English · Treatment
Braces and clear aligners
Orthodontic treatment moves teeth into a planned position to improve how they line up and how they meet when you bite. E-Think Dental Clinic in Pyeongchon, Anyang treats children, adults and older patients, and an orthodontic specialist is part of the team.
Before you start: your timeline in Korea
Treatment is measured in months, not visits
Full treatment commonly runs about one to two years, with a visit roughly once a month. If your visa, contract or study programme ends before that, say so at the first consultation. It genuinely changes the advice — starting treatment you cannot finish here is worse than waiting, and a shorter, more limited plan is sometimes the better answer.
The options
Metal braces
Brackets and a wire on the front of the teeth. The long-standing option, and the one that handles the widest range of movements.
Ceramic braces
The same principle as metal braces, with tooth-coloured brackets that are less visible up close.
Clear aligners
A series of removable trays. Whether they suit your case depends on how far the teeth need to move and on your bite, so this is decided after the examination.
Which of these suits you is decided from the X-rays and the scan, not from how the teeth look in a photograph.
How the treatment goes
- 01ExaminationX-rays, an intraoral scan and an analysis of how your teeth meet.
- 02Treatment planWe go through the options, the expected length of treatment and the cost before you decide.
- 03Fitting the applianceThe braces or the first set of aligners are fitted.
- 04Monthly adjustmentsRoughly one visit a month to adjust the wire or move to the next aligners.
- 05RetainersAfter the appliance comes off, retainers hold the result. Wearing them as instructed is part of the treatment, not an optional extra.
Cost and insurance
If you hold an Alien Registration Card
Foreign residents enrolled in Korea’s National Health Insurance (NHIS) are covered here the same way Korean patients are. Everyday dental care — check-ups, scaling (covered once a year for patients aged 19 and over), fillings, root canal treatment, extractions and gum treatment — is generally covered, so you pay only the patient share.
Cosmetic and elective work — veneers, whitening and most orthodontic treatment — is not covered, and implants are covered only in the limited cases NHIS defines. Coverage rules are set by NHIS and change from time to time, so please bring your ARC and let us check what applies to your treatment before you decide.
Questions we are often asked
How long does orthodontic treatment take?
It depends on the case, but full treatment commonly takes about one to two years. Partial treatment can be shorter. We will estimate the length for your own case after the examination.
Can I have clear aligners?
It depends on how far the teeth need to move and on your bite. Some cases are well suited to aligners and others are not. We will tell you which options apply to you at the consultation rather than before seeing the scan.
I may leave Korea before treatment ends. What then?
Tell us at the first visit. Orthodontic treatment runs over months or years with regular visits, so knowing your timeline changes what we would recommend. In some cases it is better to wait, or to plan a shorter, more limited treatment.
Is orthodontic treatment covered by insurance?
Most orthodontic treatment is not covered by National Health Insurance and is paid by the patient. We will go through the fee with you before treatment begins.
Book a consultation
- Mon – Fri
- 10:00 – 21:00
- Sat, Sun & holidays
- 10:00 – 14:00
- Lunch break
- 13:00 – 14:30 (weekdays only)
This page is general information about dental care, not a diagnosis or a treatment plan. What is right for you depends on an examination. Please speak with a dentist before deciding on any treatment.