I Visited the Dentist in Seoul, South Korea (Honest Crown, filling & Cleaning Experience)

If you've heard the rumors that visiting the dentist in South Korea is better than visiting the dentist in the United States - then you might be wondering if that's actually true or not. Last summer, while in Korea, I visited the local dentist a few times to get a crown put on and to get my regular six month check up and cleaning, plus fill some cavities. Not only was it incredibly cheap, but it was completely pain-free, and I had no pain or soreness afterwards. Read on for my complete and honest experience visiting the dentist in Seoul.

My Essential Korea Travel Resources :
There are plenty of travel companies out there, but these are my favorite websites and resources for planning an unforgettable trip to South Korea. This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

For flights, I recommend using Hopper to compare the cheapest travel dates to South Korea.

Car rentals, although not common in Korea, are best through Discover Cars - just make sure to have a copy of your international driver's permit with you!

I always use AGODA's  easy-to-use platform for hotels in Asia.

To keep cell phone service, I use Airalo’s easy to purchase eSIM’s (no installation required) - make sure to have NordVPN ready too while you surf random wifi connections.

For fun things to do, Klook specializes on tours in Asia, otherwise Viator also does the trick.

Just in case, Safetywing is the insurance I always use when visiting a new country.

Lastly, my essential packing list when traveling.

What to Expect at the Korean Dentist

Let me be begin by saying, that I have a very big fear of the dentist. That's why, when the opportunity came up for me to visit the dentist in South Korea, I was a little nervous, but I really didn't need to be. Visiting the dentist in Korea is very similar to visiting a dentist in the United States. First you'll need to make an appointment, and at most dentist offices in Korea you can do that by either calling in or by scheduling an appointment online through their website or through Naver. Typically, appointments are made about a week or two ahead of time. If it's an emergency, they should be able to get you in the next day, if not the day of. 

Once you have your appointment set, you can let them know you don't have insurance and that you'd like to just pay in cash. If you have international insurance, you can of course try to use it, but I found that paying in cash led to less paperwork and an overall easier experience. After checking in, you'll be brought to the back and put in a chair just like at any dentist office. Depending on the amount of work you need done, they may or may not numb you. I found this really surprising, since no matter what I'm having done in the United States I've always been numbed. Typically, you can expect a much gentler and much more careful procedure compared to dentists in the US. They're also usually very transparent about what procedures you actually need done, versus in the US where they tell you to fix everything.

​My Favorite Activities in Seoul : 
- Full Day DMZ Tour from Seoul
- Lotte World Tower at Seoul Sky
​- Afternoon Tea on the Han River

My Honest Crown & Cleaning Experience

During my multiple visits to the dentist in Korea, I had a few different procedures done. My first visit was to take off my cracked, temporary crown that I had done in the US. This procedure was super simple, and after they numbed me and pulled off the cracked crown, they made an immediate temporary crown for me to wear while the permanent one was made. During this visit, I also had my six month checkup, where they x-rayed my teeth, checked for any cavities, and did a routine clean. Overall, I found that the experience was super gentle and that all parties involved were super careful not to knick or poke my gums.

About a week later I went back in to have the permanent crown put on. Again, it was super simple, and they were able to do it with no numbing cream. After the crown was secured, they went in to fill a cavity they had found the week before. Unlike dentists I've visited in the US, they were completely transparent in telling me that although I had a few soft spots that this was the only one I actually needed to fill. I was genuinely surprised when they used no numbing cream (and very nervous while it was happening) however there was no pain, and within a few minutes everything was fixed.

Overall, my entire Korean dental experience shocked me. I truly didn't expect them to be so careful, gentle, and transparent, and telling me what procedures I actually needed done versus what I could skip. After my experience last summer, I've been coordinating all my dental needs to coincide with a trip to Korea.

Watch my Adventures in Korea here!

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Other Blog Posts you Might be Interested in : 
-> 25 Best Street Foods to Try in South Korea
-> Bojeong Dong Cafe Street Guide
-> Lotte World Guide (Best Rides & Eats)

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