Dental Treatments and Costs in Korea

90 guides on dental treatment in Korea: procedures, timelines, National Health Insurance coverage and costs, with official sources for every figure.

Laminates and Whitening

In Korea, laminates are 0.5-1.0 mm shells on front teeth, and whiteners over 3% peroxide are drugs. Why cosmetic care is uninsured and how to check prices.

Cavities and Root Canal Treatment

In Korea, resin fillings for permanent teeth up to age 12 and sealants up to age 18 are insured. Root canal treatment takes 3 to 4 or more visits.

Crowns, Bridges and Dentures

In Korea, crowns, bridges and dentures are mostly uninsured; only dentures and implants for ages 65+ are covered. A prosthesis takes 1 to 3 weeks.

Gum Disease Treatment

In Korea, gum treatment steps up from scaling to root planing to surgery. Insurance covers scaling yearly from age 19; checkups every 3-6 months are advised.

Dental implants

Implants place a titanium root in the jaw and take 3-4 months to bond. In Korea, people 65+ with some teeth left get 2 lifetime implants insured at 30% copay.

Orthodontics

Braces, timing, duration and cost. A first check-up at about age 7 is advised; treatment takes 1-3 years and is uninsured in Korea except cleft palate.

Pediatric Dentistry

In Korea, infants get 4 free oral checkups at 18-65 months. Sealants on cavity-free molars (age 18 and under) cost 10%; resin fillings at ages 5-12 are insured.

Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ)

TMJ disorders cause pain in the joint and chewing muscles, joint noise and limited jaw movement, mostly at 15-45. Reversible care first; splints non-covered.

Wisdom Tooth Extraction

In Korea, wisdom teeth erupt in the late teens to early 20s, and the KDCA says removal near age 20 is easiest. Swelling peaks at 48 hours after extraction.