Home › International Patients › Your First Visit
First visit · Orthodontic consultation
What Happens at Your First Orthodontic Consultation?
Your first orthodontic visit at Yonsei Baro, near Isu Station in Seoul, takes about 60 minutes. We take digital scans, X-rays or a 3D CT scan and photographs, and Dr. Sally Chaekyung Lee examines you herself, then explains your options, timeline and a written estimate in English. Bring your passport or Residence Card and any previous records.
Your first visit at a glance
| Question | At Yonsei Baro |
|---|---|
| How long | About 60 minutes |
| Who you see | Dr. Sally Chaekyung Lee, board-certified orthodontist, in English |
| Records taken | Intraoral digital scan, X-rays or 3D CT scan, and photographs |
| What you leave with | Your options, an estimated timeline and a written estimate |
| Bring | Passport or Residence Card; recent X-rays or orthodontic records; current retainers or aligners |
| Where | 4F, Bangbae Yedain Plaza, Isu Station Exit 2 (Lines 4 and 7) |
What should I bring?
- Passport or Residence Card — for registration, and so we can check Korean National Health Insurance eligibility if you are enrolled
- Recent X-rays or previous orthodontic records — scans, photographs, treatment notes or a letter from your previous dentist or orthodontist, on paper or as digital files
- Current retainers or aligners , if you wear them, including the case and the aligner number you are on
- Insurer requirements , if you plan to claim from overseas or private insurance
- For children: a parent or guardian, and any health information that might be relevant, such as medications or allergies
Digital records can be emailed before the visit to isu.ysbaro@gmail.com . Records from abroad help Dr. Lee understand your history.
What happens, step by step?
1. Arrival and registration
Our reception is on the 4th floor of Bangbae Yedain Plaza, reached directly underground from Isu Station Exit 2. We register your details and ask about your concern, your dental and medical history, and how long you expect to be in Korea.
2. Digital records
We take an intraoral digital scan of your teeth — no impression putty — together with photographs and X-rays. Where it helps the diagnosis, Dr. Lee uses our RAY Quantum 5D CT, a 3D cone-beam CT scan that shows roots, jawbone and jaw joints. A RAY Face 3D face scan may also be used to see how your teeth relate to your facial profile. For children, a growth-maturity analysis can help time treatment. Read more about our technology .
3. Examination by Dr. Lee
Dr. Lee examines your teeth, bite, gums and jaw joints herself. She looks beyond the teeth alone, at the roots, the skeleton and the balance of the face, because these shape what treatment can achieve.
4. Explanation and options
Using your scans and images, Dr. Lee explains in English what she has found, whether treatment is advisable now, later or not at all, and which options would suit you — for example Invisalign , braces , or, for children, monitoring growth. Ask as many questions as you like.
5. Timeline and written estimate
You receive an estimated treatment timeline and a written estimate. There is no pressure to decide on the day. Take time to think it over, talk it through at home or check with your insurer.
Planning around your time in Korea
If you are in Seoul for a fixed term, tell Dr. Lee your expected departure date during the consultation. She will be realistic about what can be achieved in the time you have and, if needed, plan treatment so it can be continued abroad. See short stays in Seoul and moving during treatment .
Bringing your child for a first orthodontic check
The American Association of Orthodontists recommends a first orthodontic check by about age 7. At that age, many children simply need monitoring as their teeth and jaws develop. Dr. Lee explains what she sees to both you and your child, in English, and will tell you if waiting is the better choice. As a mother herself, she knows how a first visit can feel for a child. See kids’ orthodontics .
For a child’s first visit to our pediatric dentist, Dr. Ho-seon Lee, see first dental visit . Let us know when you book that you’d like English support — Dr. Sally Chaekyung Lee and our team can help explain your child’s care in English.
After the consultation
If you decide to go ahead, we book your next appointment to start treatment — for example, fitting braces or starting aligners. Check-ups are then usually about every 4–6 weeks for braces and every 6–10 weeks for aligners. On request, we provide English receipts and documents for insurance. The whole journey is set out in our treatment process guide.
First visit FAQs
How long should I set aside for my first orthodontic visit?
Allow about 60 minutes. That covers registration, digital scans, X-rays or a 3D CT scan, photographs, the examination with Dr. Lee and her explanation of your options. Reviewing detailed records from earlier treatment abroad can occasionally add a little extra time.
Will I start treatment on the same day as the consultation?
Usually not. The first visit is for diagnosis and planning. You receive your options, a timeline and a written estimate, and you can take time to decide. Treatment, such as fitting braces or starting aligners, normally begins at a later appointment once the plan is finalized.
Is the 3D CT scan safe?
Cone-beam CT uses X-rays, so, as with any X-ray, it is taken when the information it gives is needed for your diagnosis. It shows roots, bone and jaw joints in three dimensions, which ordinary X-rays cannot. Dr. Lee will explain why it is recommended in your case, and you can ask any questions before it is taken.
Can I bring my partner or a friend to the consultation?
Yes. Many people find it helpful to have someone with them while the options are explained, and for a child’s visit both parents are welcome. Dr. Lee gives the explanation in English, so everyone can follow along, ask questions and talk the options over together afterwards.
What if I do not have any previous X-rays or records?
That is fine. We take all the records Dr. Lee needs during the visit. Previous records are helpful, particularly if you had orthodontic treatment before, but they are not required. If you can obtain them later from your previous clinic, you can email them to us.
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.
Book your first visit
Send us your concern and preferred days, and Dr. Lee will see you herself for about 60 minutes. Isu Station Exit 2 · Open until 9 PM Mon & Thu · Saturdays 9 AM–2 PM.