Guide · Expats & families
How to Choose an Orthodontist in Seoul
In Korea any licensed dentist may provide braces, but a 치과교정과 전문의 (board-certified orthodontist) has completed specialty residency training and passed the Ministry of Health and Welfare specialist exam. Check for that title, then ask who will treat you at every visit and how records, estimates and retainers are handled. This guide from Yonsei Baro explains how.
What to check at a glance
| What to check | How to check it |
|---|---|
| Is the doctor a board-certified orthodontist? | Look for the title 치과교정과 전문의 on the doctor’s profile, or simply ask |
| Does the clinic name signal a specialist? | A name ending in 치과교정과의원 indicates an orthodontic specialist clinic |
| Who treats you at each visit? | Ask whether the same orthodontist sees you from consultation to removal of braces |
| Can you get your records in English? | Ask what is included if you move: scans, X-rays, notes and appliance details |
| What does the estimate cover? | Ask for a written estimate and whether retainers and retention checks are included |
| Will you understand every explanation? | Ask whether English is available at every visit, not only the first |
Who can provide orthodontic treatment in Korea?
In Korea, as in many countries, any licensed dentist may legally offer braces and clear aligners. Many general dentists do, and some have taken further courses in orthodontics. It is one reason the training behind the word “braces” can vary from clinic to clinic.
A 치과교정과 전문의 (chigwa gyojeonggwa jeonmunui) is different. It is the Korean title for a dentist who has completed hospital-based specialty training in orthodontics — an internship and a multi-year residency at a designated training hospital — and passed the specialist examination of the Ministry of Health and Welfare (보건복지부). In English it is usually translated as “board-certified orthodontist”.
How can you check whether an orthodontist is a specialist?
- Ask directly. “Is the doctor who will treat me a 치과교정과 전문의?” is a normal question that any clinic can answer.
- Look for the title. Specialists often list it on their profile or clinic website, sometimes with the words 보건복지부 인증 (certified by the Ministry of Health and Welfare).
- Read the clinic’s Korean name. A clinic named 치과교정과의원 (orthodontic clinic) signals a specialist orthodontic practice; general practices are usually named 치과의원 (dental clinic). Many specialists also work in clinics with a general name, so the name is a clue, not a test.
As one example, our own clinic’s Korean name is 이수연세바로치과교정과의원, and our orthodontist, Dr. Sally Chaekyung Lee , is a 치과교정과 전문의 who trained in orthodontics at Severance Hospital and holds a PhD in Orthodontics from Yonsei University. See Our Doctors for more on Korea’s certification system.
Why does specialist training matter?
Moving teeth is only part of orthodontics. Deciding whether a child’s jaw growth should be guided now or watched, whether extractions are needed, or whether a bite problem is dental or skeletal takes training in growth, biomechanics and diagnosis — the core of specialty residency.
Specialist training does not guarantee any particular result. It is a meaningful, checkable starting point — especially for children’s orthodontics , growth guidance and complex bites.
Questions to ask at any consultation
Whichever clinic you visit, these questions help you compare like with like:
- Who will treat me at every visit? Will the same orthodontist plan, adjust and check my treatment, or will other dentists see me at some visits?
- What is my problem, and what are my options? Including what happens if I wait.
- How long, and how often? An estimated timeline and visit interval.
- Can I have a written estimate? What it includes, and what could add to it.
- Are retainers included in the plan? What type, for how long, and whether retention check-ups are included.
- Will I get my records in English if I move? Digital scans, X-rays, photos and notes — and will the doctor talk to my next orthodontist?
- What happens if something breaks? How do I reach the clinic for a loose bracket or lost aligner?
- What are the risks for me? A careful answer covers discomfort, hygiene and retainers, and promises no guaranteed result.
Extra questions for expat and international families
If you are in Seoul for a fixed term, tell every clinic your expected departure date. Ask whether treatment can realistically be completed in that time, and if not, how the case would be handed over. Our pages on moving during treatment and insurance and receipts list the documents worth asking for. You should also understand every explanation and consent form in a language you are comfortable with.
Getting a second opinion is normal
Orthodontic treatment is a long commitment, and seeing more than one orthodontist before deciding is reasonable. Bring any previous X-rays. Specialists may suggest different, equally valid approaches; what matters is that the reasoning is clear. If you would like a consultation with us, our treatment process page explains what happens at the first visit.
Choosing an orthodontist: FAQs
Is it a problem if a general dentist offers braces?
Not in itself. In Korea, any licensed dentist may legally provide orthodontic treatment, and many general dentists treat straightforward cases. The difference is training: a board-certified orthodontist has completed specialty residency and passed the specialist exam. For growing children and complex bites, many families choose to see a specialist.
What does “보건복지부 인증 치과교정과 전문의” mean?
It means “orthodontic specialist certified by the Ministry of Health and Welfare.” It identifies a dentist who completed an internship and orthodontic residency at a designated training hospital and passed the government-recognised specialist examination. It is the same credential described in English as “board-certified orthodontist” on Korean clinic websites.
Does an Invisalign provider level mean a doctor is a specialist?
No. Invisalign provider tiers reflect how many Invisalign cases a doctor has treated, so they indicate aligner experience, not specialist training or the quality of results. A general dentist or a specialist can hold a tier. Check the 치과교정과 전문의 title separately if specialist training matters to you.
Can I switch orthodontists in the middle of treatment?
Yes, although it is simplest when both clinics cooperate. Ask your current orthodontist for your records, scans, X-rays and appliance details. The new orthodontist will need to examine you and may adjust the plan. See continuing treatment from abroad for how a transfer usually works.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Sally Chaekyung Lee, DDS, PhD
Board-certified orthodontist (Korea Ministry of Health and Welfare) · Adjunct Professor of Orthodontics, Yonsei University · Last updated October 2026
This page is general information, not a diagnosis. Treatment results and duration vary from person to person. Orthodontic treatment can cause temporary discomfort and, in some cases, root shortening, gum recession or tooth decay if oral hygiene is poor; teeth can relapse if retainers are not worn as instructed.
Ask us anything before you decide
Bring your questions and any previous records. Dr. Lee will examine you herself and explain your options in English. Isu Station Exit 2 · Open until 9 PM Mon & Thu · Saturdays 9 AM–2 PM.