Does insurance Cover Wisdom Teeth Removal

Does Insurance Cover Wisdom Teeth Removal? (Here’s What Happened When I Needed Mine Out)

So, let me just say it: I never expected wisdom teeth to be the thing that stressed me out in my twenties. But there I was jaw swollen, in pain, and staring at the ceiling thinking, “Wait… does insurance cover wisdom teeth removal or am I about to go broke?”

I went down the Google rabbit hole, asked my dentist a million questions, and even made a few calls to my insurance provider (not fun, by the way). Now that I’ve been through it, I figured I’d share what I learned because wow, it’s more complicated than I thought. 😅

💸 So... Does Insurance Cover Wisdom Teeth Removal?

Short answer: Yes, but it depends.
Yeah, I know that’s super frustrating. But here’s how it breaks down:

🦷 Dental Insurance usually covers:

• Routine extractions (if the tooth has already come in)

• A percentage of oral surgery costs

• Part of the anesthesia (sometimes)

🏥 Medical Insurance may cover:

• Impacted wisdom teeth removal (if deemed medically necessary)

• General anesthesia or sedation

• Hospital or surgical center fees

I didn’t even realize both types of insurance could be involved. My dentist actually had to write a note saying it was a medical necessity for my medical plan to help cover it.

🤕 My Experience: Impacted Wisdom Teeth & Insurance Confusion

I had two impacted wisdom teeth they were buried deep and pressing against my other molars. My dentist said they had to come out ASAP or things could get ugly (infection, shifting teeth, jaw pain… the whole mess).

But when I asked if insurance would cover it? I got a “maybe.” Ugh.

Here’s what actually happened:

• 📝 I needed a referral to an oral surgeon

• 🏥 The oral surgeon submitted a pre-authorization request to both my dental and medical insurance

• 📞 I had to call both companies to confirm what was covered (and what wasn’t)

Spoiler: Dental covered about 50% of the procedure, and my medical insurance kicked in another 30% because the case was deemed “medically necessary.” I still paid a few hundred bucks out of pocket, but it could’ve been way worse.

🧾 How Much Does Wisdom Teeth Removal Cost Without Insurance?

Let’s just rip the Band-Aid off:

Type of Extraction	Estimated Cost (Per Tooth)
Simple (erupted)	$75 – $300
Surgical (impacted)	$250 – $600
With general anesthesia	Add $250 – $800 more 😬

Without any insurance, you could be looking at $1,000–$3,000+ for all four wisdom teeth especially if they’re impacted.

📋 Tips to Get the Most Coverage (and Save $$$)

Here’s what helped me avoid surprise bills:

✅ Ask for a pre-authorization

This lets your insurance review the claim before you go under the knife.

✅ Get your procedure coded correctly

Seriously. If your oral surgeon marks the surgery as “medical necessity” vs “elective,” it changes everything.

✅ Double-check your dental annual max

A lot of dental plans cap benefits at around $1,000–$1,500 per year. That can disappear fast with oral surgery.

✅ Don’t ignore the “out-of-network” question

My first surgeon was out-of-network. Switching to one in-network saved me over $500.

🤔 What Surprised Me Most About the Process?

Honestly? How little I knew going in.

I thought it would just be: tooth hurts → dentist pulls it → insurance pays.

But there were forms, back-and-forths, unexpected terms like “impaction type,” and… well, confusion. If I hadn’t asked questions (a lot of them), I would’ve paid way more than I needed to.

🧠 My Takeaway: What I Learned

Here’s what I’d tell anyone going through this now:

Don’t assume your insurance covers it ask, confirm, and then double-check.

Oh, and if your dentist or oral surgeon seems vague? Push for clarity. They’ve done this a thousand times, but you haven’t, and it’s your money on the line.

Also… stock up on ice cream and Netflix. You’ll thank me later. 🍦📺

☕ Final Thoughts: If You’re Dreading the Dentist, You’re Not Alone

Look, I get it. Getting your wisdom teeth removed isn’t just scary it’s expensive, confusing, and often urgent.

But once I figured out how insurance worked, I felt way more in control. So if you’re wondering does insurance cover wisdom teeth removal, the answer is probably yes just make sure you do the legwork first.

You’ve got this. And hey, you’ll have one less thing to worry about once those teeth are gone. 😄

📌 TLDR – Quick Recap

• ✅ Yes, insurance can cover wisdom teeth removal especially if the teeth are impacted.

• 🦷 Dental insurance usually covers simple extractions & part of surgery.

• 🏥 Medical insurance may cover cases that are medically necessary.

• 💸 Expect to pay something out of pocket even with good insurance.

• 📞 Always call and verify coverage before booking the surgery.