Ear Wax Removal in Charlotte
Get ear wax removal at both OneSpotMD clinics in Charlotte, open 7 days. A provider examines your ear first and chooses a safe removal method. When appropriate, we soften the wax with drops and flush it with warm water; a curette may be used for removal by hand. Some patients need a different approach or specialist referral. Insurance costs depend on your plan and services. We are in network with most NC Medicaid plans; copays for covered visits are usually $0 or $4. Check your plan to confirm coverage and cost. Self-pay is $80 per ear plus the $140 visit.
Blocked or muffled ear? Start with an exam. Wax, infection and other conditions can feel similar. Sudden hearing loss needs immediate medical evaluation rather than routine cleaning.
Plaza Midwood: Book Plaza Midwood · 704-731-8656
Steele Creek: Book Steele Creek · 980-880-5588
- ✓ Walk in at Plaza Midwood or Steele Creek, 7 days a week
- ✓ Ear exam first to make sure removal is safe
- ✓ Softening drops and irrigation when safe
- ✓ Removal by hand with a curette if needed
- ✓ Check for an ear infection in the same visit
- ✓ $80 per ear self-pay, plus the visit
Save my spotInsurance we accept
¿Tiene los oídos tapados por cerumen? Le limpiamos los oídos en ambas clínicas, 7 días a la semana.
On this page
Signs of ear wax buildupHow we remove itWhat not to do at homeCostWhen to get help fast
Does urgent care remove ear wax?
Yes. At OneSpotMD, a provider looks in your ear to check for wax and make sure removal is safe. Treatment may include softening drops, warm-water irrigation or careful removal with a curette. The choice depends on your exam and medical history; removal or referral may require follow-up. We do it at both clinics, and you don’t need an appointment.
Signs of ear wax buildup
| What you may notice | What it can mean |
|---|---|
| Ear feels full or plugged | Wax may be blocking the ear canal |
| Sounds are muffled | Wax can block sound from reaching the eardrum |
| Ringing in the ear | Can accompany wax buildup, but also has other causes |
| Itching or a mild earache | Wax buildup, or sometimes an infection |
| Dizziness | Sometimes caused by wax, but it can have other causes |
Ear pain with fever, drainage or swelling can be an infection. We can check for that in the same visit. See ear infections.
Before wax removal: Tell the provider about ear tubes, a hole in the eardrum, ear surgery, drainage, diabetes, a weakened immune system or blood-thinning medicines. Irrigation is not suitable for every ear. Sudden hearing loss needs immediate medical evaluation, not a routine wax-cleaning appointment.
How we remove ear wax
An object stuck in the ear needs assessment; removal depends on its type, position and whether it can be removed safely. A suspected button battery needs emergency care immediately. Do not irrigate or try to dig it out.
What not to do at home
- Don’t use cotton swabs in the ear canal. They push wax deeper.
- Don’t use ear candles. They don’t work and can burn your ear.
- Don’t put sharp objects, like bobby pins or keys, in your ear
- Ask a clinician before using wax drops if you have ear pain, drainage, ear tubes, a known or possible eardrum hole, or previous ear surgery. Do not irrigate your ear at home in these situations
- Come in if your ear stays plugged, hurts, or you can’t hear well
When to arrange an ear exam
Earwax normally protects the ear and does not need removal when it is not causing symptoms or blocking a needed exam. Arrange an exam for persistent symptoms rather than repeatedly trying to remove it yourself.
| If you wait | What can happen |
|---|---|
| A plugged ear that won’t clear | Wax can harden and be harder to remove |
| Trying to dig wax out | Cotton swabs and tools can push wax deeper or scratch the ear canal |
| Ear pain with fever or drainage | It may be an ear infection that needs treatment |
How much does ear wax removal cost?
- Copay: your plan’s copay amount is due at the visit.
- Coinsurance: your share depends on your plan and the services you receive.
- Deductible: your plan may apply a deductible; after insurance processes the claim, additional patient responsibility may be billed.
- NC Medicaid plans: we are in network with most NC Medicaid plans. Copays for covered visits are usually $0 or $4; check your plan to confirm coverage and cost.
Self-pay prices
These are discounted prices for patients who don’t have insurance or choose not to use it.
| Service | Self-pay price |
|---|---|
| Visit | $140 |
| Ear wax removal | $80 per ear |
One ear is $220 including the $140 visit; both ears are $300. Other services cost extra. See the plans we take on our insurance page and every price on our self-pay price list.
When to get help fast
- Sudden hearing loss in one or both ears is a medical emergency: seek evaluation immediately. Do not assume it is wax or wait for drops to work
- Severe ear pain with high fever, or swelling and redness behind the ear
- Bleeding or clear fluid from the ear after a head injury: seek emergency evaluation
- Dizziness with new weakness, trouble speaking or a severe headache: call 911
- Anything you think could be organ-threatening or life-threatening
If there’s ever a concern that it could be organ-threatening or life-threatening, it’s always best to call 911.
Related services
Ear infectionsUrgent care for kidsUrgent care servicesInsurance we accept
Further reading: ENT Health: earwax and NIH: sudden hearing loss.
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