Korean Job Discussion Forums

[kingplaya4]

I've decided to get caps or veneers for my teeth in the near future. Unfortunately, I have staining from foolishly prescribed antibiotics when I was younger. Tired of how it affects my dating life, and finally decided to do something about it.

Anyway, if anyone could give me some rough estimates of the cost over here, I think I'll probably go with caps since that sounds more permanent from what I've read, but if you know how much veneers would cost that would be great too.

I'm also considering going back to the US to have it done, I imagine the likelihood is I'd have better work done. If the price difference is big though, I'll take my chances with Korean dentists. Would appreciate any info you can provide.

[Cheonmunka]

I heard Richard Kiel got his teeth done at "Kwags Dentist."



Maybe you can give them a go ...

[kingplaya4]

Bumped for real responses, someone has to have had this done or here or known someoone who did. Thanks.

[jessiaka]

I'll bump it again because I'm interested in doing this as well

[ajuma]

Sorry...can't give you any info about caps...crowns, depending on the dentist, run between 250,000 and 300,000, but that involves root canals and griding down the tooth.

Could you ask a Korean teacher or staff memeber at your school for a recommendation? Maybe one of your students wears braces and you could ask them?

In spite of the bad rap that some Korean doctors and dentists get, I've had pretty good luck with both. I had one dentist who wanted to do a whole bunch of unnecessary work and I was out of there, and then there was this nice "country dentist" who is fine for the random filling, but not for anything major. I've been with my dentist now for 7 years...and he's great!! You're not near Cheonan by any chance are you?

[Sina qua non]

How much does a gold tooth display run? I'm not sure if I'd get this done, but I am interested.

[kimchi story]

Ajuma I'm in Bucheon and I'd gladly make the run to Guro and down to Cheonan for a good dentist! Heck, I'd give my right eye tooth...but that'd be redundant.

Any chance you'll post or pm your dentists info?

[Hope]

I have to get a crown. I went to a dentist in Samsung and he said for a porcelian one with a gold lining it would cost me about $550 dollars.

[ajuma]

For anyone in the Cheonan area: Dr. Ryu of New York Dental is GREAT! To get to him: Take the bus to Cheonan bus terminal. Go out of the front of the building (you'll be let off at the back of the Yawoori building). Look across the street. You'll see Baskin Robbins. Turn right after you come out of the building to the cross-walk. Cross the street. Turn left. Pass Baskin Robbins. You'll see a building with some kind of financial thing...not sure what it is. Same building, but just past the financial office. You'll see a sign that says "Chunan Book store". Go in that building and take the elevator to the "F" floor (yeah, not 4th floor) and his door is right in front of you when you get off (bathroom to your left! ). You don't need an appointment, but if you want to call in advance, his number is: 041-552-2875. His English is great, but his "girls" don't speak much...if any! His lunch hour is 12:30 to 2:00...mostly so he can finish up the morning people and still have time for lunch!

[kingplaya4]

No, I don't want a gold grill, I want porcelain caps. From what I've read, the root canal is only necessary if there are problems with the tooth. Veneers seem to be just as expensive if not more, and less permanent.

Btw, from my reading on dentistry online, caps and crown are one and the same. Anyone know a good dentist in Daegu? He/she must speak very good English as I've got two bonded teeth in front already and those would needed to be broken and recapped. Don't want that screwed up lol.

[kimchi story]

Thank you ajuma!

Sorry for the highjack kingplaya...

[Old fat expat]

Previous life = dental tech (17 years)

Yes, caps = crowns.

The most compatible medium for your mouth is gold. Number of reasons;
1. margins can be 'closed' or stretched as gold is soft and pliable. For porcelain the metal is nickle (mostly) and if the metal flexes the procelain will get stress fractures.
2. Gold is not abrasive on the opposing teeth, where as porcelain is very abrasive (it's glass remember-same as sand paper).

Porcelain is better asthetically (no brainer)

Veneers should be cheaper as there is less preparation by the dentist. But dentists everywhere like to charge like rhinos and any opportunity to soak is taken. For what it is worth, technitions are paid by the dentist 1/4 for a veneer as for a crown. Why that savings is not handed on to you is a question for the dentist to answer.

Korean Dentists: There will be some great ones I am sure. Unfortunatly my experiences here have not been good. There are many bad dentist in the US as well though.

Worlds best dental work: Germany is considered tops. Japan also is one of the best. My sense is Korean dentistry is way down the list.

My advice: If you know your dentist at home is good, get the work done there. The work is cheaper here, but poor quality work is more exspensive in the long run.

[Yaya]

[Old fat expat]

You may be right, there probably is some real bad stuff.

Japanese guy Tanaka pretty much wrote the book on crowns about 15 years ago. Japan also produces some fairly high-end porcelains (as does Germany).

Like all things there will be good, bad, and the ugly.

[Cheonmunka]

I don't know what a crown is, but I did get a gold tooth put over a ground down original. It was about 150.000 won or so.
My prerequisite for any dentist is the pain threshhold. The least pain I had was a tooth pulled for $5. The most, some grumpy bugger with 20 patients all in a row in some swanky new place. Broke my tooth while pulling it out and spent frustrating minutes digging away at it. I spat blood all day. I have no qualms going to a street hack rather than Apkujong's best.