Wisdom Tooth Extraction Cost and Health Insurance Guide: Copayment Rates and Why Costs Differ

In Korea, the cost of wisdom tooth removal is calculated on National Health Insurance benefit standards. Insurance extraction items are divided by tooth condition, so a complex impacted tooth removed in sections, or a fully impacted tooth needing both bone removal and sectioning, carries a higher fee than an ordinary molar. The patient's payment is that fee multiplied by the outpatient copayment rate (30% at dental clinics, 40% at dental hospitals and 50% at general hospitals in dong areas), with CT and prescriptions added depending on care.

Published 2026-11-08 · Updated 2026-11-08 · DentalStatics editorial team

Key facts

Wisdom tooth extraction	Covered health insurance care (extraction item) (source: Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA, 건강보험심사평가원))
Complex impacted tooth extraction	When tooth sectioning is performed (source: HIRA)
Fully impacted tooth extraction	When a tooth with at least two thirds of the crown buried in alveolar bone is removed with both bone removal and tooth sectioning (source: HIRA)
Outpatient copayment rate	Dental clinic 30%, dental hospital 40% (35% in eup/myeon areas), general hospital 50% (45% in eup/myeon areas), tertiary hospital: full consultation fee plus 60% of the rest (source: National Health Insurance Service (NHIS, 국민건강보험공단))
Outpatient copayment rate for pregnant women	Dental clinic 10%, dental hospital 20%, general hospital 30%, tertiary hospital 40% (source: NHIS)
Extraction for orthodontic purposes	May not be covered by medical insurance (source: Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA, 질병관리청) National Health Information Portal)

Is wisdom tooth extraction covered by health insurance?

Yes. In Korea, wisdom tooth extraction is covered care billed under the National Health Insurance extraction items. HIRA review cases include claims for ordinary molar extraction, complex impacted tooth extraction and fully impacted tooth extraction under diagnoses such as impacted lower third molar.

However, not every extraction is under the same conditions. KDCA extraction guidance explains that extraction for orthodontic purposes may not be covered by medical insurance. If a wisdom tooth is removed as part of an orthodontic treatment plan, check in advance whether it is covered.

Why does the cost differ by impaction level?

National Health Insurance extraction fees differ by tooth condition. The deeper the impaction, the more steps such as gum incision, bone removal and tooth sectioning are needed, and the fee rises accordingly. The items that appear in HIRA review cases are as follows.

Molar extraction: removing an erupted molar by the ordinary method
Complex impacted tooth extraction: removing an impacted tooth by sectioning it
Fully impacted tooth extraction: removing a tooth with at least two thirds of the crown buried in bone, with both bone removal and tooth sectioning

How is the copayment calculated?

The patient's share of National Health Insurance medical costs is set by the outpatient copayment rate for each type of facility. Per NHIS, it is 30% of the total covered cost at dental clinics, 40% in dong areas and 35% in eup/myeon areas at dental hospitals, and 50% in dong areas and 45% in eup/myeon areas at general hospitals. At tertiary hospitals, patients pay the full consultation fee plus 60% of the remaining cost.

Pregnant women pay lower rates: 10% at dental clinics, 20% at dental hospitals, 30% at general hospitals and 40% at tertiary hospitals. This is why the amount at the counter differs depending on where even the same wisdom tooth is removed.

What other costs come besides the extraction fee?

On the day of extraction, the consultation fee, radiography, anesthesia and prescription medicine are billed together. If a dental CT is taken because the tooth is close to the mandibular canal, that cost is added, and sedation or general anesthesia is charged separately.

Costs also arise when severe inflammation requires an incision and drainage first, or when you return days later to have stitches removed. If a forward-tilted wisdom tooth has caused a cavity in the molar in front, that treatment is a separate cost. Asking about the expected items before extraction makes it easier to estimate the total cost.

Which type of facility is better for extraction?

Wisdom teeth that have come in straight or are shallowly impacted are commonly removed at neighborhood dental clinics. KDCA extraction guidance explains that when impacted tooth extraction is expected to be difficult, the patient is referred to an oral and maxillofacial surgery specialist, so a tooth very close to the nerve canal or a patient with systemic disease may be referred to a dental hospital or general hospital.

A referral may raise the copayment rate, but it is a choice made in preparation for a riskier extraction. Compare public information in DentalStatics' regional dental lists, and decide after confirming the impaction level and expected items at the consultation.

Common myths and facts

Myth: Impacted wisdom tooth extraction is not covered by insurance, so it is expensive.

In Korea, impacted wisdom tooth extraction is also covered care billed under the National Health Insurance extraction items. Only the fee differs by impaction level.

Myth: Wisdom tooth extraction costs the same at every dental office.

Even under the same health insurance standards, the amount at the counter differs depending on the copayment rate for the type of facility and extra items such as CT, anesthesia and medicine.

Frequently asked questions

Does removing four wisdom teeth cost four times as much?

The extraction fee is set per tooth, so it increases with the number of teeth and the impaction level. Some items, such as the consultation fee, are charged only once when teeth are removed on the same day, so ask the dentist for the exact amount. How many to remove at once is best decided on recovery and safety rather than cost.

Is it more expensive to have it removed at a university hospital?

At tertiary hospitals, patients pay the full consultation fee plus 60% of the remaining cost, so the copayment is higher than the 30% at dental clinics. However, a risky impacted wisdom tooth may need a referral, so it is hard to choose on cost alone.

Does the copayment go down if I have a wisdom tooth removed during pregnancy?

Pregnant women get lower outpatient copayment rates of 10% at dental clinics and 20% at dental hospitals. However, the timing of extraction during pregnancy should be decided after consulting your obstetrician.

Is the cost of a CT covered by health insurance?

Whether a CT is covered can vary with the reason for the scan and the criteria. If you are told a CT is needed because the tooth is close to the nerve canal, ask whether it is covered and how much it costs before it is taken.

Can I make a claim on private indemnity insurance?

The scope of private indemnity insurance coverage depends on the terms of the policy you hold. The accurate way is to get the medical receipt and itemized statement and check with the insurer. The itemized statement lists extraction, anesthesia, imaging and medicine, divided into covered and non-covered items.

References

Korean version →