Korean Job Discussion Forums

[shostahoosier]

I went to the dentist this weekend in Seoul and I was quoted almost 7,000,000W for ceramic (clear) braces!

I always thought they would be closer to the 5,000,000W mark.

The dentist lowered the quote to 6,000,000W but I still dont know if that's way too much.

I was told that braces cost more in Korea than they would in the west. I always thought it was the opposite.

Am I being ripped off? To be fair, I did really like the dentist and he seemed to be pretty genuine and offered to stay open later for me.

I am considering just going to Thailand to get them put on (ceramic braces) for about $2500 USD. I dont know how I would get them serviced monthly in Korea though.

Any thoughts?

[Caffeinated]

I've heard about going to Thailand for getting medical services that don't require a long period of follow-up so I don't understand the idea of getting braces there. The whole point of braces is getting them on your teeth to move them. Once your teeth have been successfully moved a few millimeters, you need to get an adjustment. For me, adjustments were every 3-6 weeks depending on the space that needed to be covered and the strength of the new wire/elastics. So a huge part of the cost of braces isn't the material, it's the x-rays/measurements/man-hours it takes to put a new adjustment on and then taking it off.

I didn't get braces in Korea so I don't know about prices. But if you feel it's a good time to get them done and you found an orthodontist you can trust, I'd say go do it. The option is to wait for something possibly cheaper but feeling uneasy about showing off your smile until then.

[shostahoosier]

thanks this actually answers a major part of my question.

Its only about $2000-$3000 in Thailand for ceramic (including monthly service)...but I imagine it may be equally as cheap in Korea if you just had them put them on too and then left forever (I doubt anyone flies to Thailand every 3 weeks just for dental work).

The orthodontist offered a really reasonable payment plan and then a final bonding procedure, so I'm guessing the 6,000,000W includes a lot.

I was just expecting closer to 4,000,000W-5,000,000W...so to be told almost 7,000,000W was a little shocking.

[Caffeinated]

Have your orthodontist clarify how much that fee covers. As an example mine didn't cover extractions (which were done elsewhere) and there was a small visitation fee after the 20th visit, but this wasn't in Korea, mind you.

[shostahoosier]

He told me it would cover the consultation, the braces, all visits for the treatment (he figures less than 18 months) and then bonding of a wire to help my teeth retain their shape.

You're right that I should get definite, qualitive figures.

thanks!

[plynx]

[Oreovictim]

I wouldn't mind getting braces. But I went for a consultation a few years ago. The orthodontist said that since there's not much space to work with, so he would have to remove four molars. Yikes!

[shostahoosier]

[PatrickBateman]

Mine cost me 2.5 mil for the top row.
I didn't need the bottom.

[hellofaniceguy]

Fly to the PI...it'll be way cheaper even with the airfare! Around 1500 U.S. dollars for braces.
Problem is...having them readjusted....it seems that not all dentists' have the exact tools needed to adjust anothers work.

[kimchi_pizza]

Based on personal and outdated experience...

6/7,000,000 is outrageous and a sign to find a more reputable orthodontist. I have also heard through the grapevine that S.E. Asia, i.e. Thailand, offers just as good treatment or realignment and cheaper rates.

By my best guess, 4,000,000 TOPS should cover you.

[jsk]

6M sounds about right to me for a nicer place. I had braces put on in Korea last year (should be finished in a month or two). I visited 3 or 4 dentists in the Gangnam area and also the SNU dental hospital. All of them quoted me between 6 and 7 million won. I ended up going with an orthodontist in Apgujeong who graduated from Columbia University and practiced in the US before coming to Seoul. I paid 6M and that includes retainers.

Even though it might be more than others, it's worth it to me to go somewhere that's clean and professional with no wait times, and an English-speaking orthodontist who's actually an orthodontist (a lot of them are just general dentists). I was a surgical case (had to have jaw surgery this year) so I was looking for someone who knew what he was talking about, and he knew his stuff. Plus I get my teeth cleaned every 3 weeks during my visit, which never happened when I had braces in the States 10 years ago.

[sara210]

I have braces in Korea right now. I don't live in Seoul but a small city about an hour and half away. The dentist studied at Seoul National. I paid 2 million, for 10 months of work, including retainers and bonded wire to keep the teeth straight. His English isnt great but thankfully his wife, who is also a dentist, does have excellent English!

I usually visit him every 3 weeks.

[diver]

[jsk]