Does $2,245 sound like the normal rate for wisdom tooth extraction? Also can you tell me what these mean?

Sunday, March 6, 2011

I know its different for everyone and depending on location. But I don't know anything about standard costs for dental work because I was on my mom's insurance up until recently. Now I have to pay out of my pocket for my dental work. My bill says: Surgical RM 1 - $259 Surgical RM 16 - $259 Surgical RM 17 - $259 Surgical RM 32 - $259 Bone Repl G 32 - $364 Bone Repl G 17 - $106 Drug Injec - $106 General Ane - $ 300 Gen Anesth - $75 That's what my bill says for my wisdom tooth surgery. Can anyone tell me what the numbers beside the Surgical Rm are? Also what does surgical rm stand for? I have no idea. This is my first time looking at a dentist bill! My mom has always taken care of it in the past. I guess I should have asked the people in the office but I was too stunned when I saw the total price to even question it.
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Each surgical tooth extraction (#1, #16, #17, #32 are wisdom teeth) costs $259. That's a normal fee for having to cut away gum and bone to get at a tooth, which is a surgical extraction (as opposed to a straight extraction that does not need cutting, which would be a lot cheaper). The other fees are for: - bone replacement graft at the lower extraction sites (which I'm not sure if it's actually necessary-- It might or might not be. Ask for a second opinion). - General anesthesia (knock the patient out to the degree that intubation is necessary), which includes induction, the actual anesthetic, plus the anesthesiologist to monitor the life support. So yes, the fees are ballpark for surgical extractions under complete general anesthesia. If a person has straight wisdoms and needed just straightforward extraction under just local anesthesia (completely awake), it can cost as little as $250 total for all 4 teeth at a dental school. Hope this helps.
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