Curious about "simple" vs "surgical" ext

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#1 Post by **Kitagirl** » Wed Mar 17, 2010 2:57 pm

Just curious about this...before I got my extractions (last year) they told me that simple ones were about $75 or so but that surgical ones were like $250. So I assumed surgical is if they cut.

Well they pulled them...they did not have to cut but they had a hard time pulling them and it took ALOT of wiggling and pulling and a bit of extra anesthetic.

They charged me for "surgical" ones. I felt that wasn't fair because I was like, what, if it takes 30 seconds to pull its cheap, but if it takes two minutes, its expensive? I asked about it and they just said that if the tooth did not come out easily, it was considered surgical.

Does this sound right? I guess its too late now, that was last year around May....but still I don't quite buy it. I like the ortho I"m going to, but the actual dentists they are associated with (the ones who pulled my teeth..same office complex) drive me NUTS.

#2 Post by **kilikena311** » Wed Mar 17, 2010 8:38 pm

I had one tooth extracted for treatment. He had a very difficult time getting the tooth out, and had to drill it and fight with it for about 20 minutes or so. My insurance pays 80% after a $50 deductible and my part was $68 so I guess their original charge was somewhere around $135 (I'm really terrible at math though) I didn't think it was unreasonable at all though due to the amount of time it took for him to get the tooth out. I'm guessing he didn't consider that surgical for me.

#3 Post by **Vulcan** » Wed Mar 17, 2010 8:46 pm

I had the same problem with a lower right wisdom tooth. The lower left took 5 mins to remove, but the right one took 1 hour, yes.. that long. The numbing was wearing off by that time, but I was still charged $125 per extraction, and after insurance I only paid $25 per tooth. But, as with everything, every office is different and yes they can set their own rules.

#4 Post by **Kitagirl** » Thu Mar 18, 2010 6:17 am

My "difficult" extraction took like five minutes each! So I'm like, what, the 5 minute ones cost $200 more than a 30 second one? Huh?

I like my ortho but did I mention my husband and I can't stand the dentists there and want to find a new practice. They are very pushy and they never agree on treatments....one will tell you you have a cavity and another will tell you that you are fine... a couple years ago my son had some tooth problems and so the dentist there sent him to a pediatric dentist...we paid out the rear for the pediatric dentist to send him to an ortho...took him back to my current ortho who just said "Let everything grow out for awhile and then we'll work on it." (Why couldn't the first dentist say that?)

Of course this is two years later and poor kid, it hasn't grown out so need to take him back....but hopefully not to the dentist side because they are REALLY pushy for money.

#5 Post by **drrick** » Thu Mar 18, 2010 10:05 am

Keep in mind the skill of the doc needs to be taken into acct.
Trust me not every doc can do a surgical ext in 5 minutes.

I once watched my oral surgeon take out 4 wisdom teeth and place an implant in about 20 minutes. I couldnt even get one tooth out in 20 minutes. One of my buddies routinely takes out very difficult teeth in about 3 minutes because of his great skill and experience. He charges more that a guy across the street who takes them out in 45 minutes. Would you rather it come out fast or slow?

#6 Post by **Kitagirl** » Thu Mar 18, 2010 10:07 am

drrick wrote:Keep in mind the skill of the doc needs to be taken into acct.
Trust me not every doc can do a surgical ext in 5 minutes.

I once watched my oral surgeon take out 4 wisdom teeth and place an implant in about 20 minutes. I couldnt even get one tooth out in 20 minutes. One of my buddies routinely takes out very difficult teeth in about 3 minutes because of his great skill and experience. He charges more that a guy across the street who takes them out in 45 minutes. Would you rather it come out fast or slow?

Well that makes me feel better...I just didn't understand, if that was considered "surgical" what they considered "simple"? Half rotted and almost falling out? (No really I'm serious, not trying to be catty)

#7 Post by **drrick** » Thu Mar 18, 2010 10:15 am

The badly decayed teeth are often far more difficult to take out than a more intact tooth. They will often keep fracturing while you are trying to remove them and then it gets even more difficult.

It is often difficult to predict which ones will be more difficult than others as well.

#8 Post by **Kitagirl** » Thu Mar 18, 2010 10:41 am

What would you consider a "simple" extraction?

Sorry to lengthen this topic so much. haha.

#9 Post by **drrick** » Thu Mar 18, 2010 10:48 am

there is an actual definition of it but since I really dont do them I cant Temember it...sorry.

#10 Post by **loradora** » Fri Mar 19, 2010 4:11 pm

I paid $385 to have a lower front (#25) tooth extracted this past Tuesday. It was a little difficult because it was crowded. I had novocaine and laughing gas, but I can tell you it was not a very pleasant experience.

#11 Post by **Kitagirl** » Fri Mar 19, 2010 6:39 pm

loradora wrote:I paid $385 to have a lower front (#25) tooth extracted this past Tuesday. It was a little difficult because it was crowded. I had novocaine and laughing gas, but I can tell you it was not a very pleasant experience.

I hear ya! I had novacaine and that's it...could have used the laughing gas because it felt like they were going to tear my whole jaw out. Not really pain but just the tremendous pressure.