Wisdom teeth can often cause problems like overcrowding of the existing teeth, and your treatment options and costs will depend on several factors, like if you need only one or several removed and the general complexity of the situation.
Your dentist will take an X-ray and may recommend treatment in the dentist’s chair at your dental surgery or in hospital under general anaesthesia. If you choose to have your wisdom teeth removed in a dental surgery, you may be able to have a portion of the fee covered under your extras policy.
However, if you opt to have the teeth extracted in hospital, you may find yourself facing additional out-of-pocket costs.
What are wisdom teeth?
Wisdom teeth, also called third molars, are the very back teeth at your upper and lower jaw and usually appear in your late teens or early twenties.
Some people never develop wisdom teeth and for others they don’t cause any problems.
But quite often people’s jaws aren’t big enough to allow the wisdom teeth to take up their correct position. This can cause difficulties in cleaning the teeth and could lead to tooth decay, gum problems or infections and even mouth ulcers if a wisdom tooth leans sideways and rubs against the cheek.
How much does wisdom teeth surgery cost?
For the extraction of one tooth or part of a tooth, the most recent figures for the median cost is $180 ($87 health insurance benefit, $95 out-of-pocket costs)*.
The cost of wisdom teeth removal varies depending on where you live, your clinical circumstances, the treatment options open to you, and which of those you choose.
A simple case at your regular dentist (including local anaesthetic) can cost, on average, between $149 and $300 per tooth*.
A complex case in hospital or day surgery carried out by a specialist (day surgery and anaesthetist fee not included) can cost, on average, between $315 and $599 per tooth*.
*Sources: Australian Dental Association (ADA) fee survey from 2022 and Australian Institute for Health and Welfare in 2021/22.
What health insurance cover do you need for wisdom teeth?
There are a number of different costs involved with wisdom teeth surgery depending on the treatment you choose, but extras cover is essential. Even if you have your treatment in hospital you’ll need to have extras cover to claim anything back on the surgical fee.
Even if you have your treatment in hospital you’ll need to have extras cover to claim anything back on the surgical fee
Extras health insurance policies cover extractions under general anaesthetic or major dental, and waiting times (if you take out extras cover for the first time) can be up to 12 months.
Wisdom teeth surgery at the dentist
You only need extras cover. Wisdom teeth surgery at your dentist is considered an out of hospital service and your hospital policy won’t cover you.
Wisdom teeth surgery in hospital
You need extras and hospital insurance. Hospital cover pays a benefit for the hospital admission part of the costs including accommodation, theatre fees and anaesthetist, while extras cover pays a benefit towards your dentist/surgeon’s surgical fee.
If you take out hospital insurance for the first time or switch to a policy that covers dental surgery, you’ll have to serve a waiting period of 12 months for a pre-existing condition.
To help you look at health insurance policies from more than 36 insurers, compare health insurance with CHOICE to find the best deal for you.
Medicare does not cover dental costs. However, there are some public dental services that provide some cover.
Public dental care
Public dental care is available only to a limited segment of the Australian population and waitlists can be very long. Eligibility requirements for public dental care vary across states and territories but it’s usually available to those with a healthcare or pensioner concession card.
Child Dental Benefits Scheme
Many families can use the Child Dental Benefits Scheme, which is available if you get an eligible payment from Centrelink such as Family Tax Benefit Part A and have a child up to 17 years old and eligible for Medicare.
Each child can receive $1132* for basic dental services, including extraction, and can use it at most dentists. The payment is indexed each year and capped for a two-year period. For more information, contact Services Australia.
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