Written and medically reviewed byDr. Deepinder SinghGeneral Dentist · Updated What Affects Wisdom Teeth Removal Cost?
There’s no single price for taking out wisdom teeth, because no two mouths are the same. A tooth that has grown in straight is a very different job from one lying sideways in the jawbone. These are the main things that change the fee:
| Cost factor | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Number of teeth | Each tooth is billed as its own procedure, so removing one costs less than removing four. |
| Erupted or impacted | A fully erupted tooth can often be lifted out like any other tooth. An impacted tooth needs surgery. |
| Soft tissue or bony impaction | A tooth covered only by gum is simpler to reach than one partly or fully held in bone. |
| X-rays and 3D scan | Planning images are usually a separate line on the estimate. Lower teeth often need a 3D scan to map the nerve. |
| Stitches | Surgical removals are usually closed with stitches, which are part of a more involved procedure. |
| Freezing or sedation | Local freezing is included in most extractions. Some clinics offer sedation or general anesthesia, which adds its own fee. |
| Follow-up care | A check-up visit or treatment for a problem such as dry socket may or may not be included. |
Erupted vs Impacted Wisdom Teeth
Wisdom teeth usually arrive between ages 17 and 25. Many come in crooked, get stuck under the gum or trap food at the back of the mouth. MedlinePlus on impacted teeth puts it simply: “An impacted tooth is a tooth that does not break through the gum.”
Erupted
The tooth is fully through the gum. Removal is often similar to a standard extraction.
Soft tissue impaction
The crown is covered by gum. The dentist opens the gum to reach it.
Bony impaction
The tooth is partly or fully inside the jawbone. It may be removed in pieces through a small opening, then closed with stitches.
The deeper and more angled the tooth, the longer the appointment and the higher the fee. Your X-rays show which group each tooth falls into.
Why Quotes Differ and How to Compare Them
Two clinics can give you quite different numbers for what sounds like the same treatment. Usually that’s because they aren’t quoting the same thing. One may include the 3D scan and follow-up visit; another may list them separately. One may quote with sedation, another with local freezing only.
When you compare quotes, check that each one lists:
- How many teeth, and whether each is erupted or impacted
- The procedure code for each tooth
- X-rays or a 3D scan
- The type of anesthesia
- Any follow-up visits
- What your plan is expected to pay and what you’ll owe
A written estimate with procedure codes also makes it easier for your insurer to tell you what they’ll cover.
Does Insurance Cover Wisdom Teeth Removal?
Most workplace dental plans cover extractions, including wisdom teeth. Depending on your plan, removal may sit under basic services or under oral surgery, and the two can be paid at different levels. Some plans also have waiting periods, annual maximums or a set fee guide that affects what you pay.
The simplest way to find out is a predetermination. Your dentist sends the treatment plan to your insurer before the appointment, and the insurer replies with what they’ll pay. That way there are no surprises on the day.
We direct bill most dental insurance plans, so you usually only pay the part your plan doesn’t cover.
Is Wisdom Teeth Removal Covered by CDCP?
If you’re covered by the Canadian Dental Care Plan, oral surgery is part of your coverage. The Government of Canada’s CDCP coverage page lists “removal of teeth and roots” under oral surgery services. It also notes that “Some services including those beyond established frequency limits require preauthorization by the CDCP.”
Depending on your family income, you may have a co-payment. If a clinic’s fee is higher than what CDCP pays, you could owe the difference, so ask about this before treatment.
River Run accepts CDCP. Our CDCP dentist page explains how it works at our clinic.
Signs Your Wisdom Teeth May Need to Come Out
Not every wisdom tooth has to be removed. According to the Cleveland Clinic’s guide to wisdom teeth removal, common reasons include:
- Impacted wisdom teeth
- Pain near the back of the mouth
- Decay in a partially erupted wisdom tooth
MedlinePlus on impacted teeth adds that a partly impacted tooth can cause “Redness and swelling of the gums around the impacted tooth” and bad breath. Cleveland Clinic notes that removal “can reduce your risk for future oral health problems, like gum disease, tooth decay, damage to neighboring teeth, bone loss.”
Timing can also affect how involved the surgery is. MedlinePlus states that “Having wisdom teeth removed before age 20 often has better results than waiting until you are older.”
What Happens During Wisdom Tooth Extraction
- Planning: X-rays, and often a 3D scan for lower teeth, show the position of each tooth and the nerve nearby.
- Freezing: at River Run, we use local freezing, so you feel pressure but not sharp pain.
- Removal: an erupted tooth is loosened and lifted out. An impacted tooth may be removed in pieces through a small opening.
- Closing: stitches are placed if needed, and gauze helps a clot form.
Most removals take 30 to 60 minutes. All four teeth can be done in one visit or in stages. If only one simple tooth needs to come out, our tooth extraction page covers what that involves.
Wisdom Teeth Removal Recovery and Dry Socket
The Cleveland Clinic’s guide to wisdom teeth removal says “Full recovery takes about two weeks,” though “it can be more than a month for your socket(s) to heal.” Stick to soft foods for the first few days.
The main thing to protect is the blood clot in the socket. Cleveland Clinic describes dry socket as “Loss of blood clot resulting in exposed bone.” To lower the risk:
- “Don’t drink through a straw”
- Skip carbonated and alcoholic drinks while you heal
- Follow the rinsing and eating instructions your dentist gives you
For swelling, the Canadian Dental Association on care after oral surgery suggests a cold compress on and off during the first day. Call your dentist if “You have a fever” or if “Your swelling is still getting worse, and it has been 2 days or longer since your surgery.” Pain that gets worse a few days after surgery can also be a sign of dry socket. We’re open 7 days, including evenings and Sundays, and our emergency dentist page explains how to reach us fast.
Wisdom Teeth Removal Cost: Frequently Asked Questions
Does insurance cover wisdom teeth removal?
Most workplace dental plans do, usually under basic services or oral surgery. Coverage levels, waiting periods and annual maximums vary, so ask your dentist to send a predetermination to your insurer first.
Does CDCP cover wisdom teeth removal?
Yes, for eligible patients. The Canadian Dental Care Plan lists removal of teeth and roots under oral surgery. You may have a co-payment based on family income, and you could owe extra if a clinic’s fee is higher than what CDCP pays.
Is it cheaper to remove all four wisdom teeth at once?
Sometimes. One visit means one set of planning images and one recovery period, and if sedation is used elsewhere it’s only needed once. But each tooth is still billed separately, and your plan’s annual maximum may make staging the removals across two benefit years work out better. Ask for an estimate both ways.
How long is wisdom teeth removal recovery?
Full recovery takes about two weeks, although the sockets can take more than a month to fully heal. Most people eat soft foods for the first few days.
What is dry socket?
Dry socket happens when the blood clot in the socket is lost and the bone underneath is exposed. It can cause pain a few days after surgery. Avoid straws, carbonated drinks and alcohol while you heal, and call your dentist if pain gets worse instead of better.
Ready to talk about your smile?
Book a consultation at River Run Dental Centre in Mississauga. We’ll check your teeth, explain your options and costs, and bill your insurance directly. Open 7 days, including evenings and Sundays.
Related Articles
- Root Canal Treatment: Signs You Need One, What Happens and Recovery
- Broken Tooth: What to Do Right Away and How It’s Fixed
