Wisdom tooth removal cost by state

Wisdom tooth removal is one of the most common dental surgeries in the United States. The cost varies more than most patients expect because there isn't one "wisdom tooth removal" procedure - there are four different CDT codes, each capturing a different level of impaction, with national private averages in this archive ranging from $258 to $492 per tooth before any specialist premium or anesthesia upcharge.

The four CDT codes for wisdom tooth removal

• D7220, Soft-tissue impaction ($258 national). The wisdom tooth has erupted through the bone but is partially covered by gum tissue. The dentist incises the gum and removes the tooth - often done at a general dentist's office.
• D7230, Partially bony impaction ($362 national). The tooth is partly covered by bone in addition to gum tissue. Removal usually requires sectioning.
• D7240, Completely bony impaction ($424 national). The most common wisdom-tooth surgery. Usually done by an oral surgeon under IV sedation.
• D7241, Completely bony, with complications ($492 national). Same as D7240 but with unusual root anatomy or proximity to the inferior alveolar nerve.

Most wisdom-tooth surgeries also bill general anesthesia / IV sedation (first 30 minutes) on top of the surgery code. Ask which anesthesia CDT your oral surgeon uses for your case.

Total cost for all four wisdom teeth out

Insurance vs out-of-pocket

Wisdom tooth surgery is unusual among dental procedures because it's frequently covered by both dental and medical insurance when medically necessary. Ask your oral surgeon's billing office which insurance path they recommend. For uninsured patients, cash-pay packages and dental-school oral surgery clinics are the usual discount paths - see our affordable-care guide.

Why the same surgery has such variable pricing

Three drivers we cover in our state-variation guide: cost of living (state RPP), provider supply, and Medicaid policy. For wisdom teeth specifically, a fourth factor matters: the specialist premium. Oral surgeons typically charge more than general dentists for the same CDT because bony impactions need that training.

CDT and fee lines this archive can check

• Which of D7220, D7230, D7240, or D7241 is on the claim for each tooth.
• Whether a panoramic X-ray supports the impaction classification used for the CDT.
• The line-item fee for each tooth, the anesthesia code, and the follow-up visit.
• Whether the office bills the case on a dental path, a medical path, or both.

See state-by-state pricing for any of the four CDT codes by visiting the linked procedure pages above.