Cost of Wisdom Tooth Removal in Vic

hazzad on 05/09/2023 - 22:18

Daughter requires all 4 wisdow teeth removed. Went to specialist and was quoted $2800 for the actual removal(not including hospital and any other costs). Wanting to get a gauge if that figure is high or in the ballbark. When we enquired with out PHI, it appears we dont have any cover for the actual removal of teeth as its covered under Extras. Seems they would only cover about $800 odd of that anyway and they siggusted the quoted removal cost was quite high. Since most surgeons arent big on giving out the price of removal over the phone, figured i would ask here to see if anyone in Vic has recently gotten any quotes to see if we are paying to much and need to shop around. I say Vic as we got the impression from the person we spoke to at our PHI that prices can vary from state to state.

She is going in under general and excess would be covered since our cover doesnt charge for kids. So it would be balance of removal and whatever OOP there is for anesthesia and other costs that may crop up.

Any advise appreciated.

Health & Beauty Dental

Comments

  • Jimothy Wongingtons on 05/09/2023 - 22:26
    +1

    2.5-3 was my quotes even 10 years ago I think the one I ended up going with was more like 3.5….going under general , half day in a day clinic. So 2.8 I think is reasonable considering it’s 2023 and inflation is through the roof.

    • Sweet3st on 06/09/2023 - 00:08
      +1

      His quote is for the extractions only, not the hospital, anaesthetist etc

  • ULT on 05/09/2023 - 22:48

    nah thats a fair price, my surgeon is charging me 600 per tooth (this is PURELY tooth extraction code only) in Melbourne, so would be 2.4k for 4 wisdom tooth, yours is just 400 extra so not a pure rip off, just a higher premium but the variance is to be expected. You could shop around and save a few hundred but if your surgeon is reputable id stick with them. Your cover is quite good, covering 800 of it is great. Im with Bupa and they'll cover 20% of my cost only, youre getting almost 30%, and I have extras cover too but my surgeon has not opted into their "no gap scheme" or isnt a "plat member". Regardless, the wait list for those schemes are so long (months to years) that id rather pay the 2k and get it over and done with, but yes my extras could cover the entire removal if i wanted to wait. My surgery is also classed at a higher risk (due to proximity of nerve to the wisdom tooth), id be going hospital but paying excess only ($500), anethesia is a 75/25 split between Medicare and Bupa (i may have to pay a small gap but that depends on my anesthetist, Bupa said if im lucky i may have no gap for it).

    TLDR: your removal cost is average/slightly higher, shop around if you want but if its a reputable surgeon stick with them. Wisdom tooth extraction isn’t about going for the cheapest option that’s for sure.

    • hazzad on 06/09/2023 - 18:31

      Thanks for that. Your situation is same as mine. Im also with Bupa. Luckily we avoid excess as Bupa dont charge you excess for kids. Oddly that cover of $800 is from Bupa with coversation over phone. They advised about 60% reimbursement of the expected fee which is at odds with your 20-30% reimbursement. They seemed to suggest 4-500 was the average cost per tooth so we came to figure of about $800 give or take i suppose. I currently have a case in with them as i had signed up with them 12 months ago for this specific surgery and i was given the imporession that the hospital only cover i had gotten would cover us in at least part for the surgery but not the case without extras. So they are doing a investigation to see what the phone conversation suggested. Anyway will see. Ive never had extras cover so have no idea about what they pay out and what limits are.

      • ULT on 07/09/2023 - 09:59

        Hey @hazzad glad i could help and that we can relate since we are in a similar boat. The variance in gap cover could be that I am being charged as an adult and that my specialist provider ID hasnt opted into a higher gap cover with Bupa, but the benefits are its a very quick service. Anesthetists work the same way, sometimes youre lucky and they opt into the Bupa Medical Gap scheme and its 100% covered by Medicare and Bupa, sometimes you still need to pay gap through a 2 way claim form or a Known gap, it really does depend on provider and is a case by case basis. I think you got an ok deal since Bupa is covering you quite well, heres to your daughters quick recovery :)

  • Benoffie on 05/09/2023 - 23:33
    +1

    Hubby got his done in the chair for $200 each a few years ago. Charged the same whether in hospital or not.
    I paid around $4k for mine out which required hospitalisation due to infection, impaction and nerve damage.
    Both Adelaide, both about 10 years ago.

    Personally, Id be shopping around.

  • Ghost47 on 05/09/2023 - 23:35

    Mine was ~$3000 in total five years ago for four teeth going with a reputable maxillofacial surgeon.

  • spal on 05/09/2023 - 23:43
    +1

    Dr Bernard Lim, operates in Box Hill and Armadale. Last month I paid $650 for surgical extraction of one tooth, some of it was covered by PHI. So, actually cost was less. He also quoted 4 wisdom teeth removal for $2300 for my daughter. He is busy, so you may need to wait for a surgery slot. There was also a pre-surgery consultation couple of months prior, which was $180, some of it was rebated by Medicare.

  • WeeDeePotato on 05/09/2023 - 23:59
    +1

    Before I had health insurance I went for a trip to Thailand and had my wisdom teeth out (without anaesthetic as they were simple removals). In the end it worked out way cheaper plus I got a holiday. Not sure about how much it would cost if you had to go under.

    (on a side note, I do know that my daughter's invisalign worked out cheaper here with or without insurance as it requires multiple visits hence flights)

  • Sweet3st on 06/09/2023 - 00:06

    I think $2800 for the extractions only is pretty high, that's $700/tooth. I had one wisdom tooth surgically extracted (under GA) for $435 last year in Sydney. Of course anaesthetist and hospital fee is extra.

  • rian354252 on 06/09/2023 - 00:25
    +1

    It's very fair if it's done by a specialist, bit high if it's by a general dentist.
    General dentists charge around $400-$500 per tooth for a surgical and around $170-230 for non-surgical

  • Aleigh123 on 06/09/2023 - 07:40

    Mine was year was around ~$3,000, including anaesthetist fees under general anaesthesia.

  • John Kimble on 06/09/2023 - 07:57

    Sounds about right unfortunately

  • Sleeqb7 on 06/09/2023 - 09:05

    Speaking as someone who needed all 4 surgically removed by a maximilian facial surgeon;
    Yeah sounds about right.

  • omguleh on 06/09/2023 - 09:20

    Sounds decent, wife had 1 removed by a specialist dentist and it was close to $1k.

  • watwatwat on 06/09/2023 - 11:11

    ~$1200 is a price I've seen in NSW but I would suggest to get it done overseas where the cost is lower and the skill level and facilities of the provider are favourable.

    I'm now learning that sedation for many dental procedures is stupid. It's a way for a dentist to obscure their crappy technique. Whereas an oral pain medicine, electronic syringe for slow injection, and a skilled dentist who can perform procedures efficiently/minimising patient discomfort is a good combination. Then, no need for IV sedation.

    Since most surgeons arent big on giving out the price of removal over the phone

    Hahaha! Screw that. Too many dodgy dentists in this country.

  • ginormousgiraffe on 06/09/2023 - 13:11

    If it helps mine was 950 for the anesthetist and about 600 per tooth.

  • hazzad on 06/09/2023 - 18:24

    Awesome. Thanks so much guys. Seems we are in the ballpark price wise so wont bother with shopping around. Will just cost us more in initial consultation as no surgeon will give prices without seeing you, which i guess makes sense as they need to assess complexity. I will do some research on my cover though. Will see if i can get any better coverage with extras.

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