Korean Job Discussion Forums

[redhed]

I was just wondering if anyone has had their wisdom teeth removed here. How did it go? Specifically, was it covered by your national health plan? Were you adequately doped up for the procedure? Were you prescribe adequate pain killers for the post-procedure? If anyone has had a good experience with it, please let me know where you had it done and the approximate cost. Thanks.

[Cohiba]

[prideofidaho]

Just for caution's sake....a very good friend of mine had her wisdom teeth out in Korea, then moved to Taiwan where she found out that the teeth were never removed.

[Aelric]

I got my two uppers yanked two months back. The whole process cost less than 20,000 won plus prescription costs for the antibiotics and painkillers. Mine had already come in, however, I so just got a shot and they busted out the pliers. If yours are under the gums, then I dunno how different your experience will be. I think it all has to do with you dentist, just like home. If you are in Busan, I recommend Michigan Dental in Gaya.

[Goku]

[Kurtz]

I wasn't under a health care plan (long story, hagwon hell days) but even still, I had two wisdom teeth pulled out, one which was hurting me, the other because it was there and he maybe wanted to make a little extra money. Without too much trauma, the total cost for everything including the pain killers to be taken later was about 90,000 won.

I'd be paying about that just to sit in the chair and have some basic scaling done back home so yeah, no complaints at all.

That was the same dentist though that suggested I needed 8 fillings, however when I got second opinion, I was told my teeth are fine!

[nobbyken]

I had one bad old wisdom tooth extracted under local anaesthetic. More difficult for the dentist than me. I forget how many times he tried from different angles. Got antibiotics and painkillers for a few days and the whole lot cost less than 20,ooo.

I have another wisdom tooth on the oposite side of my mouth. This one is at a 45 degree angle to the rest (looks crazy on the scan), and it's root seems to cross the adjacent roots. The tooth started rotting a few years back at the little bit which poked through the gum. Cleaning it is now very tricky and it's a natural trap for food. No pain yet, but many minutes each day spend cleaning one tooth. I hope to get it removed over the next month or two where I'm currently getting some work done.
Only hospitals or specialized dentists perform tricky extractions under general anaesthetic.
Wisdom teeth extraction is covered by health insurance so the maximum cost for one done under a general will be 100,ooo.
ps- Many Koreans get them removed when children.

[mayorgc]

Make sure the guy pulling your teeth are wearing rubber gloves.

My GF had her teeth pulled and the guy wasn't wearing any.

[NightSky]

have had two removed here, months apart, one on the bottom, one on the top. trying to work up the nerve (ha) to get the others done.

don't want to scare anyone because obviously everyone's pain tolerance and recovery time is different but I would NOT recommend getting one or more pulled unless you have at *least* three days or more to recuperate. the first time I got one pulled I had to work the same day (because I didn't know what to expect and the dentist didn't seem to think it would be a problem) and I bled through most of my classes and was in intense pain.

the second time, I got it out on a Saturday and was still miserable with a throbbing jaw by Monday. I do blame this in part on the crappy painkillers here. and it's not just the pain itself it's the fact that you can't/don't want to eat anything, that does a number on your energy levels, you're basically reduced to yogurt or pudding or soup.

[Captain Corea]

2 removed here - no problems.

[Kikomom]

Zippy had three wisdom teeth removed about a month or so ago. He was really being a big baby about it and wanted knocked out. I tried to tell him that novocaine and gas is all you need, this isn't brain surgery. Even after finding an oral surgery center, he ended up awake thru it anyhow. What was he expecting? An overnight stay? geez

They stitched the gums and he walked out on his own steam to come back a week later to have the stitches removed. The stitches are important because if you lose a clot, you run the risk of a 'dry socket'. And that's when you'll need some serious pain killers--sometimes for weeks on end.

Very few people have their third molars come in straight and perfect. But if you do, they can actually be good to leave them alone as they can be used as an implant later if another molar needs to be removed.
http://www.drted.com/index.html.bak2/nytimesarticlewisdom.htm

[E_athlete]

if i have a dental plan i doubt that will that cover whitening/bleaching my teeth. My teeth have been cleaned but I want my teeth white Im pretty self conscious about them. How much would it cost me in sparkling Korea?

Can you recommend me any places around Iksan? Actually I'm willing to take the KTX anywhere if they speak English and affordable.

[antoniothegreat]

my experience was mixed. the cost was quite low, like 8,000. i was doped enough. they used the cream to kill the sensation before the needle, so no problems there.

the problem was the tooth came in sideways, so instead of going up and down, it was left and right. so it took an hour or more to get out. that wasn't the dentists fault, but he never let me close my mouth the entire time. if i tried, he would not move his hands out of the way. so my jaw was open for the entire 60+ minutes. my jaw hurt for like 3 days.

[prideofidaho]

[Bramble]

I've had two wisdom teeth out in Korea and no real problems. Will need a third extraction soon.