English · Fees
What will it cost?
Your treatment cost depends on the condition of your teeth and the care you need. The same cavity can need a composite filling, an inlay or a crown depending on how much tooth is left, and each of those costs a different amount. Below are the starting fees at E-Think Dental Clinic in Pyeongchon, Anyang, what National Health Insurance covers, and what changes the final figure.
Starting fees
| Treatment | From | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Dental implant | ₩350,000 | Korean-made standard fixture; other brands cost more |
| Zirconia crown | ₩450,000 | back tooth; a front tooth is ₩550,000 |
| Ceramic inlay | ₩270,000 | one tooth |
| Veneer | ₩550,000 | one tooth; 10% VAT is added |
| Clear aligners | ₩1,200,000 | Lite, one jaw; the fee rises with how much movement is needed |
| Fixed braces | ₩2,500,000 | S-line, both jaws |
The full list — 15 categories of treatment, plus the fees for certificates and records — is on the fee schedule page.
What insurance covers
As a rule, treatment that keeps a tooth working is covered, and treatment that changes how a tooth looks is not. The line falls in an odd-looking place for newcomers: a filling in a back tooth is covered if it is amalgam, but usually not if it is the tooth-coloured material most people now choose.
Covered by National Health Insurance
- Amalgam and glass ionomer fillings for decay
- Root canal treatment
- Extractions, including wisdom teeth
- Gum treatment, and scaling once a year for patients aged 19 and over
- For patients aged 65 and over: two implants in a lifetime, and dentures once every seven years
- Sealants on certain decay-free back teeth, for patients aged 18 and under
Paid by the patient
- Tooth-coloured restorations — composite fillings, inlays and crowns — in most cases
- Implants outside the cases National Health Insurance defines
- Braces and clear aligners
- Veneers and whitening
- Jaw joint and teeth-grinding splints
Coverage depends on the treatment, material and eligibility criteria, and the rules — including the age and frequency conditions above — are set by the Ministry of Health and Welfare and change from time to time. We will check your benefits and expected out-of-pocket costs before treatment.
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 about cost
How is the fee for my treatment decided?
It depends on the condition of the tooth. The same cavity can need a composite filling if it is small, an inlay if a wall has broken down, or a crown if there is little tooth left. That is why we cannot give an exact figure without an X-ray and an examination. After the examination you get the list of what is needed and what each item costs.
Why do implants cost different amounts?
The fixture — the part placed in the bone — differs between brands in its surface treatment and in how much clinical data stands behind it. A Korean-made standard fixture is ₩350,000, Osstem CA is ₩550,000, MegaGen BlueDiamond is ₩850,000 and Straumann is ₩1,200,000. The warranty period also differs by brand, at five or ten years; the period on its own does not say what a warranty covers, so ask us what is included before you decide. Which one suits your bone and the position of the tooth is decided together after the examination.
Does the implant fee include bone grafting?
No. If there is not enough bone, grafting is charged separately: ₩300,000 for stage one and ₩500,000 for stage two. Upper back teeth sometimes need a sinus lift, which is ₩500,000, or ₩800,000 when your own bone is used with it. Whether any of this is needed is checked on the CT scan.
Which treatments does National Health Insurance cover?
Root canal treatment, extractions, gum treatment and scaling (once a year for patients aged 19 and over) are covered. Patients aged 65 and over are covered for two implants in a lifetime and for dentures once every seven years. Tooth-coloured restorations such as composite fillings, inlays and crowns are as a rule not covered, and neither are braces, veneers or whitening. Eligibility and out-of-pocket costs depend on the treatment, the material and the insurance rules in force, so please bring your identification and we will check your cover before treatment. If you hold an Alien Registration Card and are enrolled in NHIS, the same rules apply to you as to Korean patients.
Can the cost go up during treatment?
Sometimes. When an old filling is removed, the decay underneath can turn out to be wider than it looked, and a composite filling becomes an inlay, or an inlay becomes a crown. When that happens we stop, explain what we have found and what it changes about the fee, and only then carry on.
Is VAT added to anything?
Veneers and whitening have 10% VAT added, except internal whitening of a non-vital tooth. The fee schedule notes where VAT is charged on top of the listed amount; if a line is not clear, ask at the front desk before treatment.
Can I pay by card?
Yes, card payment is accepted. If the cost is difficult to manage, say so at the consultation and we will go through the payment options with you.
You can ask before you book
An exact figure needs an examination, but we can tell you which treatment is likely and roughly what range it falls in. Ask on KakaoTalk or by email if that is easier than a phone call — consultations at the clinic are held in Korean.
- Mon – Fri
- 10:00 – 21:00
- Sat, Sun & holidays
- 10:00 – 14:00
- Lunch break
- 13:00 – 14:30 (weekdays only)
The amounts above are starting fees for treatment not covered by National Health Insurance and can differ with the state of your teeth. Treatment that insurance covers is charged at the rate NHIS sets. The full published schedule is on the fee schedule page.
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.