Wisdom teeth removal - no dental insurance

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a kid who "doesn't have room" for his wisdom teeth. I have read opinions for and against removal, and I've leaned towards against because I imagine it's expensive to pay out of pocket.

1) what is the range of what it will cost with no insurance?
2) If we have BCBS HMO that doesn't have out of network coverage, is it possible to find an in network surgeon to do wisdom teeth removal and get coverage through regular health insurance?

Really appreciate any information you can share with me!

Around $500 per tooth paying cash.

[Anonymous]

That became $4000 per tooth for DH to deal with the bite,spacing, bone loss, infection, extraction stuff decades later. Pay now or kid pays more later.

[Anonymous]

Ours was covered under medical, not dental, insurance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My medical insurance paid for mine. Use an oral surgeon.

Us too..fed bcbs...just paid a copay.

[Anonymous]

Nobody in my family has ever had them removed, zero issues. My siblings and I 50s, parents 80s, spouse 54, 19 & 17 year old kids.

[Anonymous]

My 16 year old son just had his removed on Monday. All four were impacted. Total cost was about $1600 and it was covered 80% by our medical insurance, not dental insurance.

[Anonymous]

It was only $600. It wasn't the extraction that was expensive or difficult or even painful. The many x-rays they insisted on, were expensive. Then they made up a treatment plan I didn't even need. Not going back there again.

[Anonymous]

University of MD & Howard University has a great dental school that can triage

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why do they have to come out?

Only in the US do they push this bs.

*INTERNET DENTIST ALERT EVERYONE* ASK THIS GUY YOUR QUESTIONS LOL

[Anonymous]

Is it really necessary? And if yes, then why doesn’t medical cover it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why do they have to come out?

Only in the US do they push this bs.

This. If they're not painful, they can be left the eff alone. If/when they cause trouble, YOU'LL KNOW.

US dentistry is such a scam.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do they have to come out?

Only in the US do they push this bs.

This. If they're not painful, they can be left the eff alone. If/when they cause trouble, YOU'LL KNOW.

US dentistry is such a scam.

To clarify, before Capt. ALLCAPS blows an(other) ass gasket, not an internet dentist. My upper two became problematic in my late 30s, and were removed by my regular dentist under local. Sorry, I don't remember the cost. My lower two are still around and I'm pushing 50. While I've had trouble with my teeth, they're not the cause of it.

Some things really can just be left alone if they're not hurting anybody.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is it really necessary? And if yes, then why doesn’t medical cover it?

It’s necessary for some and not necessary for others, like a lot of things.
Some people have enough space in their mouth for all their teeth including wisdom teeth.
Some don’t have space or wisdom teeth come out impacted.

[Anonymous]

I know an international woman living in the US who didn’t get hers out but then had trouble with infection during pregnancy. Not a great situation for her. Hopefully that’s not too common.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would just wait till the next time you are out of the country and have it done then.

Like as part of a vacation?! I was 16 when I had mine done and was drugged out of my mind afterwards. I made snow angels on the rug in my parents' entry way. Then I just laid in bed with my cheeks packed with gauze and slept. It was super painful for me too. 2 days later I still looked like a chipmunk. I can't imagine wasting a vacation doing that. Plus, plane tickets and hotels would make it the same price as it is in the US. Mine was $500 after insurance.

NP here Different ppl have different experiences. I was totally cognizant and only one cheek was slightly swollen for about three hours.