Wisdom teeth, or third molars, are the last set of molars to grow in. Most people notice that as their wisdom teeth come in, they can grow at uncomfortable angles, grow only partway, stay hidden, or crowd nearby teeth. This can impact other nearby teeth and affect your bite. At any age, wisdom teeth removal can be a costly yet necessary operation.
Your dentist will recommend the right time to remove your wisdom teeth before you experience the possible effects of pain, infection, cysts, tumors, gum disease, damage to adjacent teeth, or tooth decay. Unless your dentist has talked to you about getting them removed, you may not need to undergo the operation at all. If your wisdom teeth are healthy, grown in fully, easy to clean, and biting properly, they may not need to be removed.1 Read on if you are considering getting your wisdom teeth removed before or after observing these symptoms, at any stage of life.
Recovery
Dentists typically suggest removing wisdom teeth between the ages of 16 and 19 years old.2 The reason for performing this operation in young adulthood is that it is safer, easier, and requires less recovery than later in life. When dentists remove wisdom teeth during the late teen years, it is considered a preventative measure. At this stage, the roots of the teeth are not fully developed—and the bones are softer—making extraction easier and the resulting pain and recovery more manageable. Teenagers may take only a few days to return to normal activities, whereas adults can require more time. Furthermore, as adults are at a greater risk for infections and other complications, their recovery time can reach over a week.2
Pre-existing conditions
Most teenagers have gone through orthodontic treatments to align their teeth, making wisdom teeth removal less likely to impact other teeth. For this reason, local anesthesia may be sufficient for managing the pain during the procedure. Adults, on the other hand, have a higher likelihood of having a history of common dental issues, such as cavities or gum disease, and may require general anesthesia if multiple teeth need to be removed. Adults are also more likely to have impacted teeth, or teeth that are trapped beneath the gums and unable to erupt fully into their proper position. These can be less straightforward to remove, and your dentist may refer you to a specialist or offer additional repair or treatment options after extraction.3
Costs
You can expect the costs to scale proportionally to the complexity of the extraction. Fully erupted teeth cost the least to extract; conversely, impacted teeth will cost more. The total wisdom teeth removal cost varies greatly depending on the details of the procedure. You can expect to spend anywhere between $200 to $1,100 per extracted tooth.4 If your teeth have erupted, the extractions may be billed to your dental insurance provider as a basic service, which can be covered 80%, whereas if they are impacted, there is a strong possibility that you will need to pay for 50% of the costs.4
Medicaid will cover wisdom teeth removal for children. However, if you are an adult using Medicaid, you will need to check if you live in a state that offers comprehensive dental care for adults. Some Medicare Advantage programs include benefits that may cover the costs of wisdom teeth removal.
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