Removing a wisdom tooth or third molar will have varying costs depending on the state of the eruption. Third molars are often thought of as a vestigial apparatus of our dental development. All of our fundamental teeth arrive or erupt behind our “baby” teeth when we enter adolescence. However, there is a third set of molars, four teeth total, which erupt sometime around adulthood. These teeth often erupt at a poor developmental angle, or at the least interact with the spacing and ergonomics of our jaw, compromising the structure of our current teeth. The cost of extraction is far less than the cost of further complications.
What are the signs your wisdom teeth are about to erupt?
Your wisdom teeth may be erupting if:
- You begin to experience sharp pain near the back of your jaw or near your molars
- Your gums become red, inflamed, tender
- Your gums begin to bleed or produce discharge
- Your breath persistently smells bad
Your wisdom teeth may begin to erupt, tearing the gums near the area, and tooth material will become apparent back there. Some population of patients experience virtually no discomfort or complications with their wisdom teeth. It is entirely possible that the teeth erupt straight and do not interfere with the structure of your jaw, but it is less common than you think. Many patients follow their dentist recommendation and have them removed prior to full eruption.
What complications follow Wisdom Tooth Eruption?
The complications associated with wisdom tooth eruption are costly, painful, and can really set your dental health back. When wisdom teeth erupt at a poor entry angle, it can force your other teeth out of line. This can lead to tooth loss, gum infection, or temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ). Once your current teeth are misaligned, the cost of braces or alignment strategies can be thousands of dollars. If they teeth are knocked crooked by the eruption of the wisdom teeth, it can eventually cause the teeth to have compromised root structures, which leads to tooth loss. The tooth movement also exposes gum recession, which opens you up to costly gum infection.
How much does wisdom tooth extraction cost?
The cost of wisdom tooth extraction is a compound cost. You can look at the price tag, say 500 dollars for an erupted wisdom tooth extraction. The cost is upfront, and does not lead to any further complications. The cost of not extracting the tooth is zero upfront, but can be thousands of dollars paying for extraction, alignment, restorative hygiene, and possibly tooth replacement. In this scenario, the cost is zero initially, but eventually it costs you the 500 plus thousands additional. While an upfront payment is no fun, if it eventually saves you thousands the cost is worthwhile. If you speak with your dentist about extraction prior to full eruption, the cost may be even less. See your dentist today to discuss extraction options, before it is a problem. Often the cost of consultation is nothing, or a small copay.