What does a tooth extraction cost without insurance?

Sample extraction prices

Only a few places post their dental fees, and we could not find a trusted national cash price. The best sample we found is a university dental clinic's 2025-2026 patient fee list.

That list charges $175 to pull a tooth that has come in or to take out an exposed root. A surgical removal of an erupted tooth, which means a tooth that has grown in through the gum, costs $300. Removing a root that was left behind costs $350. For a baby tooth with only the top part left, the list shows $160.

Medicaid fee schedules give another view of prices. North Dakota Medicaid's schedule dated July 1, 2026 pays a dentist $107.22 for a simple extraction for an adult and $219.18 for the surgical kind. Montana Medicaid's schedule dated July 1, 2025 pays $86.94 and $158.08. Those are Medicaid payments to dentists, not cash prices. Cash fees at a private office can be higher or lower.

Wisdom teeth have their own price steps, which we cover in our guide on wisdom teeth removal cost.

Simple or surgical, and how each changes your bill

A simple extraction is for a tooth that can be seen above the gum. The dentist loosens it and lifts it out. A surgical extraction is for a tooth that is broken off at the gum or that is stuck in place by curved roots. The dentist may cut the gum or remove a little bone, and that takes more time.

The two kinds have different prices on the fee lists above. A dentist may not know which kind you need until the tooth is examined and X-rayed. That is why a price given over the phone can change in the chair. Ask the office what it charges for each type and what triggers the higher one.

Other items can show up on the same bill, such as an exam, an X-ray, numbing and a follow-up visit. Ask which of them are in the fee and which are billed on their own.

What else changes the price

The tooth you need pulled makes a difference. Teeth in the back have more roots than teeth in the front, and a tooth with several curved roots can take longer to take out. A tooth that is already infected may need care before it comes out, and the infection can add steps.

The kind of office changes the price too. A general dentist handles many pulls, while a harder case may be sent to an oral surgeon, who is a dentist with extra surgical training. The two offices may set different prices for the same tooth.

Some offices offer sedation, which is medicine that helps you relax or sleep. Ask whether sedation is included and how much it costs. Also ask whether you will need a ride home. The phone script in our guide on asking for the cash price works for each of these questions.

What if the tooth hurts and I cannot wait for an appointment?

Call a dentist and describe what is happening. According to the American Dental Association, most dentists keep time open for emergency patients. Tell the office that you pay without insurance, and ask for the self-pay price of that visit.

Health centers and some Medicaid programs also help with urgent dental pain. The federal Department of Health and Human Services says most states cover at least emergency dental care for adults in Medicaid. Fewer than half of all states cover full care. Rules differ by state, so call your state Medicaid office.

If you do go to an emergency room, our guide on the ER without insurance explains your rights.

Ways to pay less

Dental school clinics treat patients with students and licensed teachers. One such clinic puts its fees at 40 to 60 percent below private practice fees. Ask if they pull teeth and how soon they can see you.

Community health centers are federally supported clinics with a sliding scale, which means the fee drops as income drops. The Health Resources and Services Administration says they serve everyone, even people who cannot pay. Not every center has a dentist on staff, so call ahead. Our community health centers guide shows how to find one. Our guide on dental care without insurance lists more low-cost places to try.

A payment plan can spread out the cost of a surgical removal, so ask whether the office adds interest. If a bill has already come, the steps in our guide on negotiating medical bills also work for dental bills.

The cost of what comes after

A pulled tooth leaves a gap, and some people choose to fill it. Your dentist can explain the options and what each would cost. A bridge, a denture and an implant each have their own fees. We have separate guides on denture costs and dental implant costs.

Sometimes the choice is between pulling a tooth and saving it with a root canal and a crown. A dentist decides which fits, and we cannot say. If you are weighing the two, ask for the price of both so you can compare. Our guide on the root canal cost covers the other side of that choice.

Our directory and when to go to the ER

Our directory has physicians, and dentists are not part of it. A doctor can still examine a swollen jaw or a sore mouth and guide you to the right care. Our directory can help you search for a cash-pay doctor close to home.

If a tooth infection comes with a fever and swelling in your face and you cannot reach a dentist, go to an emergency room. Trouble breathing or swallowing is a reason to call 911 or go to the ER right away, because the infection may be spreading. Call 911 or go to the nearest ER in any emergency. This page is general information and not dental advice.