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Originally Posted by abaya
How much does a panorex cost, btw? I am supposed to get my teeth out, too, but only have insurance to cover the extraction (not the appointment or x-rays). To be honest this is why I haven't done it yet. However for the last 3 months, whenever I bite/clench my teeth, my right side molars ache a bit... and I'm wondering if this is a cavity or a wisdom-tooth related thing?
Thanks for any tips. Greeneyes, glad you lived through it! I'm scared of being put under, too... but I guess most people live.  |
My panoramic x-ray cost $94 at the dentist and my oral surgeon consultation cost $103. However, if your dentist can give you a referral to the oral surgeon without the panoramic (ie, looking at past bitewing x-rays) that would be better because most oral surgeons discount the cost of the panoramic with the consultation. A little tip I found out
after I already had them done at the dentist.
The total cost of my surgical extraction (excluding the consultations) was $1,631. The breakdown was this:
Surgical Extraction - Impacted, Soft Tissue (three teeth): $711
Surgical Extraction - Impacted, Complete Bony (one tooth): $438
General Anesthesia (30 minutes): $306
General Anesthesia (additional 15 minutes): $176
I can understand being worried about the insurance, I paid for this all out of pocket and am hoping to get reimbursed by my insurance (long story), but something that you should know in regards to wisdom teeth is that you run a higher risk of damaging nerves the longer you wait to have them removed. For me, I was in the "moderate risk" category because my wisdom teeth had fully developed roots. There is a nerve that runs horizontally along the lower jaw that my roots were very close to and had damage been done to it, I could have lost feeling to my lips and cheeks which may or may not have been permanent. Also, there is another nerve that runs on either side of your jawbone vertically that usually does not pose a threat but because my lower, right tooth had come in horizontally, its roots had developed very close to it as well. Had that nerve been damaged, I could have permanently lost all feeling in my tongue. This is why more and more oral surgeons are recommending you have your wisdom teeth pulled as soon as they appear on x-rays, around the ages of twelve and fourteen. However, most dentists would like you to wait until the tooth fully erupts from the gum so that they can pull the tooth and not have to refer you, thereby making more money.
I was lucky, I had exceptional oral surgeon who really knew his shit and took great care of me. Even if I don't get everything reimbursed, he was worth the money. Let me know if you have any other questions, my oral surgeon gave me a lot of literature that I wish I had read years ago.