Wisdom teeth are the last molars on all 4 sides of your mouth. They usually do not emerge until age 15-25. At some point in your adult life, your dentist will likely recommend that you have your wisdom teeth removed, especially if they are causing you pain or discomfort.
Reasons your dentist may suggest that you have your wisdom teeth removed include:
- To decrease the risk of mouth disease or infection
- Prevents damage to other teeth
- Prevents wisdom teeth from pushing other teeth around which risks causing pain or bite problems
- If the teeth are impacted, meaning they do not emerge from the gum
The procedure to remove wisdom teeth is routine and requires either local anesthesia to numb just the area they will remove the tooth from or a general anesthesia which puts the patient to sleep and prevents pain in the whole body. General anesthesia is used when the teeth are impacted or they are removing all of them.
The patient may require some stitches after the tooth is removed which will dissolve in a few days. The recovery time is usually 4-7 days.
The cost of wisdom teeth removal surgery is typically upwards of $1,500 and most traditional group benefits plans will cap the spending on dental procedures.
If you have a Health Spending Account, the cost of wisdom tooth removal surgery is 100% covered.
What is a Health Spending Account?
A Health Spending Account (HSA) is a tax efficient, cost effective solution for offering health benefits to your employees. There is a pre-determined list of eligible medical expenses that can be covered by Health Spending Accounts. The cost of laser vision correction can be covered completely using an HSA. Other expenses covered include:
- Massage therapy
- Prescription drugs
- Dental care
- and many more!
Learn more about Health Spending Accounts!