All Guides
Guides for choosing a dental clinic
Why the comparison pages use the data they use, and what to ask once you are in the chair.
Choosing an implant clinic, in the right orderCheck the diagnosis process, the specialist mix, how costs are explained, and aftercare — in that order — and clinic names stop mattering so much.What to prepare before an implant consultationTen minutes of preparation makes clinics far easier to compare. Sort out your own history, the questions to ask, and what to get in writing.Implant costs, broken into line itemsComparing headline totals is confusing by design. Split the quote into examination, placement, bone graft, temporary crown, restoration and warranty, and it finally becomes readable.Bone grafts: why they are needed and what to checkToo little bone and there is nothing to hold an implant. Here is how the need is decided, and what to pin down on the cost side.Why the cone-beam CT mattersA flat X-ray cannot show bone thickness or where the nerve runs. Here is what a cone-beam CT does, and how to check whether a clinic has one.Implant aftercare and warranties — half the work comes after placementHow long an implant lasts is a question of maintenance. Check-up intervals, warranty terms, and how to look after the gum around it.Implant pain and recovery — what it is actually likeWhat to expect at each stage from the day of surgery through to the final crown, and which signs mean you should call the clinic.Implant, bridge or denture — sorting out the fork in the roadThree ways to replace a missing tooth. How they differ in principle, in service life and in cost, and which situations point to which.Implant coverage from age 65 in Korea — conditions and processKorean national health insurance covers up to two implants in a lifetime at 30% patient cost from age 65. Who qualifies, how registration works, and what to watch for.
Choosing an orthodontic clinic, in the right orderOrthodontics means visiting the same clinic for two or three years. Before appliance types, settle the diagnostic records, the orthodontist, and the terms for transferring out.What to check before an orthodontic consultationAn orthodontic consultation is closer to a negotiation before signing. Bring four things: diagnostic records, the reasoning behind the duration, the cost structure, and transfer terms.Orthodontic appliances, and what actually differsMetal, ceramic, lingual and clear aligners do not only differ in how visible they are. Range of use, cost and daily upkeep differ too.Retainers — finishing treatment is not the endTeeth want to go back. What kinds of retainer exist, how long they have to be worn, how to look after them, and what happens if you let it slide.When to start orthodontic treatmentChildren have two windows; adults have their own conditions. The answer is not "as early as possible" but "the timing that fits the problem".
Crown & Prosthodontics
Crowns & prosthodontics
Choosing a clinic for crowns and prostheticsA crown, bridge or denture stays with you for years. Here is how to work through what the public record can tell you, in order.Crown materials, and what actually differsZirconia, PFM, gold and resin differ in more than price. Which tooth is being crowned changes which material has the advantage.
Korea's dental specialties, and how to read the elevenDentistry has recognised specialties much as medicine does. Knowing what each of the eleven covers makes clinic records far easier to read.Dental clinic or dental hospital — what differsIn Korea, "clinic" and "hospital" at the end of a dental practice's name are legal categories, not marketing. Here is what separates them.How to read dental reviews scepticallyReviews are useful and cannot be taken at face value. What separates a visitor review from a blog post, and the tells of a paid write-up.Scaling and check-ups — intervals and what insurance coversOne insured scaling a year in Korea, why six months is the usual check-up interval, and what a check-up actually examines.
Checklists
Consultation checklists
Written to be printed and taken with you.