I recently finally decided to get the wisdom tooth that had been bothering me for almost a year removed. I had been reading other people’s experiences online, but the information felt a bit scattered and the prices mentioned varied widely. Now that I’ve gone through the whole process myself, I’ve decided to write a post to serve as a reference for others who might need it, especially regarding the most pressing concern for everyone—the cost.
I’m based in Madrid, and my case involved an impacted wisdom tooth, which was more complicated and required a minor surgical procedure. Fearing the long waiting lists at public hospitals, I consulted both public and private options and ultimately chose a private clinic. Below, I’ll detail the differences between the two systems and their respective costs.
Public Hospitals
If you have social security (seguridad social), getting a wisdom tooth extracted at a public hospital is theoretically free of charge. The process generally goes like this: first, you visit your assigned primary care physician (médico de cabecera) at your local health center (centro de salud). They will give you a referral to a dentist. After an examination, if the dentist determines an extraction is necessary, they will give you another referral to queue for surgery at a specialized maxillofacial surgery department.
The main advantage of the public system is that it saves money, but the disadvantage is also very clear—it’s slow! Extremely slow! From seeing the primary care physician to finally getting the surgery, I have friends who have waited for six months, or even over a year. If your wisdom tooth isn’t causing any pain and doesn’t need urgent attention, waiting in the public system is a viable option. But if your tooth is already inflamed and painful, as mine was, this waiting period is truly agonizing. This is a common complaint about the public system, not just for dental work but for other services too, like getting [physical therapy and massage in Spain].
Private Hospitals/Clinics
If you don’t want to wait or if you don’t have social security, then the private route is your only option. This applies not just to surgery but even for simpler procedures like [getting an injection in Spain]. The advantages of private healthcare are speed, better service, and more choices. You can typically get an appointment within a week of calling. In my case, I called for an appointment on a Monday, had my X-rays and consultation on Wednesday, and the surgery was scheduled for the following Tuesday. It was very efficient. The downside, of course, is the cost.
Here’s a breakdown of the quotes I received and what I ultimately paid, to give you a rough idea. Note that prices can vary significantly between different cities and clinics!
| Service | Price Range |
|---|
| Initial Consultation + Panoramic X-ray | 50€ - 100€ |
| Simple Wisdom Tooth Extraction | 80€ - 150€ |
| Impacted Wisdom Tooth Extraction | 200€ - 450€ |
| Post-op Check-up and Suture Removal | Usually included in the surgery fee |
The clinic I chose charged €320 for the impacted lower wisdom tooth surgery. Including the cost of the X-ray, the total came to nearly €400. If you have private health insurance, it’s crucial to check what your policy covers, as coverage for services can vary widely, from major procedures down to routine checks related to blood test prices in Spain. Many insurance plans cover teeth cleaning, X-rays, and simple extractions, but complex surgical extractions might only be partially covered with a discount, or not covered at all. So before the procedure, it’s essential to take the treatment plan from your doctor and confirm with your insurance company exactly how much they will reimburse!
