Why do prices for extracting Wisdoms vary so much? Ok to go cheap?

Tedious Bore

..........Sorry if similar Q has been asked already.........

My lower wisdom teeth are impacted since years ago, and until now, not serving any purpose but not causing any pain. Now I'm told that one of them should be removed in case it becomes a problem. I took this to mean there's no great rush on it, but that I'm better getting it done now before it might become problematic and require a bigger job than straightforward extraction.

I've been referred to an oral surgeon in a clinic where I'm told it'll probably cost around 300-400 to remove one wisdom tooth. After a short few minutes searching online, I'm seeing that some other places charge around the same, but that there are also places charging only 150-200, and seems as though some maybe even do it free on the medical card.

Is there any good reason why I should stick with the clinic I was referred to? Am I running a risk going with the cheaper option? How important is it that wisdom teeth are removed by an "oral surgeon" rather than a dentist?

Any helpful thoughts on this would be much appreciated. Thanks

btkm8unsl0w5r4

Its wont be a specialist oral surgeon doing it, thats the difference. Or its a upper wisdom tooth with is generally very easy, lower ones are much harder.

If it was an easy one, your regular dentist would have done it for you.

Oral Surgeon

As already mentioned...
If it was a standard extraction, your dentist would have done it and not referred you... Sending you to someone with more training and experience in this procedure, you should expect to pay more for what seems to you to be the same procedure!
I've had patients tell me that their dentist took 90mins to take out their wisdom tooth and charged 150 but I did another in 10mins and charged 300 and they feel hard done by.... Most would be glad of the shorter more comfortable procedure.... That's what you pay for...
Again, most medical card dentists wouldn't bother tackling a difficult wisdom as its paid so badly...

Good luck,
Os

Tedious Bore wrote: »

..........Sorry if similar Q has been asked already.........

My lower wisdom teeth are impacted since years ago, and until now, not serving any purpose but not causing any pain. Now I'm told that one of them should be removed in case it becomes a problem. I took this to mean there's no great rush on it, but that I'm better getting it done now before it might become problematic and require a bigger job than straightforward extraction.

I've been referred to an oral surgeon in a clinic where I'm told it'll probably cost around 300-400 to remove one wisdom tooth. After a short few minutes searching online, I'm seeing that some other places charge around the same, but that there are also places charging only 150-200, and seems as though some maybe even do it free on the medical card.

Is there any good reason why I should stick with the clinic I was referred to? Am I running a risk going with the cheaper option? How important is it that wisdom teeth are removed by an "oral surgeon" rather than a dentist?

Any helpful thoughts on this would be much appreciated. Thanks

Tedious Bore

Ok good to know. Thanks for your replies

Tedious Bore

Also, would you happen to know is it possible to be referred to an oral surgeon under the medical card scheme?
I've emailed the HSE and was given a couple phone numbers to ring to enquire about this but got no answer so haven't managed to speak to anyone yet.

davo10

Tedious Bore wrote: »

Also, would you happen to know is it possible to be referred to an oral surgeon under the medical card scheme?
I've emailed the HSE and was given a couple phone numbers to ring to enquire about this but got no answer so haven't managed to speak to anyone yet.

It is possible, you will have to attend a dentist and request him/her to refer you through the local HSE system.

In the area where I work, the waiting list is 18-24 months for wisdom tooth extractions.