Washington Dental Orthodontic Clinic logo Washington Dental GANGNAM · SEOUL

FAQ · English

I started orthodontic treatment in another country — can I continue it in Seoul?

Relocating does not mean starting over — but it does mean a proper handover, and that starts before you fly.

Usually yes, after a re-evaluation. Before moving, ask your current orthodontist for records — initial and recent X-rays, the treatment plan, aligner data if applicable. A Seoul clinic then re-diagnoses and continues or adjusts the plan.

Last reviewed 2026.08.02 · Reviewed by Dr. Keun-Hye Lee, Orthodontic Specialist

1. Records to request before you leave

The handover is only as good as the records that travel with you. Ask your current clinic for:

  • Initial records: X-rays, photos and the original diagnosis
  • The treatment plan, including planned extractions and target positions
  • Recent progress records — the most recent X-ray and photos
  • For aligner cases: which system, the stage you are on, and the digital case file if the platform allows transfer
  • A short transfer note from the treating doctor, if they will write one

Request these while you are still a patient there — collecting them from another country later is slower and sometimes impossible.

2. Why the Seoul clinic will re-diagnose

Expect new records and an independent evaluation rather than a seamless continuation, and treat that as normal. Orthodontists differ in mechanics and philosophy; the new doctor takes responsibility for the outcome from the day treatment resumes, and can only do that from their own diagnosis.

Appliance compatibility also plays a role. Bracket prescriptions differ between systems, and aligner platforms are not interchangeable — a case started on one system may continue with new trays from another after a new scan. Some plans continue nearly unchanged; others are adjusted based on what the mid-treatment records show.

3. How continuation is set up in practice

At Washington Dental Orthodontic Clinic the transfer conversation follows the standard workup: records, an assessment of where the original plan stands, then a written proposal covering the remaining work — what stays, what changes, how long it should take, and an itemised fee for the remaining treatment. The non-covered fee schedule is posted in the clinic, so the numbers can be checked against it.

One caution: do not pause wear while relocating. Keep your current appliance or aligner schedule going, and ask your current doctor for holding instructions covering the gap between clinics — teeth drift quickly in an unmanaged gap.

Transfer checklist — before and after the move
StageWhat to doCommon mistake
Before departureCollect records and a transfer note; get holding instructionsLeaving with nothing but the appliance in your mouth
In transit / settling inKeep wearing trays or retainers exactly as instructedA multi-week pause that lets teeth drift
First Seoul visitNew records plus your transferred documentsExpecting continuation without re-diagnosis
Plan proposalWritten scope, duration and itemised fee for remaining workAgreeing to a verbal estimate only

At Washington Dental Orthodontic Clinic

  • Dr. Keun-Hye Lee — board-certified orthodontic specialist (first residency-trained cohort), 30 years of clinical experience
  • Transfer cases are re-evaluated with full records before any continuation plan is proposed
  • The same doctor handles diagnosis, every adjustment and retention — no handoffs between practitioners mid-case
  • Opened near Gangnam Station in 2009 and has been under the same treating director since
  • The non-covered fee schedule is posted in the clinic; remaining-treatment fees are itemised in writing
  • Location: 2F Daekyung Bldg, 15 Seocho-daero 77-gil, Seocho-gu, Seoul — 3 min walk from Gangnam Station Exit 9
  • Hours: Mon/Tue/Wed/Fri 11:00–20:00 (lunch 14:00–15:00), Sat 10:00–15:00, closed Thu/Sun/holidays — +82-2-552-3000

Outcomes vary by individual skeletal pattern, age and oral condition. Eligibility for any treatment is determined after an in-person diagnostic workup. Non-covered fees are posted at the clinic.

Related questions

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People also ask

Will the aligner brand I started with work at a clinic in Korea?
Not automatically. Aligner platforms are separate systems, and a clinic continues with the systems it works with. In practice the new clinic takes a fresh scan and orders continuation trays on its own platform if yours cannot transfer. Bring your stage information and case data so the new plan starts from where you actually are.
Do I pay the full treatment fee again when I transfer to Seoul?
You pay for the remaining work, quoted after the transfer evaluation — not a repeat of your original contract. What you already paid abroad stays with the previous clinic, so also ask them about any refund terms for unfinished treatment before you leave.
My treatment finished abroad — can a Seoul clinic just supervise my retainers?
Yes, retention-only care is a normal request. Bring your final records and current retainers; after a check of how stable the result is, the clinic sets a retainer schedule and replaces retainers when they wear out. It is far easier to maintain a result than to rescue a relapsed one.
Diagnosis comes first. This page is general medical information. Whether a given treatment applies to you, and its method, duration and cost, can only be determined after an in-person diagnostic workup (X-ray and intraoral scan). Appointments: +82-2-552-3000

Last updated: 2026.08.02 · Reviewed by Dr. Keun-Hye Lee, Orthodontic Specialist