First, you should understand that it is the primary objective of the entire dental industry to exercise all methods and measures to retain all your natural teeth. So, a tooth extraction is usually followed by other procedures that have been exhausted. The extraction could be the result of an unfortunate accident, such that the broken tooth cannot support a dental crown. It might be the result of excessive decay such that saving the tooth is no longer possible. The tooth could be a source of damaging gum disease, and it is now beneficial to have it extracted. Finally, it may be a wisdom tooth that is causing crowding in your mouth.
The Two Different Tooth Extraction Procedures
The cost for tooth extraction has a wide range due to the difference in extraction procedures. You could have an easily accessible broken front tooth that just needs some local anesthetic to numb the area, and then it will simply be extracted by a dental instrument called forceps. You could benefit from a deeper sedation to mitigate any discomfort or anxiety. A second method is an impacted wisdom tooth. Now a surgical incision is needed to expose the impacted tooth, which will then be removed. If the tooth has begun to attach to the jawbone, it will require some additional effort. Once the tooth is extracted, the site will need to be closed with sutures.
The Variations in Tooth Extraction Costs
A tooth extraction can vary from $75 to $400 to have a simple tooth extraction. If oral surgery is necessary, the costs can go from $800 to even $4,000. Here are a few variables that can be identified in attempting to understand this wide range:
- Where you live plays a role in foundational costs. It has been proven that dental procedures are more expensive on both coasts than in the Midwest.
- The location of the tooth plays a significant role. The tooth’s location in your mouth impacts the time spent extracting the tooth. The front versus back and the number of roots involved will have an influence on time.
- The number of roots affects the complexity of any extraction. One root versus four has an influence on the actual procedure as well as the amount of anesthesia needed.
- Another variable is the introduction of anesthesia and the diverse kinds of sedation. A local numbing agent versus a sedative has different objectives as well as related costs.
- A broken tooth might need more extraction time, with the introduction of a second instrument called an elevator to help grasp the tooth.
- The number of X-rays will also contribute to the range in costs.
The Healing Process Will Have Variables as Well
Now that you have identified the various kinds of tooth extraction procedures, you can see that the healing process can have variables as well. The size of the hole to heal from a front tooth extraction to the sutures needed for a molar or wisdom tooth extraction will vary in recovery time. You will be instructed to be diligent about your oral hygiene and follow protocol to allow the site to heal properly.