Korean Job Discussion Forums

uofagirl · Joined: 06 Jan 2006 Location: Central Seoul

I went to a dentist today(in Canada) and had a cleaning, checkup, and a panoramic shot of my mouth done for $250. I'm not in shock over the price as I've never been to a dentist in my two years in Seoul so I really have nothing to compare it to(I know how everyone raves about the cheap dental costs in Korea).

Anyhow, the dentist really insisted on sending me to a specialist to get my wisdom teeth taken out(two are impacted already) and when I inquired about the price, he said it'd probably be around $400 each. Yikes! Then he said that I had a severe cavity and recommended getting a root canal as a preventative measure(it's not hurting or irritating yet). All for the low, low price of $900!

I couldn't commit immediately because the costs are quite high so I asked if it would be okay if I waited and got the root canal done back in Seoul(at least I have insurance here!) He then proceeded to say many negative things about Korean dentistry which to be honest, scared me somewhat. Since I'm home for a month, I've decided to get the wisdom teeth removed(need the recovery time). I still can't decide on the root canal though. It seems like a lot of people have been satisfied with the work they've had in Korea. Then I find a few old posts where people who went back to Canada to see their dentists were shocked by the low quality of work done in Korea.

I need advice. Should I get the root canal done here or wait until I get back to Seoul?

The King of Kwangju · Joined: 10 Feb 2003 Location: New York City

Personally, I would do it the other way around: do the wisdom teeth in Korea, and the root canal in Canada.

Wisdom teeth is just yanking teeth out, pretty simple, and I had it done in Korea myself.

Root canal takes a bit more skill, and you have to live with it for a while. I'd trust the Canadian dentist for that one.

I had 21 cavities filled in Korea, from various dentists, all of them highly recommended. Since I've come back to Canada I've had them all redone.

uofagirl · Joined: 06 Jan 2006 Location: Central Seoul

So the opportunities for a screw up on getting my wisdom teeth pulled is low whereas the chances for more problems with the root canal is higher? What you're saying makes sense and I'm seriously considering getting all of it done here just for the peace of mind. At the same time, if I can even save a bit, I'd like to(especially since we're talking about hundreds of dollars here). I guess there's always the Chuseok vacation to recover if I chose to get my wisdom teeth pulled in Seoul.

Were your dentists particulary appalled by any of the work you had done?

The King of Kwangju · Joined: 10 Feb 2003 Location: New York City

jinju · Joined: 22 Jan 2006

crazylemongirl · Joined: 23 Mar 2003 Location: almost there...

I had my wisdom teeth pulled here and it cost 20k. I don't know how much that is in Canadian dollars, but I'm betting you probably spend more going to dinner and a movie. It hurt a bit the first day, but after that it was ok.

A friend of mine has had a root canal done by a dentist and doesn't have any complaints.

The guy in question used to do dentistry with the American Army, so his english is good and while he isn't in the flashest of offices, he seems to do a good job and not rip you off.

Remember that dentists are also business people and they are not going to recommend you go anywhere else for treatment.

antoniothegreat · Joined: 28 Aug 2005 Location: Yangpyeong

i was in a similar situation, i needed a rout canal and my wisdom teeth to be removed. i thought about your dilemma, money for piece of mind, this is what i figured, back home in the USA, it would cost a ton, like you know, here, almost free, so i figured at worse, they mess up here, i pay a little, and if needed, i get it redone in the States for the same amount of money i would have spent.

i viewed it as doing it here means i might cause some more damage, but the opportunity to save a ton of money.

just my thoughts...

AliNZ · Joined: 11 Feb 2003

I have had a filling a\fall out and it needs some major work - I just hope they can fix it and not have to pull it out.

I was dreading the cost of work I had done here about 4 years ago - it was a fraction of the cost it would have been back home ...in New Zealand

uofagirl · Joined: 06 Jan 2006 Location: Central Seoul

Your rationale definately makes a lot of sense, especially from a monetary point of view. I never thought about it like that before. I'm definately leaning towards getting the wisdom teeth pulled in Seoul but think I'd still feel more comfortable about getting the root canal done here(for reasons mentioned by one of the posters above).

So for people that have had their wisdom teeth pulled in Korea, were they all impacted already or were they still hiding? I guess I could always go to the the Yonsei Severance Hospital if I want top notch work done(unless someone can highly recommend someone else Very Happy

).

red dog · Joined: 31 Oct 2004

I was happy with my Korean dentist (who was trained in the U.S. and spoke near-native English). I had two wisdom teeth out in the ROK and can't remember the cost, but it was certainly nowhere near $1600!!! That's unbelievable. Shocked

Fortunately I've never needed root canal, and I hope I never will. But personally I would be extremely suspicious of a dentist who used those kinds of tactics to extort money from people.

plattwaz · Joined: 08 Apr 2005 Location: <Write something dumb here>

I have had several friends who have had root canals done here in Korea. The price ranges have been 9,000 won -- 30,000 won.

No one has had any complaints, but the fact that such a labour-intensive process is so cheap had me a bit worried.

I have also been told (by the above mentioned friends) that there was none-to-little anastesia used, which is one of the high costs of a root canal in Ontario, at least. That may explain some of the cost difference, but I would personally fork out $900 to have anastesia in a root canal. I am sure you can request, and pay more, for anastesia in a root canal procedure here.

If you do decide to have any dental work done here, my own advice would be to check-out 2 or 3 different dentists FIRST. Make an appointment, have a cleaning, have them do a check-up for cavities, etc etc and see how you feel. See if any of them notice/suggest that you need a root canal. Decide on the feeling you get from the office staff, the atmopshere, and the denist him/herself, FIRST.

Don't feel bad about not booking further with one office, if they can't offer the peace-of-mind you are looking for.

Hope · Joined: 22 Nov 2003

Medical insurance in Canada should cover wisdom teeth removal. It is considered an essential procedure....at least it was a few years ago when I got it done. I had to go the hospital to have it done (in the day surgery ward) which was rather unpleasant. In my hometown it was done only once a month. Ask your family doctor or dentist.

captain kirk · Joined: 29 Jan 2003

Here's my root canal in Korea story....

There wasn't one done. The dentist suggested it but at the time I'd rather have needles stuck in my eyes. A root canal! Isn't that where they 'kill the nerve' then 'pull it out'. How hideous is that. Was this procedure developed by Nazis???!!!

It was a country dentist, city of 20,000. So he put a 'cushion filling' in. That means there was a big hole and he could see/touch the nerve so he had to put a cushion type filling to keep the harder filling from touch the nerve. Which was alive and hanging in there then.

Later that and another tooth developed nerves deader than dirt and those two root canals were done in Canada at enormous expense. I kind of agree with the poster who says get it done here, then redone later in Canada if you want.....

That cushion filling the Korean dentist put in lasted six years and cost nine bucks.

Son Deureo! · Joined: 30 Apr 2003

Any idea how much it would cost to replace a crown?

articulate_ink · Posted: Wed Aug 02, 2006 5:31 am Post subject:

If you're coming back to Korea, go to Bangkok (as time allows) and have it done there. It'll cost a fraction of what you'd pay either here or in Canada, and the quality of the care you'll receive is on par or better. I was in Bangkok a month ago and had some dental work done. In addition to the cleaning, I had a new filling put in and two old amalgam ones replaced with porcelain. Total cost? About $85 US. The clinic was new and immaculate, and the dentists and hygienists were great. For expensive procedures, it really may cost less to fly to Thailand and have it done there than it would be to stay in Korea for the same treatment. Plus, you'd be in Thailand, which wouldn't exactly suck. The URL for the clinic I visited (which came recommended by two American friends) is www.bangkokdental.com. Good luck!