Korean Job Discussion Forums

[shawnduthie]

hi

i get the sinking feeling that my teeth are rotting and really need to see a dentist. i'm scared!! have read some scary stuff on here about dentists who dont use painkillers, don't change their gloves etc. Can anyone recommend a dentist in seoul, cheonan or daejeon that knows what he'she's doing, changes their gloves and scary implements and gives nice numbing injections (no gas!!). oh and that speaks english.

also, what sort of price should i be paying for a filling (silver one), a check up, x rays, a clean etc... is any of it covered by my medical insurance that i get through my job?

thanks in advance

[Pak Yu Man]

I don't think dental is covered on basic medical insurance.

[Bibbitybop]

Lots of expats like this guy and his good prices:

Dr. Choi 02-963-6630.
Go to Hankuk University of Foregin Studies (Line 1). Go out exit one. Head to the University. when you get to the T intersection(The university will be right across the street). Take a right, Go past the 7-11-type store, go past past Woori Bank. Life Dental Clinic is located in the building next to Woori Bank on the second floor.

[cmr]

First of all, don't be too scared for nothing.

The thing about the painkillers, in my experience, is that you are offered whether or not you want them. I just didn't know what to answer the first time I was asked. I told the dentist (actually, the Korean who was doing the translation!) that in Canada we never had any choice. The dentist explained what I would feel and I decided not to get the shot. I did feel something, but it wasn't "pain" and it wasn't nearly as bad as getting a shot.

I told a coworker about it before she went to see the same dentist (it was in the same building where we worked) and she too refused the shot and felt that it was less painful that way.

My wife went to another place (where we both go now because the dentist can speak some English) and the dentist put some stuff in her mouth before giving her the shot so she wouldn't feel it too much. Sorry, I can't explain more about how it went; I wasn't there and she's not home now, so I can't ask her for details. I'm guessing that he probably put some kind of gel like the kind you can buy to stop the pain when you get wisdom teeth.

By the way, the health insurance pays for a lot of things but doesn't pay the full cost. Anyway, it's much cheaper than back home. I can't remember for sure, but the first dentist I saw did two fillings, changed two old ones, gave me an x-ray, did a cleaning and all of it for about $50.

I once had to choose among the silver fillings, the white one or the one made of gold. I just told the dentist to go with the silver stuff as it is what I always had in Canada and it was the cheapest one of the three. The dentist told me that it probably wouldn't be good enough for the size and angle of my cavity (or something like that) and gave me the white one for the price of the silver one. When I went to Canada and saw a dentist there, I asked him if my Korean dentist had done a good job and he told me that it had been done so well that he couldn't even tell there was a filling in my tooth.

All in all, I only had good experiences with Korean dentist. Was I lucky? Of course, even in Canada I got lousy dentists, so why not in Korea, but, at any rate, I don't think it is worse here than other places.

[moosehead]

korea has excellent dentists - just as long as you get the right ones!

yonsei hospital has a brand new dental hospital - go into the main hospital - it's called Severance Hospital and most cab drivers know how to get there - go to the 5th floor, head towards the back and you'll see a walkway connecting the 2 together

depending on what you need, there are several depts who can help you - if they don't understand you they'll find someone who speaks english, usually a resident or dentist

i've had serious work done there; they are excellent, had a teeth cleaning just the other day it was 23,000 won - very reasonable, even cheap

seoul natl univ hosp has an english guide for foreigners but the dental hospital itself is crowded, run down and not nearly as modern as yonsei; also i don't think you will always have an english dentist whereas at yonsei they have many

moosehead

[Dazed and Confused]

I've got a lovely dentist near Guro Digital complex. He speaks English quite well and has a brand new clinic.
IT Dental
863-2872
Ask for Dr. Shin