The wisdom tooth is the tooth located at the back of the mouth. The most common age for wisdom teeth is between 17 and 19 years old. However, it is not uncommon for wisdom teeth to emerge at any time between the ages of 17 and 25. The average adult has four wisdom teeth in each corner of the mouth. However, some people may have less and some people are born without any! (Source 2010: American Association of Oral Surgeons)
It is estimated that 20-25% of people worldwide have LESS than four wisdom teeth. So there is a four out of a chance that you will have less than the normal four wisdom teeth. (Carter and Worthington 2015) There is not always enough space for wisdom teeth. People often suffer from pain, discomfort or infection from wisdom teeth.
The normal person has four (or less) wisdom teeth. However, some people have additional wisdom teeth. These people have an extra tooth or set of teeth. These extra wisdom teeth are known as “surplus” teeth.
In my work with thousands of patients, I have personally seen some patients with DOUBLE wisdom teeth. That’s a total of eight wisdom teeth! There are some extreme cases where people have even more. However, these cases are rare and you would be quite unique if you fall into this category. In fact, about one or two people in a hundred have these extra wisdom teeth. Most of the wisdom teeth I saw were twelve in one person. This was extraordinary and I am not sure if I will ever see him again at my dental office.
Certain populations are more or less likely to develop four wisdom teeth. Women are slightly more likely to lose one or more wisdom teeth (approximately 15%!) (Source: Carter and Worthington 2015) Different places and origins around the world are more or less likely to have wisdom teeth. For example, people of African and European descent are more likely to have four wisdom teeth – while people of Asian descent are more likely to lose one or more wisdom teeth. (Source: John Hawks)
Patients or parents often ask me if wisdom teeth die at age 12. It is true that between the ages of 10 and 13, a new dentition grows on the back. We call these teeth “second molars” or sometimes “12-year molars”. No baby teeth are lost when these new molars emerge from the back of the mouth around the age of 12. However, these are NOT wisdom teeth! These are normal molars.
Typically, a child gets a 12-year-old molar in each corner of the mouth (four in total). The new lower teeth usually erupt before the upper teeth.
Remember that not all wisdom teeth need to be extracted – nature does not always give us meaningless bodily features! However, there are many factors in modern life that lead to impaction, infection and pain. This means that many people need wisdom teeth removal. If you are wondering, it is best to make an appointment with the dentist and ask your dentist.
It is very common that wisdom teeth need to be extracted. In this case, it is common to extract all four at once – especially if the patient is being sacrificed for tooth extraction. It makes sense to classify everything at once. It helps to limit surgical risk and means that only a cure is needed.
Another common approach for people who need to pull out wisdom teeth is to pull out two at a time. Knowing that, when removing wisdom teeth, you will be awake and sitting in the chair, this is a popular option. Many people have their upper and lower teeth removed at the same time, at the same time. When a single tooth is causing problems or pain – some people choose to remove that problematic tooth and plan the rest for a later date – when they really need to be removed.
His wisdom teeth are the last pearly whites to grow, usually appearing in his late teens and early twenties. Unfortunately, these molars may not grow properly and can be affected, increasing the risk of problems such as pain, infection, earache, bad breath and inflammation. At this point, extraction may be your only option for restoring oral health.
If your dentist has said that you need to extract one or more wisdom teeth, you may be wondering how much to wait for this procedure. While this is common, removing wisdom teeth can be expensive, especially if you don’t have the right type of dental insurance to cover fees. In addition, several factors, including where you are, the dentist you are using and the severity of the impaction, all play a role in determining the total cost of wisdom teeth removal.
So, how much does it cost to remove wisdom teeth? Check our breakdown of average prices below.
One of the main factors that will boost your account when you need to remove a wisdom tooth is the type of impaction.
Having to extract all four wisdom teeth can give you a small break in cost, especially if done in an appointment. Even if more than one tooth is removed at a time, the average cost of wisdom tooth removal depends on several factors, including the type of impaction:
In addition to the costs of the extraction process, there are other fees. These include:
Note: There may be follow-up queries after extraction, so you may also be charged for these visits.
As you can see, the cost of removing wisdom teeth without insurance can be a drain on your wallet. If you do not have the right dental plan, you will have to pay all the bills for you. If you pay out of pocket, you can spend thousands when all is said and done. There!
How much does it cost to remove wisdom teeth with insurance? Well, it depends on the plan you signed and how complicated the extraction will be. With a comprehensive dental plan, you can drastically reduce what you have to pay out of pocket, even taking into account premiums, deductibles, co-insurance and co-payments. Whether your insurance covers 50% or even 80% of the cost, you can save a lot of money, especially if the procedure costs hundreds or thousands of dollars!
How much does it cost to remove wisdom teeth, especially if a tooth is affected? The simple answer is a lot! Thanks to the simple registration of a high quality dental insurance, you will happily receive the best service without worrying about the price.
It can be difficult to choose from the many options in the dental insurance market today, but Direct Benefits makes it easy to find the right plan for your needs. Browse and compare the guidelines available in your area and log in when you’re ready. That way, you don’t have to live with the pain of an affected wisdom tooth or the pain of having to pay for an expensive pocket treatment!