average wisdom teeth extraction cost?

[Fedekz]

Hey,

I figured i would go ahead and ask on this forum - I've went to the dentist approximately a year ago and was told ill need all 4 extractions. Well two days ago one actually came out (angled, under my last molar) and I can barely move my jaw it hurts so bad. The problem is that I'm 18, a full time paramedic, and attend school full time with crappy dental insurance, and no financial help from my parents. I've heard of going to a dental school to have procedures done for substantially less than a dentist office - what's your take on that ? I never had then extracted a year ago because it was simply too expensive for me to afford solo.

I'm not asking any medical "help" or guidance, just giving you a background story to go with to help take the question regarding using a dental school into perspective - hopefully that doesn't go against the rules.

Thanks.

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[omaralt]

the cost is going to fluctuate greatly depending on whether they're full bony, partial bony, etc, impactions. if you have a dental school near you, than make an appt with the oral surgery dept for extractions. i would not let a dental student extract wisdom teeth on me.

 

[flapaTron]

the cost is going to fluctuate greatly depending on whether they're full bony, partial bony, etc, impactions. if you have a dental school near you, than make an appt with the oral surgery dept for extractions. i would not let a dental student extract wisdom teeth on me.

i second that. go to a dental school's oral surgery department. it will be way cheaper than going to a private practice OMFS.

the cost will also depend on whether or not you opt for general anesthesia. some patients prefer to save a couple hundred and just stick with lido injections....

 

[SeattleRDH]

Keep in mind that some schools have a waiting list to get in as a patient. If you are in pain you should go to your regular dentist in case you need a prescription for antibiotics.

 

[drhobie7]

The fee at UCLA for a FBI is $160/tooth and IV sedation is $150, which is very inexpensive. Not sure if UW is similar. Private practice is typically $400/tooth for a FBI and $400-500 for IV GA/sedation.

 

[DrDDSman]

If I can recall correctly, I think my OMFS billed my medical insurance for wisdom tooth removal? It was a while ago so I may be wrong, but do some medical insurances cover extractions?

 

[Fedekz]

Thank you very much for all the replies ! I'm actually in new orleans, la right now ...so probably LSU dental school is the closest, are there any other dental schools in LA ?

If they bill medical insurance ill be in good shape because I have great medical insurance. It's pretty painful right now because it feels like its pushing my other molar out, so I may just go to a practice here if the wait at a dental school OMFS is too long. Thanks for pointing out not to go to a regular dental student for the extraction!

I also have some other dental work id like to have done ... a few fillings, would that be possible to have done under general while getting my wisdoms removed ? And would it be cheaper since the Dr. Is already in my mouth ?

 

[aphistis]

Thank you very much for all the replies ! I'm actually in new orleans, la right now ...so probably LSU dental school is the closest, are there any other dental schools in LA ?

If they bill medical insurance ill be in good shape because I have great medical insurance. It's pretty painful right now because it feels like its pushing my other molar out, so I may just go to a practice here if the wait at a dental school OMFS is too long. Thanks for pointing out not to go to a regular dental student for the extraction!

I also have some other dental work id like to have done ... a few fillings, would that be possible to have done under general while getting my wisdoms removed ? And would it be cheaper since the Dr. Is already in my mouth ?

At the beginning of the thread you're wanting reassurance that you won't end up debilitated in the hands of a dental student because you can't afford the treatment you need, and now you're asking about elective procedures "since they'll already be in there"? Suddenly, paying for your treatment doesn't appear to be a problem anymore, now that you're talking about your personal dental wish list. Interesting.

 

[Fedekz]

At the beginning of the thread you're wanting reassurance that you won't end up debilitated in the hands of a dental student because you can't afford the treatment you need, and now you're asking about elective procedures "since they'll already be in there"? Suddenly, paying for your treatment doesn't appear to be a problem anymore, now that you're talking about your personal dental wish list. Interesting.

I never said I was against a dental student working on me.... why would i ask about a dental school if I had a "dental student phobia" so I have no clue where you got that from ..... someone SUGGESTED that I go to an OMFS program to have an OMFS student work on me rather than a regular dental student. I believe this makes sense, but I never said anything about a dental student.

Second, I only asked if it would be substantially cheaper because they were already doing another procedure, because I've heard having fillings done at a DS is extremely cheap, like all they bill is your insurance ... once again, I have no clue where you got the "dental wish list from", yeah if I asked about teeth whitening, sure ..... but i didn't.

Why do you have such a freaking attitude ?

 

[SeattleRDH]

Seriously, if you're in pain don't wait. If you can't get in to the school next week then you should find a general dentist that can help you. Until then, keep the area REALLY clean. Try swishing with warm salt water multiple times a day.

 

[bigstix808]

i had mine out 2 summers ago (4 FBI). had both med and dent insurs. dental covered $88 for the pan, and medical covered all else but $280 that i had to pay. total cost was about $1700. this was at a private practice.

 

[dentaldawg32]

about tree fiddy

 

[lotexigeus]

that's about the time I noticed that girl scout was about eight stories tall and a crustacean from the paleolithic era.

 

[mike3kgt]

Seriously, if you're in pain don't wait. If you can't get in to the school next week then you should find a general dentist that can help you. Until then, keep the area REALLY clean. Try swishing with warm salt water multiple times a day.

Seriously, how is this tread not locked? It certainly borders if not having easily crossed the line into discussion of personal dental treatment.

OP, speak to your dentist and do not listen to anything on this forum. Ask you dentist if you would be best served by going to a dental school for treatment. If you do not have one, go to a school to get screened.

Good luck!

 

[aphistis]

I never said I was against a dental student working on me.... why would i ask about a dental school if I had a "dental student phobia" so I have no clue where you got that from ..... someone SUGGESTED that I go to an OMFS program to have an OMFS student work on me rather than a regular dental student. I believe this makes sense, but I never said anything about a dental student.

Second, I only asked if it would be substantially cheaper because they were already doing another procedure, because I've heard having fillings done at a DS is extremely cheap, like all they bill is your insurance ... once again, I have no clue where you got the "dental wish list from", yeah if I asked about teeth whitening, sure ..... but i didn't.

Why do you have such a freaking attitude ?

You're right, I was pretty hard on you in my post from last night, and I apologize for that. It wouldn't be reasonable to expect a patient to know this, but if you go to an oral surgeon to be sedated for having your third molars removed, that's all you're going to have done. The oral surgeon's office won't be set up to do any kind of restorative procedure (i.e. fillings), and even if it was it wouldn't make any business sense for the surgeon to monitor your anesthetic at no charge while the other dentist (who would have to come in from their own office, with their own staff & supplies, etc. etc.) does the restorative procedures.

There are general dentists (I myself am one) who are trained to sedate patients in their own offices while undergoing treatment, but it requires a significant investment of time, expense, and liability risk to add those services to a dental practice, and you would be charged a fee for the sedation in addition to what you were paying for the treatment procedures. Some patients think it's the greatest idea ever, others think it's just another way for that damned dentist to gouge every cent he can out of your pocket, still others fall somewhere in between.

All that said, Mike's advice above is the best: if you want a reliable opinion on how you should structure the treatment you want, the only way you'll get it is from going to see a good dentist in person. Good luck.

 

[BBSLM]

about tree fiddy

im aware. come at me, bro.

 

[dentaldawg32]

im aware. come at me, bro.