Another typically American AskMeFi question

October 3, 2009 6:34 PM

In the Boston area, what should one expect to pay to have two wisdom teeth removed?

There shouldn't be any complications. I just need the two back ones removed because I can see that they've turned black and I was so ashamed I finally went to the dentist yesterday. He gave me a referral to an oral surgeon, but I didn't have time to call for an appointment yet, much less ask for quotes. I should prefer to pay for a good one, rather than shop around too much, but I'd like to know what's reasonable. I don't have dental insurance, but I have some money, and I've been putting this off long enough.

posted by anonymous to Health & Fitness (9 answers total)

It might be best for you to temporarily enroll in an insurance plan, to take advantage of some discounts. Check Aetna, for example.
posted by hellomina at 7:20 PM on October 3, 2009

Check out the tufts school of dental medicine
posted by zentrification at 7:23 PM on October 3, 2009

I'm not in Boston, but my husband had his out at the beginning of the year in Tucson, AZ.

Sounds like yours aren't impacted if you can see them. His were about $350/impacted tooth and $175/simple removal, plus $500 for general anesthesia. Local-only is much cheaper.

Our insurance covered most of it, but I highly recommend you get them out asap, especially if they're degraded. One of his had come in fully but only partially formed and it was harboring bacteria that could harm the rest of his teeth.

The risk of complications also rises the further after age 25 you get them out. My husband got two dry sockets and had a terrible time before we realized that his wasn't going right. If you catch them early (basically, if it hurts, you're doing it wrong), the oral surgeon can bring you back in and pack them with something to soothe them.
posted by bookdragoness at 7:29 PM on October 3, 2009

Also, when I was looking for an area estimate, the dentist's front office staff were able to give me some ballpark numbers. I had to accept all sorts of waiver-of-generality type mumbo jumbo first, though, and it took some pushing.
posted by bookdragoness at 7:36 PM on October 3, 2009

Try the Health Care Blue Book. (There's tooth removal, surgical tooth removal, and impacted tooth removal.)
posted by IndigoRain at 11:32 PM on October 3, 2009 [1 favorite]

I was living in Boston in 2006 and had my badly impacted lower wisdom teeth removed at age 29. Cost was $1200, although I only paid $200 (thank you rare dental insurance). Yours will hopefully come in less than that as yours don't sound as bad.
posted by MillMan at 1:37 AM on October 4, 2009

I would recommend the Harvard Dental school on Longwood Ave over Tufts. Tufts neglected to tell me about certain problems that could've been fixed at the time whereas Harvard alerted me right away. Prices are comparable at both places. I think it cost me about $45-$75 to have a tooth extracted. And then maybe $150-$200 to have oral surgery for another issue.

You can always go in for a consultation and get an estimate. Assuming it's not an emergency that should give you time to make a decision.
posted by eatcake at 9:17 AM on October 4, 2009

I would recommend the Harvard Dental school on Longwood Ave over Tufts.

While I can't recommend Harvard Dental School because I haven't been there, they have to be better than Tufts. Ever have drilling done and not be fully Novocained? The student couldn't seem to hit the right nerves and I was told "Oh you're going to have to deal with it. I'll be quick."
posted by jerseygirl at 9:39 AM on October 4, 2009

I don't have dental insurance and paid about $330 total to have two wisdom teeth (one of them cracked/soft tissue impacted) extracted under local anesthesia at Tufts Dental.
posted by healthytext at 7:50 AM on October 5, 2009