Infant Oral Checkup Guide for Korea: How to Get the 4 Free Checkups at 18-65 Months

The infant oral checkup is a national screening run by the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS, 국민건강보험공단), taken once each at 18-29, 30-41, 42-53 and 54-65 months of age, four times in all. If taken within the set period there is no out-of-pocket cost; the NHIS pays for insured members, and the state and local governments pay for Medical Aid recipients. The checkup consists of an oral questionnaire and examination plus oral health education for caregivers and child, aiming to find cavities, gum enlargement and tooth abnormalities.

Published 2026-11-08 · Updated 2026-11-08 · DentalStatics editorial team

Key facts

Checkup rounds and timing	Round 1: 18-29 months; Round 2: 30-41 months; Round 3: 42-53 months; Round 4: 54-65 months (source: National Health Insurance Service (NHIS))
Checkup cost	No out-of-pocket cost (NHIS pays for insured members; the state and local governments pay for Medical Aid) (source: National Health Insurance Service (NHIS))
30-41 month checkup added	Implemented June 30, 2022, for children born on or after December 30, 2019 (source: Ministry of Health and Welfare)
Checkup items	Oral questionnaire and examination, oral health education for caregivers and child (source: National Health Insurance Service (NHIS))
Target conditions	Dental caries, gum enlargement, tooth abnormalities (source: National Health Insurance Service (NHIS))
General infant health checkup	8 rounds between 14 days and 71 months, separate from the oral checkup (source: National Health Insurance Service (NHIS))

When is the infant oral checkup taken?

In Korea, the oral checkup is taken separately from the general infant health checkup that measures height and weight, and the timing differs slightly. The general checkup has 8 rounds from 14 days to 71 months, and the oral checkup is 4 rounds of those, between 18 and 65 months.

Some rounds of the general checkup and the oral checkup overlap in period, so booking the pediatric and dental appointments in the same month makes them easy to handle together. The exact period for each round is calculated from the child's date of birth, so use the NHIS lookup result as your guide.

Oral checkup round 1: 18-29 months
Oral checkup round 2: 30-41 months (added June 30, 2022)
Oral checkup round 3: 42-53 months
Oral checkup round 4: 54-65 months

What is done at the infant oral checkup?

Based on an oral questionnaire the caregiver fills out in advance, the dentist discusses oral hygiene, eating habits, fluoride use, and dental history and symptoms. The dentist checks each tooth for cavities and, if needed, also checks oral hygiene, including how much food debris and plaque remain.

Depending on the results, the caregiver and child receive tailored oral health education and guidance on follow-up care. The NHIS sets the target conditions of this checkup as dental caries, gum enlargement and tooth abnormalities.

How do you find a checkup provider and what should you prepare?

The NHIS sends the health checkup notice as an electronic document to the employee subscriber or head of household, and by mail as well if it is not opened. The start and end dates for each round, based on the child's date of birth, can be checked in the infant checkup date lookup on the NHIS website, where the questionnaire form can also be downloaded.

The oral checkup is taken at a dental clinic registered as an infant oral checkup provider, so even if the general checkup was done at your pediatrician, you need to book a dental clinic separately for the oral checkup. Filling out the questionnaire beforehand shortens the checkup and makes the consultation more specific.

What if cavities are found at the checkup?

The oral checkup is the stage of finding problems and explaining how to manage them; cavity treatment is a separate visit and incurs a fee. For children aged 1 to under 6, the outpatient copayment on insured care drops to about 70% of the standard patient rate.

The results are given directly to the caregiver after the checkup, so bringing the cavity locations and care recommendations on the result sheet to the next visit makes it easier to plan treatment. Permanent teeth begin to erupt around the 4th round, so also discuss the timing of molar sealants.

What happens if you miss the oral checkup period?

The NHIS advises that infant checkups can be taken only within the checkup period, and that if checkups are taken beyond the set number, the cost is recovered. A missed oral checkup round cannot be taken late or bundled in afterward, so if you missed one, confirm the next round's schedule in advance and bring up any concerns in the meantime at a regular visit.

In years with changes such as starting daycare or moving, it is easy to forget the checkup period. Putting each round's start date in your phone calendar and booking as soon as the period begins makes it easier to get the date you want.

Common myths and facts

Myth: The infant oral checkup is taken together with the pediatric health checkup.

The general infant health checkup and the oral checkup are separate. The oral checkup is taken separately at a dental clinic registered as an infant oral checkup provider.

Myth: If cavities are found at the oral checkup, treatment is free too.

Only the checkup fee is free of out-of-pocket cost; cavity treatment afterward is regular care with a fee. For insured items, the copayment is reduced depending on the child's age.

Myth: The oral checkup is still taken only 3 times, as before.

Since June 30, 2022, a 30-41 month checkup has been added, so it is now 4 times. It applied starting with children born on or after December 30, 2019.

Frequently asked questions

Can the infant oral checkup be taken at any dental clinic?

It can be taken only at dental clinics registered as infant oral checkup providers. Find a nearby clinic through the provider search on the NHIS website and book by phone. Telling them when booking that you are coming for the infant oral checkup lets you get guidance on preparing the questionnaire.

Is fluoride application done at the oral checkup?

The checkup items are the questionnaire, examination and oral health education. Fluoride application is a separate non-covered treatment, so if you want it, ask about it on the checkup day and confirm the cost.

What if my child will not cooperate and the checkup cannot be done?

Young children are sometimes examined briefly lying across the caregiver's lap. If that is still difficult, ask the clinic whether you can rebook on another day within the same checkup round's period.

How do I receive the oral checkup results?

After the checkup, the provider tells the caregiver directly. Put the care recommendations in the results into practice at home, and compare changes at the next round's checkup. Keeping the result sheets lets you see at a glance how your child's teeth changed from round to round.

We lived abroad and missed the checkup timing. What now?

Once a round's checkup period has passed, that round can no longer be taken. Check the remaining rounds' schedule in the NHIS checkup date lookup, and until then have your child's teeth checked through regular care.

References

Korean version →