How to Get Wisdom Teeth Removed Cheaply

For people without dental insurance, getting a wisdom tooth pulled can cost approximately $100 for a simple extraction and up to $500 for a complicated removal, according to Animated-Teeth.com, April 2011. In some cases, the cost may be more if prescription medications, X-rays or other tests are needed. For people who can't afford to get a wisdom tooth pulled, such as those with a low or fixed income, it may be possible to have it done for little or even no cost.

Instructions

• 1

  Contact your local health department to ask if free or discounted wisdom teeth extractions are offered in your area. Many health departments have dental clinics for low-income residents. Even if the health department doesn't offer these services, someone there may have a list of dentists who work on a sliding fee scale, which means they charge for services based on your income.

• 2

  Call a dental school in your area. Some dental schools offer wisdom teeth extractions for free or at a deeply discounted rate to allow dental students to practice pulling teeth. All students are supervised by instructors, who are usually licensed dentists, during the procedure.

• 3

  Ask local dentists if they offer discounted services. Some dentists provide discounted services as a community service. In some cases, the dentist may only offer a wisdom tooth extraction if the situation is an emergency, such as a severely impacted wisdom tooth or an abscessed wisdom tooth.

• 4

  Find out if your state's Department of Human Services has any programs for free or discounted dental care. Some states include emergency and/or basic dental care as part of the Medicaid program.

• 5

  Volunteer for a research project or sign up for a study. In most cases, you can't smoke, drink or use drugs to participate in these. Some studies won't accept pregnant women or women who have recently had a baby.

• 6

  Visit a local emergency room if you think you need an emergency wisdom tooth extraction and can't find anywhere else to go. Signs of an emergency include severe pain in the tooth, severe swelling of the gums or drainage coming from the gum.