Health insurance for wisdom teeth removal – what to expect 

If you have wisdom teeth that need to be removed, you could be facing a painful experience for both your mouth and your wallet. Dental treatments are generally not covered under Medicare so health insurance can help with your costs – but there may be large out-of-pocket costs. Here’s what you need to know about using health insurance for wisdom teeth removal.  

How much does wisdom teeth removal cost? 

Wisdom teeth removal costs vary widely, depending on: 

• the number of teeth being removed 

• the complexity of the procedure, including how much the teeth are impacted (which means trapped in the gums or jawbone) 

• whether you need local or general anaesthetic  

• whether a dentist or an oral surgeon is required. 

If it’s a straightforward removal in a dental clinic under local anaesthetic, it could be between $200 to $400 per tooth. But if you have to go to hospital for removal under general anaesthetic, the total cost will likely be at least $2,000.  

Your dentist or oral surgeon will advise you on the recommended procedure for you and associated costs. 

Does my health insurance cover wisdom teeth removal? 

If your wisdom teeth are being removed under local anaesthetic in a dental clinic you can claim on your Extras Cover policy, if it includes cover for wisdom teeth removal – some insurers cover this under the General Dental treatment category while for others it comes under Major Dental. There will be limits per treatment and per year, so check your policy carefully to find out how much will be covered. Remember, Extras Cover does not cover all your costs, only a portion. 

If your wisdom teeth are being removed under general anaesthetic in a private hospital, you can claim on your Hospital Cover policy, if it includes the Dental Surgery clinical category (which is included on all policies Silver tier and higher). But Hospital Cover doesn’t cover fees for dental or oral surgeons – that falls under Extras Cover.  

Here’s a breakdown: 

Waiting periods apply to both Hospital and Extras Cover policies. 

Why do I have to pay a Gap? 

What’s the best health insurance for wisdom teeth removal? 

For wisdom teeth extractions in a dental surgery, you’ll need an Extras Cover policy that includes Major Dental (some insurers cover wisdom teeth removal under General Dental).  

For in-hospital wisdom teeth extractions, you’ll need an Extras Cover policy to cover surgeon fees and a Hospital Cover policy that’s Silver tier or higher for hospital and anaesthetist costs. 

You can find both types of health cover on the healthslips.com.au calculator, which searches every policy from every insurer in Australia, without commercial bias. And you can search anonymously.  

Search for a new health insurance policy today, or compare your existing policy with other similar policies. 

healthslips.com.au does not provide general or personalised advice. Your particular circumstances are likely to impact the accuracy, completeness and relevance of the information or results. Take this into account before making a decision and talk to an expert for financial advice.   

Trudie McConnochie

Writer and Researcher

Knowledge is power – that’s the guiding principle behind everything Trudie writes, and it’s a philosophy she brings to her work at healthslips.com.au. By breaking down complex information into easy-to-understand blogs and stories, she aims to empower Australians to make the best choices and an informed decision around private health insurance.

Trudie understands firsthand some of the complexity of private health insurance having moved to Australia from New Zealand and having to navigate a vastly different public healthcare system and health insurance structure.

Trudie holds a Bachelor of Communication Studies (journalism major) from the Auckland University of Technology.

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