Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Snowkr]

Hi again

I am looking to possibly have a major dental procedure done (surgical) in the next 12 months to correct a problem with jaw and upper palet. I've had TMJ since I was a child... maybe some of you know what that's like...

Anyhow, I'm seriously considering trying to get the procedure done here in Korea during my final year. I will most likely be returning to the U.S. in 2010 where dental work is exhorbitantly priced (as any American would know)

I live in Cheongju but will most likely come to Seoul to see specialist however if anyone knows of a particular practice or specialist elsewhere in the country, I'd appreciate the recommendation. I trust the Korean doctors and dentists (I've lived here awhile) but it is important that the specialist be at least communicative in English since I'm pretty slow with Korean.

I am willing to invest money in this procedure if I am confident with the doctor. Regardless of how much it may cost, I'm sure it will be more affordable here than in my country.

Please... if anyone can offer a suggestion or personal experience with this kind of thing, I'd really appreciate it!

thanks...

[jsk]

I think I'm having a very similar procedure done (orthognathic surgery). I'm having mine done at Seoul National University Dental Hospital. It's not covered at all by my national health insurance, which is pretty ridiculous, but then again many insurance providers back in the U.S. won't cover it either.

I was quoted an estimate of 25-30 million won, all told, including orthodontics and surgery. It's comparable to the costs back home but with the weak won right now, I'll try to fund at least half of it with my U.S. savings.

Here's the website for SNUDH: http://www.snudh.org/eng/index.htm Most of the doctors I met with can at least communicate in English to some degree.

[Lynns]

We see Dr. Jina Lee Linton, who has an office in the Kyobo Bldg in Jongno-gu, right upstairs from the bookstore. She's Korean American, a member of the American Assoc of Orthodontists, and she has many foreign patients and performs orthognathic surgery (I believe at Severence Hospital). Her office phone number is 735-2851. The receptionist has shaky English but the doctor is fluent.

[Snowkr]

Thanks so much for the replies.

I feel like 25- 30 mil won is pretty steep too even with the weak won. However, I suspect I may be able to get it at least partially covered with the TMJ thing... then again, maybe not.

I'll check into both places.

Anyone else??

[jsk]

If you can find a surgeon/insurer that can get it at least partially covered by insurance, I'd be very interested to know the details. The people at SNUDH pretty much said it was a no-go up front so I didn't press the issue.

I suspect a private clinic will actually be cheaper than a university hospital like SNUDH or Yonsei Severance, but I didn't want to take chances on a surgery like this.

[Snowkr]

I think the key to getting insurance to pay for this (at least in my country)
is to convince the company that it is NOT cosmetic.

In my case, the TMJ and mis-alignment of my jaw causes neck and back problems as well. It's almost like having a deformity (just not really visible)

In any case, I don't know how this would work in Korea but I'm with you... I'd prefer to go to the best the country has to offer for a procedure like this!