How Much Does a Tooth Extraction Cost?

Last Updated on February 27, 2024
Written by CPA Alec Pow | Content Reviewed by CFA Alexander Popinker

Undergoing a tooth extraction procedure can be an intimidating and potentially expensive experience. However, being informed on the general costs and factors that influence pricing can help you properly budget and prepare for this common dental surgery.

Tooth extraction involves completely removing a tooth from the mouth and jaw. It is performed when a tooth is too damaged, decayed, or infected to be repaired with other treatments.

Extractions are typically carried out by general dentists, though oral surgeons are required for more complex surgical extractions.

Highlights

• Simple extractions typically range from $75 – $200 per tooth, while complex surgical extractions cost $225 – $600 on average.
• Location, dentist type, sedation method, complexity factors, and additional services impact the price considerably.
• Dental insurance can lower costs but often leaves you with hundreds in out-of-pocket expenses.
• Oral or IV sedation for anxiety and pain relief adds $50 – $400 per procedure.
• Dental payment plans, financing, and loans allow you to afford major extraction bills.
• Discounted dental clinics, schools, and dental tourism provide cheaper options.
• Choosing an in-network dentist with modern technology and fair pricing helps lower costs.
• Consistent preventive dental care helps avoid extractions and save money long-term.

How Much Does a Tooth Extraction Cost?

There are two main categories of tooth extractions – simple and complex. Simple extractions are more routine, straightforward procedures to remove teeth visible in the mouth that are not impacted in the jawbone or bone tissue.

Typical costs for simple extractions run between $75 – $200 per tooth. This can vary based on your location, specific dental office, and how many teeth need to be pulled. Simple extractions are performed under local anesthetic to numb the area during a regular dentist visit.

The dentist will use dental tools like elevators and forceps to loosen and extract the tooth in a fairly quick process unless complications arise.

You can expect simple extraction costs to be on the lower end, around $75 – $125 per tooth, for routine cases involving teeth that are easily accessible and can be removed quickly in just 10-30 minutes. For example, pulling an already loose baby tooth or cracked molar could cost only $75-$100.

The price will go up if additional time and work are required. Extracting fully intact teeth or roots that don’t detach as readily could run $150 – $200 per tooth.

Pre-existing tooth decay and infections make the extraction process more difficult as well. Your dentist may charge more for complex simple extractions requiring over an hour of work to carefully extract the tooth while avoiding furtherbone or gum damage.

Surgical extractions come with additional costs given the more complicated procedures involved. These include extracting impacted or broken teeth, roots deeply embedded in the jawbone, or wisdom teeth that have not fully come in or become impacted.

Surgical extractions require creating flaps in the gums and surgically removing bone tissue around the affected tooth to gain access. These precision extractions utilize more advanced tools like drills and take much longer to perform successfully.

Costs for surgical extractions average between $225 – $600 per tooth depending on specific factors. Oral surgeons typically charge the most given their advanced skills and expertise required for these operations.

Surgical extractions often take place in an outpatient facility instead of a standard dental office and utilize IV sedation anesthesia for deeper pain management.

For straightforward surgical procedures like removing Wisdom teeth or pre-molars, you may pay around $250 – $350 per extraction. But severely impacted wisdom teeth requiring cutting and stitching the gums or sectioning the tooth could run $500 – $600 each.

Full mouth extractions to remove all upper and lower teeth preceding dentures can cost $2,000 – $6,000 for the more complex surgical process.

Clearly, the distinction between simple and surgical extractions makes a major impact on the overall expense. However, many additional variables also contribute to the final costs.

Thrive Dentist states that tooth extractions cost anywhere from $140-$450 per tooth, with simple extractions costing $140-$250 and surgical extractions costing $250-$450. Wisdom teeth extractions can cost around $2,000, including exams, x-rays, and anesthesia.

Humana lists the following prices for tooth extractions:

• Simple tooth extraction: $75–$250
• Surgical tooth extraction: $180–$550
• Wisdom tooth extraction: $120–$800

Aspen Dental offers prices starting at $125 for tooth extractions, with the cost being affected by factors such as the condition of the tooth, its location, and whether it requires a specialist.

GoodRx mentions that surgical extractions can cost upwards of $300 per tooth.

Factors Affecting Extraction Pricing

Some elements that affect what you will pay out of pocket for a tooth extraction include:

Location of the Dental Office

Like most healthcare services, costs are usually highest in major metropolitan areas and lowest in rural areas. Overhead like office rents and staff wages are more expensive in cities.

Limited competition also enables urban dentists to charge higher rates. Expect pricing to be 30-50% cheaper in a small town versus a big city for the same extraction procedure.

Type of Dentist Performing the Extraction

General dentists charge less than oral surgeons for extractions, sometimes up to 40% less. However, oral surgeons are required for the most complex surgical extractions.

Their advanced specialty training warrants a pricing premium. So choose a general dentist for simple cases, but you may need an oral surgeon for impacted wisdom teeth to ensure proper experience and care.

Use of IV Sedation or General Anesthesia

While local anesthetic to numb the area is standard, you can opt for deeper IV sedation or general anesthesia for surgical extractions, especially wisdom teeth.

This anesthesia assistance can cost $200 – $400 for IV sedation or $600 – $1,000 per hour for general anesthesia to cover the anesthesiologist.

These sedation expenses may not be covered by dental insurance. If you feel you need anesthesia to tolerate the procedure, discuss options and pricing with your dental office.

Complexity and Difficulty of the Extraction

As outlined for simple vs. surgical extractions, more complicated procedures or additional risk factors raise costs. Severely impacted wisdom teeth requiring extensive bone removal or an infected tooth needing antibiotics will take more time, tools, and expertise which translates to higher surgical fees. Ask your dentist to explain applicable complexity factors that may increase the price.

Additional Dental Services

Your total bill will rise with any x-rays, CT scans, or 3D imaging needed to assess the tooth and plan the extraction surgical approach. Any follow-up appointments for pain, swelling, dry socket prevention, or infection monitoring will also add costs for additional office visits beyond the initial extraction itself.

With all the potential variables at play, final prices can range drastically from $75 – $100 for a quick simple extraction up to $600+ for a complex wisdom tooth removal surgery. This demonstrates the importance of getting an itemized cost estimate from your dentist before proceeding so you can budget and prepare for the expenses.

Dental Insurance Impacts on Coverage

Having dental insurance can offset a portion of extraction costs, but the coverage varies greatly. Understanding how common plan designs affect coverage levels can prevent unexpected bills.

Most dental insurance plans classify tooth extractions as either preventive, basic, or major services. Preventive services like cleanings are covered at 100% while basic and major services have cost sharing percentages and deductibles. Here are typical extraction coverage scenarios:

Simple Extractions

Simple routine extractions are usually categorized under basic coverage at 50% – 80% after you meet the deductible, which averages $50 – $150 annually.

So if the dentist charges $150 for the extraction, and your plan has a $100 deductible and covers basic services at 70%, you would pay the $100 deductible plus 30% of the remaining $50 balance, equaling your $130 out-of-pocket cost.

Surgical Extractions

Surgical extractions fall under major services at a lower coverage rate, often 30% – 50% after the deductible.

So for a $400 surgical extraction charge, if your deductible is $100 and major services are covered at 40%, you would first pay the deductible, then 40% of the remaining $300 balance, totaling $190 out of pocket. So for complex extractions, expect to pay at least a few hundred dollars out of pocket.

Exclusions

Some plans exclude wisdom tooth extractions after age 16 since they are considered partially elective. Others classify extractions for cosmetic reasons or pre-existing conditions as uncovered. Know your plan details.

Annual Maximums

Many dental plans have annual maximum benefits of $500 – $1,500 per year which caps the total amount covered. With extraction costs added in, you may reach the max earlier.

Pre-determinations

You can submit X-rays and the dentist’s treatment plan to your insurer to get a pre-determination of coverage and costs for an extraction procedure. This gives you more accurate estimates and financial peace of mind.

While dental insurance can offset extraction costs significantly, it does not eliminate your out-of-pocket responsibility. Understanding your plan provisions helps avoid surprise bills.

Be sure to get the insurance coding and cost breakdown from your dentist to confirm details with your insurer before committing to the procedure.

Sedation Options & Expenses

Beyond the extraction surgery itself, you will likely incur additional costs related to anesthesia and pain management both during and after the procedure.

While simple extractions only require local anesthetic, you may want or need more extensive sedation for complex surgical cases. Let’s examine common sedation methods and typical price ranges.

Local Anesthesia – Getting local anesthetic injections to numb the area around the tooth is standard for nearly all extractions. This is included as part of the base extraction fee with no additional cost. The numbing effect wears off within a few hours after the dental work is completed.

Oral Sedation – Oral sedation involves taking anti-anxiety medications like Halcion or Valium before the extraction to induce a relaxed, drowsy state. Oral sedation costs between $50 – $100 per dose on top of the extraction fee.

The pills are administered at the dental office about an hour before the procedure. This can ease anxiety but does not fully put you to sleep.

IV Sedation – IV sedation delivers sedative drugs like Propofol intravenously to produce a deeper sleep-like state. This requires monitoring by an anesthesia professional.

Expect to pay $200 – $400 more for IV sedation during the extraction, but it allows you to stay unconscious and unaware during the surgery. Effects wear off shortly after completion.

General Anesthesia – For maximum pain prevention, general anesthesia provides full loss of consciousness under the care of an anesthesiologist, similar to during major surgery.

However, the hourly anesthesia fees often run $600 – $1,000 per hour. This is rarely needed except for highly invasive surgical extractions.

Discuss options suitable for your case with your dentist to select effective sedation within your budget constraints. Calm relaxation using oral medication is often adequate for anxiety, but IV sedation works well for extensive surgery if covered by your insurance.

Payment Plans & Financial Assistance Options

Beyond what dental insurance covers, you need to pay the remaining extraction costs not covered. For patients facing large out-of-pocket bills after insurance, arranging dental financing is essential. Payment plans and loans allow you to afford necessary extractions.

Dental Office Payment Plans – Many dentists provide no-interest or low-interest monthly payment plans through their office, typically over 6-12 months for larger treatments. You can arrange payments automatically via credit card. This convenient option allows you to budget the costs over time.

Healthcare Credit Cards – Specialized financial companies like CareCredit offer credit cards tailored for healthcare expenses. These offer 0% deferred interest payment plans for dental work costs if paid within 6-24 months. Applications are simple and approval is often guaranteed. Using a dedicated medical credit card is wise.

Personal Dental Loans – For extensive surgery spanning multiple extractions or full mouth extractions, the costs can exceed $2,000 – $5,000. In that case, you may want a larger personal dental loan through lending networks like LendingClub or SoFi that partner directly with dental professionals.

These unsecured loans allow you to finance costs ranging from $1,000 up to $50,000 or more for dental procedures (including implants and veneers) at fixed competitive interest rates over multiple years if needed. The clear terms and set monthly payments provide financial peace of mind.

Talk to your dental office about setting up a payment plan or applying for healthcare credit financing to make the treatment affordable based on your financial situation and budget. Avoid putting these costs on high-interest credit cards.

Seeking Discounted Extraction Options

If the estimated extraction costs still remain concerning after insurance, finding discount dental options represents another cost-saving avenue to explore. Here are some ways to receive extractions at reduced prices:

Dental Schools – Dental colleges connected to universities frequently offer dental work at 30-60% off standard private practice costs. Dentistry students perform procedures like extractions under experienced faculty supervision at drastically reduced rates.

For patients willing to have students learn about their oral care, huge cost savings can be achieved.

Community Health Clinics – Government-funded community health centers and clinics provide dental services on an income-based sliding scale model to uninsured and underinsured patients. Their mission focuses on affordable preventive oral healthcare. Simple extractions may be offered at the lowest end of market pricing.

Dental Tourism for Major Procedures – For complex surgical extractions requiring hospitalization like full mouth extractions, some patients travel overseas for discounts of 40-65% compared to US prices.

Countries like Mexico, Costa Rica, Thailand, and India offer major dental procedures at much lower costs, including airfare and lodging savings. However, you must fully vet the dentists’ skills, credentials, facilities, and care standards to avoid subpar quality or safety risks.

If affordability concerns are limiting your access to necessary extractions, consulting reputable reduced-cost clinics and schools can provide quality care at budget-friendly rates. Just be diligent in your research before committing to discounted options.

Selecting the Best Dental Office for Value

Choosing where to have your tooth extracted plays a major role in determining fair pricing and quality of care. Be strategic in selecting a dental office or oral surgeon by evaluating these factors:

• Find in-network dentists covered by your insurance to maximize savings.
• Look for modern office technology like digital X-rays, lasers, and 3D imaging for accurate diagnoses.
• Confirm they have certification for IV sedation for surgical cases.
• Seek out convenient telehealth and virtual visit capabilities.
• Read reviews and testimonials to confirm skilled dentists and excellent chairside manner.
• Ask about cash discounts or savings plans for uninsured patients.
• See if they offer in-house dental financing plans for additional cost flexibility.

The dentist office you select based on value, quality, technology, expertise, and fair pricing can make a big difference in your extraction experience and expenses. Take time to research and compare a few practices before deciding where to have your extraction performed.

Preventing Future Extractions

While extraction costs can quickly add up, preventive dental care helps avoid these large hills in the first place. By brushing and flossing properly daily to maintain oral health, you greatly reduce your likelihood of needing extractions down the road for dental disease. Here are some key prevention tips:

• Brush teeth twice daily and floss once daily to stop decay and bacteria buildup.
• Receive professional cleanings and checkups every 6 months to catch issues early before they require extraction.
• Have sealants applied to molars to protect them from cavities.
• Use daily fluoride rinses to strengthen enamel and prevent tooth decay.
• Wear night guards if you grind your teeth excessively.
• Quit smoking and limit sugary foods and acidic drinks that erode enamel.

Investing a little time and money regularly in preventive dental care makes good financial sense considering each extraction can cost hundreds of dollars. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure when it comes to avoiding pricey extractions.

Final Words

Being informed on the tooth extraction procedure, typical costs, and factors that influence pricing enables you to plan and budget wisely. Be sure to get an itemized estimate from your dentist beforehand so there are no financial surprises.

With proper preparation, you can have your necessary extraction performed affordably. Protect your dental and financial health.