Dental Care Costs in South Korea

Dental care in South Korea is partially covered by the NHIS, with coverage steadily expanding in recent years. Dental scaling (professional cleaning) is covered once per year for all insured adults, with the patient paying approximately ₩15,000-20,000 as their copayment. Basic dental examinations are covered, and dental X-rays are partially reimbursed. Fillings using amalgam or glass ionomer are covered, while composite resin fillings for front teeth have been covered since 2019.

Dental implants are covered by NHIS for adults aged 65 and over, limited to two implants per person with a copayment of 30% (approximately ₩800,000-1,200,000 per implant as patient share). For adults under 65, dental implants are not covered and cost ₩1,000,000-2,000,000 per implant. Dental crowns under insurance cost approximately ₩200,000-400,000 (patient share), while non-insured ceramic crowns cost ₩400,000-800,000.

South Korea has a very high density of dental clinics, particularly in urban areas, resulting in competitive pricing and easy access. Orthodontic treatment is popular but not covered by NHIS, costing ₩3,000,000-7,000,000 for conventional braces and ₩4,000,000-10,000,000 for clear aligners. Teeth whitening costs ₩200,000-500,000. The country's strong dental infrastructure and relatively affordable prices have also made it a popular destination for dental tourists from neighboring Asian countries.