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FAQ · English

How much does orthodontic treatment cost in Korea, and what does the fee include?

Two quotes with the same headline number can cover very different things. The item list matters more than the total.

Orthodontics is not covered by Korean health insurance; totals vary with appliance and complexity. Compare what the fee includes — records, adjustments, retainers — not the headline number. Clinics must post their non-covered fees.

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

1. Why totals vary so much between cases

The fee reflects the work, and the work varies. A partial correction of a few front teeth takes months; comprehensive treatment takes one to two and a half years; skeletal cases need more planning and more visits. The appliance also matters — conventional brackets, lingual (inside) braces and clear aligners sit at different production and chair-time costs.

Because of this, a serious quote can only follow diagnostic records. A firm total offered before any X-ray has been taken is a marketing number, not a treatment plan.

2. The line items behind the total

When you compare clinics, ask each one which of these are inside the quoted figure and which are billed separately:

  • Diagnostic records and analysis (X-rays, intraoral scan, photographs)
  • The appliance itself, including replacements for lost or broken parts
  • Monthly or per-visit adjustment fees across the whole treatment period
  • Mini-screws (TADs) and extractions, if the plan needs them
  • Refinement stages for aligner cases — how many are included
  • Retainers at the end, and the retention check-up schedule

An itemised answer to this list makes two clinics genuinely comparable for your case.

3. How Korean fee disclosure works

Korean medical law requires every clinic to post its non-covered fee schedule where patients can see it — at Washington Dental Orthodontic Clinic the schedule is posted in the clinic. This means you can ask for the posted items in writing and check the quote you were given against them.

Your individual figure is confirmed after diagnosis, because it depends on findings the X-rays reveal — root positions, bone condition, the skeletal relationship between the jaws. Expect a written, itemised plan at the consultation that follows the records appointment.

Reading an orthodontic quote in Korea
Line itemQuestion to askWeak answer
Records & diagnosisIs the diagnostic workup billed separately?Diagnosis is skipped and the quote comes first
Adjustment feesAre monthly visits included for the full duration?Included only for the first year, then billed
Mini-screws / extractionsIf the plan needs them, what do they add?"We'll see later" with no range
Refinements (aligners)How many refinement stages are included?Every refinement billed as a new case
RetainersAre retainers and retention checks included?Not mentioned anywhere in the quote

At Washington Dental Orthodontic Clinic

  • Dr. Keun-Hye Lee — board-certified orthodontic specialist (first residency-trained cohort), 30 years of clinical experience
  • The non-covered fee schedule is posted in the clinic, as required by Korean medical law
  • Fees are itemised in writing after the diagnostic workup, not quoted before records are taken
  • Opened near Gangnam Station in 2009; the same doctor has handled diagnosis through retention since
  • Consultation booking: +82-2-552-3000 or the KakaoTalk channel 강남워싱턴치과
  • 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

Does Korean national health insurance ever cover orthodontic treatment?
As a rule, no — orthodontics is a non-covered (private) treatment in Korea. Narrow exceptions exist for specific congenital craniofacial conditions under separate support programs, which the clinic can explain if your diagnosis falls into one. For typical adult and child malocclusions, plan on private payment.
Why will a Korean clinic only give the exact fee after diagnosis?
Because the fee depends on findings only records can show: whether extractions or mini-screws are needed, how far teeth must move, and whether the problem is dental or skeletal. The posted fee schedule gives the item prices; the diagnosis determines which items your case actually uses.
Is the payment made all at once in Korea?
Payment structures vary by clinic and are agreed at the consultation, so confirm the schedule before starting. What matters for comparison is the all-in cost over the whole treatment — including adjustment visits and retainers — not the size of the first payment.
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