As teeth don’t regrow, they require adequate care to last a lifetime. While you only get one adult set, many factors can damage teeth. Tooth extraction is often necessary to prevent decay or infection from spreading in your other teeth, gum lines, and tissues.
Extracting a tooth is beneficial to eliminate oral pain and infection, potentially curbing severe oral problems. Unfortunately, one in three Australians aren’t getting regular dental care, which poses grim consequences that can extend far beyond the dental chair.
Let’s uncover Australia’s tooth extraction statistics, including its causes, costs, and procedures, so you can gain helpful insights before considering this dental procedure.
Key Statistics on Tooth Extractions in Australia
Aside from being a painful procedure, tooth extraction reflects the country’s oral health trends and access to care. Let’s delve into the prevalence and reasons behind this common dental procedure.
How Many Tooth Extractions Are Performed Each Year in Australia?
AIHW said over 452,000 dental procedures were performed in hospitals in 2022-23. Roughly 40% of this figure accounts for tooth extractions, both surgical and non-surgical.
Source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
Between these two procedures, only 19% were non-surgical tooth extractions (36,677). Meanwhile, four in five tooth extractions were surgical (148,501), indicating that Aussies encounter more severe dental problems.
Most Common Reasons for Tooth Extractions in Australia
If your teeth are causing you difficulty, having them extracted is in your best interest. Although your dentist may recommend other procedures, tooth extraction is the best course of action in severe oral conditions.
Here are a few prevalent oral issues that require tooth extractions in Australia (AIHW report):
- Impacted wisdom teeth: 26% of adult patients receive wisdom teeth extraction.
- Severe tooth decay: 27% of children and 32% of adults with untreated dental decay require tooth extraction to prevent further spread of cavities.
- Overcrowding: Around 1 in 4 children (24%) receive orthodontic care, including tooth extraction, to give ample space to growing teeth.
- Gum disease: About 1 in 10 adults with reported gum disease requires dental extraction for effective treatment.
Tooth Extraction by Age Demographics
Frequent dental visits help prevent dental problems early. This explains why only 7.3% of children require extraction, as dental fillings, fluoride, and cleaning have become more prevalent in recent decades. However, one in five children only visits a dentist due to oral concerns.
Source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
Meanwhile, the extraction rate has substantially dwindled (0.18 extractions) among adults who consistently retain dental visits twice annually. This trend implies that Aussie adults are prioritising dental care, given that oral health deteriorates with age.
Source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
Tooth Extraction by Region
Even though tooth extraction is necessary for various health reasons, Aussies have access issues to this procedure. Such limitations often contribute to why other patients develop serious dental problems. Below are the variations in tooth extraction rates across the country:
- Major Cities: 6.1% of children; 0.15 extractions for adults
- Inner Regional: 12.3% of children; 0.26 extractions for adults
- Outer Regional or Remote: 6.6% of children; 0.25 extractions for adults
While high extraction rates are a good sign of adequate access to care, this also hints that patients in these areas are vulnerable to dental issues. This means higher out-of-pocket costs for families prioritising dental care.
Why Do People Need Tooth Extractions?
Experiencing dental pain doesn’t necessarily mean you require extraction. Consulting with your dentist is key to knowing which treatment is best for you. Let’s look closer at which dental problems necessitate tooth extraction.
1. Wisdom Teeth Removal
Wisdom teeth often emerge in your early adulthood. These third molars grow at the back of your mouth, pushing firmly other existing teeth in place. However, they can grow at an awkward angle or be unable to erupt when there’s insufficient space in your jaw.
They can become impacted and press adjacent teeth without enough room to emerge properly. This overcrowding could lead to severe pain, swelling, and infection. Reports show that impacted wisdom teeth hospitalised 527 out of 100,000 Aussies, making it one of the most frequently extracted teeth.
2. Tooth Decay and Infections
Data shows that 1 in 10 Aussie children have untreated tooth decay, which increases with age. Untreated cavities can progress deep into the tooth structure, compromising the pulp–which contains blood vessels and nerves. In this case, a root canal treatment can salvage the tooth.
However, if the damage or infection is too extensive, the root canal may not work. As timely intervention is crucial, it must be extracted to prevent further infection and preserve oral health.
3. Overcrowding (Orthodontic Extraction)
Overcrowding occurs when insufficient space for the teeth to grow properly, becoming misaligned or crooked. This can lead to difficulty chewing and an increased risk of gum disease. Your dentist may recommend extraction to create space for braces to straighten your remaining teeth.
4. Gum Disease (Periodontitis-Related Extractions)
Gum disease, especially in its advanced stage (periodontitis), damages tooth tissue and bone. As it affects 30.1% of Aussie adults, it is one of the leading causes of tooth loss. Extraction is often necessary in affected teeth to prevent further complications.
5. Emergency Dental Extractions
Tooth extractions are often an urgent necessity in accidents, sports injuries, or falls, which can result in chipped, cracked, or fractured teeth. When teeth slightly dislodge from their pocket, this exposes the tissues and nerves that require immediate tooth removal to curtail infection.
Types of Tooth Extractions
While it’s natural for patients to feel anxious in the dental chair, not all extractions must be daunting experiences. Below are the brief outlines of each type of tooth removal.
Simple Extractions
Simple extractions are straightforward procedures for removing fully erupted and visible teeth above the gum line. It involves local anaesthesia to numb the area to ensure minimal discomfort during removal.
Expect discomfort for a few days as the numbness wears off after 2-4 hours, but this can be manageable with over-the-counter pain relievers. The recovery period is short, with the gum tissues fully reattaching to the bone within 1-2 weeks.
Surgical Extractions
Surgical extractions are often more complex and necessary when teeth become impacted, broken, or deeply rooted. Your dentist may need to make an incision in the gum to access and remove a severely broken tooth.
In complicated cases, this requires sedation to minimise patient discomfort. Post-operative care is essential as patients may experience swelling for days, while complete healing can take several weeks, especially if bone removal is involved.
Emergency Extractions
Emergency extractions are often more urgent and costly due to the immediate need for dental intervention. These typically occur on an unscheduled basis, with patients experiencing severe gum disease, toothache, abscess (pus-filled infections), or dental trauma.
Same-day emergency removal is important, especially when patients have excruciating pain, swelling, fever, or difficulty opening the mouth. Like other extractions, your dentist will expedite treatment to minimise discomfort and avoid more serious complications.
The Cost of Tooth Extraction in Australia
Many Aussies face financial barriers even if they want optimal oral health. About 1 in 5 Australians delay or avoid seeing a dentist due to cost in 2019-20. Let’s break down the financial implications of tooth extractions you might encounter across Australia.
How Much Does Tooth Extraction Cost in Australia?
Like any dental procedure, tooth extraction’s costs vary depending on many factors. Tooth extractions can cost around $75 – $3,000, depending on the severity of your dental condition.
Here are the up-to-date price ranges for each extraction procedure in Australia:
- Simple Extraction: $75 – $200 per tooth
- Surgical Extraction: $250 – $450 per tooth
- Emergency Extraction: $150 – $200 per tooth ($400 under local anaesthetic)
While these are median prices, they can still rise due to the complexity of the procedure you’ll need. Factors like locations, additional procedures (e.g., scans, bone grafting), and the dentist’s expertise can drive the total pricing.
Cost Variations by State and Region
Clinics near urban areas often command higher prices for tooth extractions than rural or regional areas. This is due to higher operational costs for dental practices in affluent areas.
Based on the ADA’s dental fee survey, let’s compare the extraction cost variations (median prices) in the country’s states.
|
State/Region |
Extraction per tooth | Surgical tooth extraction
(without bone removal) |
Surgical tooth extraction
(with bone removal) |
|
NSW |
$221.43 | $350.24 |
$410.50 |
|
Victoria |
$208.46 | $312.73 | $370.73 |
|
Queensland |
$193.89 | $292.38 |
$339.71 |
|
South Australia |
$187.84 | $284.76 |
$322.24 |
|
Western Australia |
$199.97 | $294.30 |
$354.05 |
|
Tasmania |
$203.63 | $321.61 |
$343.38 |
| ACT | $230.85 | $384.17 |
$462.43 |
| Northern Territory | $212.01 | $329.44 |
$381.57 |
Source: Australian Dental Association
Public vs Private Tooth Extraction Cost
Medicare doesn’t often cover tooth extraction costs as it’s usually an out-of-hospital service. The only circumstance it covers for your tooth extraction is if it’s medically necessary (e.g. wisdom teeth removal) or you’re a Concession Card Holder.
While the public system has long waiting lists, the good news is that private health insurance covers tooth extraction, especially if you need to be treated quickly. A private specialist can expedite the procedure, but you have to check with your health insurer about what out-of-pocket expenses you need to pay, including the excess.
Secure Your Affordable Tooth Removal With Us
While tooth extractions are medically necessary to prevent oral complications, Australians still face financial hurdles for this common dental procedure. Aside from adequate oral hygiene, frequent dental visits are key to avoiding unnecessary procedures.
At Aesthetic Dental Clinic, we’re your expert partners in delivering holistic dentistry solutions. We provide personalised dental care, including check-ups, tooth extractions, or wisdom teeth removals. We expedite dental treatments without compromising safety and affordability.
Call 02 4655 4438 or book an appointment for cost-effective dental services.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many tooth extractions are performed in Australia each year?
Australia has 180,000 tooth extractions each year, with surgical removal accounting for 80%, which includes wisdom tooth removal and dental emergencies.
How much does a tooth extraction cost in Australia?
A simple extraction costs around $75 – $200 per tooth, while surgical extraction (including wisdom tooth) costs around $150 – $450. However, this could increase depending on the extra procedures required, location, clinic, and dentist’s expertise.
Does Medicare in Australia cover tooth extraction?
Medicare doesn’t pay for services that include care, treatment, filling, removal, or replacement of teeth. The exception is when patients require hospitalisation or treatment due to severe dental conditions. That’s why most Aussies rely on private insurance or out-of-pocket payments.
How long does it take to recover from a tooth extraction?
Recovery time depends on the complexity of the extraction. While the pain typically subsides after three days, the wound takes two weeks to heal. Adequate aftercare is crucial for swift recovery, especially for more invasive procedures.
What are the most common reasons for tooth extractions?
The most common reasons for tooth extractions include impacted wisdom teeth, severe decay, overcrowding, gum disease (infections), and emergency dental trauma.
