Garak Market Station Dentist - Four Wisdom Teeth at Once?

Hello. I’m Shin Seung-hwan, the medical director of 연세유라인치과의원 가락점, located near Garak Market Station in Garak-dong, Songpa-gu.

Today, I’d like to talk about wisdom tooth extraction.

In particular, many people ask:

“Can all four wisdom teeth be extracted at once?”

To get straight to the point, it is possible to remove them all.

However, we need to consider whether that is truly the best choice for you.

Wisdom teeth were originally teeth that people naturally needed back when humans had larger jaws—in other words, in ancient times.

But these days, our jawbones have become smaller and our facial structures have changed. The number of teeth, however, has remained the same, so there often isn’t enough room for them to come in at the back.

As a result, wisdom teeth often cannot erupt straight. Many come in sideways or at an angle.

These days, many people do not develop all four wisdom teeth; some develop only two.

So, do wisdom teeth always have to be removed?

That depends on the individual.

Some people prefer to keep them because they believe that having even one more tooth is beneficial. Others say, “Food keeps getting stuck and they’re difficult to maintain, so let’s just remove them.”

Some even say, “Let’s keep them because the bone obtained when the wisdom teeth are removed can be used later for a dental implant.”

But based on my experience, even wisdom teeth that have erupted straight are difficult to brush properly.

It is genuinely rare to find someone who can keep them well maintained.

In particular, some taller men with larger jaws may have enough room for their wisdom teeth and may not experience problems.

However, most people have narrow jaws, crooked teeth, or insufficient space.

That is why I believe wisdom teeth that erupt crookedly or sideways should generally be removed.

On the other hand, if a wisdom tooth has erupted completely straight, there is enough room, and it can be maintained properly, it may be reasonable to have it examined by a dentist and keep it.

However, cases like this are genuinely rare.

Now, getting to the main point: can all four wisdom teeth be removed at once?

Technically, yes. A dentist can remove all four.

The problem is that the procedure can be difficult for you.

For example, eating can be uncomfortable even when only one side is treated. If all four are removed, you may not have a comfortable area to chew with.

In particular, when a lower wisdom tooth is lying sideways, it cannot simply be pulled out. The gum may need to be incised, some bone removed, and the tooth sectioned before extraction. Naturally, this can lead to swelling, pain, and discomfort.

Your jaw may even swell considerably, similar to the way it can with mumps.

Therefore, whenever possible, I recommend removing the teeth one side at a time, separating the upper and lower teeth.

Usually, allowing three to four weeks between procedures is enough time for recovery, so it is better to proceed gradually in this way.

Of course, there are exceptions.

Some people need to finish quickly because they have limited time, while others are so afraid of or uncomfortable with dental treatment that they want to have everything done at once.

In such cases, all four may sometimes be removed at once under sleep treatment or sedation anesthesia.

However, this should only be considered when there is truly no other practical option.

In summary, wisdom teeth may be kept if they erupt straight and can be maintained properly. But if they are even slightly crooked or uncomfortable, it is generally better to remove them.

For extraction, having the teeth removed one side at a time is much easier on you than having all four removed at once.