing mesio-impacted wisdom teeth, care needs to be taken to avoid damaging adjacent teeth, and sometimes special techniques such as tooth splitting are needed, which generally cost about 600-1200 yuan.
Distally impacted wisdom teeth: the crown is tilted in the distally oriented direction, and the difficulty of removal is similar to that of proximal impacted wisdom teeth, and the cost is roughly 600-1200 yuan.
Inverted impacted wisdom teeth: The crown of wisdom teeth is downward, the root of the tooth is growing upward, and it is completely embedded in the alveolar bone, which is one of the most complicated impacted types. Extraction requires a large range of incision, flap, bone removal and other operations, high surgical risk, postoperative recovery is slow. The cost is usually 1,500 to 3,000 yuan or more.
Regional differences affect charging standards
In addition to the growth of wisdom teeth themselves, regional differences are also important factors affecting the cost of removal. The level of economic development, price level and distribution of medical resources in different regions are different, and these factors will be reflected in the price of medical services.
(1) First-tier cities
In first-tier cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen, the economy is developed, the medical resources are rich, and the level of medical technology is high, but at the same time, the price and operating costs are relatively high. Therefore, the cost of removing wisdom teeth is generally higher. Taking the removal of an ordinary vertically impacted wisdom tooth as an example, the cost in a regular oral hospital or clinic in a first-tier city may be about 800-1500 yuan; If it is a complex horizontally impacted wisdom tooth, the cost may exceed 2000 yuan.
(2) Second-tier cities
The economic development level and prices of second-tier cities are slightly lower than those of first-tier cities, and the cost of removing wisdom teeth will also decrease. The same removal of a vertically impacted wisdom tooth costs about 500-1000 yuan; The removal cost of horizontally impacted wisdom teeth is generally about 1000-1800 yuan.
(3) Third – and fourth-tier cities and counties
In third – and fourth-tier cities and counties, the price level is low, and the price of medical services is relatively close to the people. The cost of removing a vertically impacted wisdom tooth may be 300-800 yuan, and the cost of a horizontally impacted wisdom tooth is usually around 800-1500 yuan.
The Relationship Between Hospital Type and Charge
In addition to regional factors, the cost of choosing different types of hospitals for wisdom tooth extraction will also vary greatly. At present, the medical institutions providing wisdom tooth extraction services mainly include the stomatology department of public hospitals, private dental clinics and dental specialized hospitals.
(1) Stomatology department of public hospitals
The advantages of public hospitals are that the level of medical technology is guaranteed, the professional qualification and experience of doctors, advanced equipment, relatively transparent and standardized fees, and strictly in accordance with the price standards of medical services stipulated by the government. However, due to the large number of patients, difficult registration and long waiting time are common problems. In public hospitals, the cost of removing wisdom teeth is generally average in the area. For example, in public hospitals in second-tier cities, the cost of removing a common impacted wisdom tooth is about 800 to 1,200 yuan.
(2) Private dental clinics
The number of private dental clinics is large, the distribution is wide, the treatment is more convenient, the service attitude is usually good, the waiting time is short, and may provide some personalized services. In terms of fees, the price of private dental clinics varies greatly, and some small clinics may introduce lower prices in order to attract patients; Some high-end private dental clinics, due to the comfortable environment, advanced equipment, doctors with excellent qualifications, the cost may be higher than public hospitals. In general, the price range of wisdom tooth removal in private dental clinics is wide, ranging from several hundred yuan to several thousand yuan.
(3) Stomatological hospital
The specialized hospital of Stomatology focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of oral diseases, and has professional and advanced nature in technology and equipment. The doctors have more experience in complex wisdom tooth extraction. At the same time, the hospital’s service process is relatively perfect, and it can provide patients with more comprehensive preoperative examination, postoperative care and other services. However, the fees charged by dental specialty hospitals are generally relatively high, especially some well-known dental specialty hospitals, which may be about 20%-50% higher than public hospitals.
Other cost factors
In addition to the main factors mentioned above, there are a number of other factors that can also have an impact on the total cost of wisdom tooth extraction.
(1) Expenses for preoperative examination
Before removing wisdom teeth, doctors usually require patients to undergo a series of preoperative examinations to understand the growth of wisdom teeth, the relationship between the root and the surrounding tissue, and the patient’s overall health status to ensure the safety of the surgery. Common examination items include oral X-ray (panoramic or dental), CT scan, blood routine, blood clotting function test, etc. The cost of these tests is generally around 100-500 yuan, depending on the items examined and the hospital’s charging standard.
(2) anesthesia expenses
The removal of wisdom teeth is generally carried out by local anesthesia, and the cost of anesthesia is relatively low, usually about 50-200 yuan. However, if the patient is more sensitive to pain, or wisdom tooth removal is more difficult, the operation time is longer, intravenous anesthesia may be used (comfortable tooth extraction), in this case, the anesthesia cost will increase significantly, generally about 500-1500 yuan.
(3) Postoperative drug costs
After the removal of wisdom teeth, in order to prevent infection, reduce pain and swelling, the doctor will prescribe some drugs according to the patient’s condition, such as antibiotics, painkillers, and anti-swelling drugs. The cost of the drug is generally about 50-200 yuan, depending on the type of drug and the course of use.
(4) Expenses for handling special cases
In the process of wisdom tooth extraction, if some special circumstances are encountered, such as the root of the wisdom tooth is closely related to important nerves (such as alveolar nerve), in order to avoid nerve damage, special surgical methods or techniques may be required, which will increase the difficulty and risk of the operation, and the corresponding cost will also increase; If the tooth extraction wound is large, the postoperative suture is needed, and the cost of suture is generally about 50-200 yuan.
How to choose the right extraction plan and medical institution
After understanding the factors affecting the cost of wisdom tooth extraction, how to choose the appropriate extraction program and medical institutions is particularly important.
(1) Consult more and compare more
Before deciding to remove wisdom teeth, it is recommended that patients consult several different types of medical institutions to learn about their diagnosis, treatment options and fees. You can ask friends and family members who have had wisdom tooth extraction to get their experience and advice. At the same time, it is also possible to understand the word-of-mouth and evaluation of different medical institutions through the Internet, social media and other channels.
(2) Pay attention to the qualifications and experience of doctors
Whether you choose a public hospital or a private dental institution, the doctor’s qualifications and experience are key factors. Try to choose a doctor with rich experience in tooth extraction and strong professional skills to perform the operation. You can check the doctor’s practicing certificate, educational background, training experience, etc., and you can also consult the doctor about the number and effect of similar wisdom tooth removal cases.
(3) Comprehensive consideration of cost and service quality
While cost is one of the factors to consider when choosing a healthcare provider, price alone cannot be the sole criterion for selection. It is necessary to comprehensively consider the service quality, medical equipment, environmental health and other aspects of medical institutions. Although some medical institutions charge lower fees, there may be problems such as outdated equipment and lax disinfection, which increases the risk of postoperative infection; Some medical institutions that charge higher fees may provide better services and a more comfortable environment. Therefore, it is necessary to find a balance between cost and service quality, and choose cost-effective medical institutions.
Conclusion
The cost of wisdom tooth removal is affected by a combination of factors, ranging from a few hundred dollars to thousands of dollars. In the decision to remove wisdom teeth, patients should fully understand these factors, according to their actual situation, choose the appropriate extraction program and medical institutions, both to ensure the safety and effect of the operation, but also to avoid unnecessary costs. At the same time, it also reminds everyone to pay attention to oral health, regular oral examination, timely detection and treatment of wisdom tooth problems, so that the mouth can maintain a healthy state.
The above article explains the cost of wisdom tooth extraction in detail. If you would like to know more about the cost range in a particular area, or have questions about other aspects of wisdom tooth extraction, please feel free to let me know.
Hopefully this article will give you some clarity on the cost of wisdom tooth extraction. If you would like to know more about the specific extraction process of a certain type of wisdom teeth, or other oral health knowledge, please feel free to talk to me.
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