Home › International Patients › International School Families
International school families · Students & parents
An Orthodontist for International School Families in Seoul
Yonsei Baro Orthodontics & Pediatric Dentistry, at Isu Station Exit 2 in Seoul, plans braces and aligner visits around international school timetables. We open until 9 PM on Mondays and Thursdays and 9 AM–2 PM on Saturdays, and board-certified orthodontist Dr. Sally Chaekyung Lee explains every orthodontic step to students and parents in English.
School-friendly care at a glance
| Question | At Yonsei Baro |
|---|---|
| After school | Mon & Thu 1–9 PM; Tue & Fri 10 AM–7 PM (lunch 1–2 PM) |
| Weekends | Saturdays 9 AM–2 PM, no lunch break |
| Check-up intervals | Braces about every 4–6 weeks; aligners about every 6–10 weeks |
| Orthodontist | Dr. Sally Chaekyung Lee, board-certified, explains care to students and parents in English |
| Kids’ dentistry | Dr. Ho-seon Lee, board-certified pediatric dentist; ask for English support when booking |
| Getting here | Isu Station Exit 2, Lines 4 and 7, about a 1-minute walk |
How do appointments fit around the school day?
Missing lessons for dental visits is a common worry for parents. Our opening hours help:
- Monday and Thursday evenings until 9 PM suit students coming straight from school, sports or after-school activities
- Saturday mornings , 9 AM–2 PM, work well for longer appointments such as a first consultation or fitting braces
- Tuesday and Friday , 10 AM–7 PM, cover late-afternoon slots and school holidays
Once treatment is under way, many check-ups are short. Braces are usually reviewed about every 4–6 weeks and aligners about every 6–10 weeks, so a regular slot after school is often all that is needed. For the first consultation, which takes about 60 minutes, see your first visit .
Using school holidays well
Holidays are a good time for the appointments that take longer or that a student may want a day or two to adjust to, such as having braces fitted or starting a new set of aligners. If your family travels during long breaks, tell us the dates early. Dr. Lee can time check-ups around them and, for aligner patients, plan how many sets to take away.
If you will be away for an extended period, ask about this at the start of treatment rather than just before you leave. For students whose families may relocate, see moving during treatment .
Braces or aligners for a busy student?
Both can work well for teenagers. Clear aligners such as Invisalign for teens come out for meals, sports and music, but need to be worn 20–22 hours a day — which takes real commitment from the student. Fixed braces work around the clock without anyone having to remember them, and give fine control for more complex tooth movements.
Dr. Lee will explain which option suits your child’s teeth and routine, and why. Read more about orthodontics for teenagers .
Sports, music and school trips
Contact sports
For sports such as football, basketball, rugby or martial arts, a mouthguard helps protect teeth and braces. Standard boil-and-bite guards may not fit over braces, so ask us at a check-up what to use. Aligners are not a substitute for a sports mouthguard.
Wind and brass instruments
Students usually adapt within a few weeks, but braces can feel strange against the lips at first. Aligners can usually be removed for practice and performances, and put back in straight afterwards.
School trips and residential camps
Pack a small kit: a travel toothbrush, orthodontic wax for braces, the aligner case and the current aligners. If a bracket comes loose or an aligner is lost while away, message us a photo on WhatsApp or KakaoTalk. Our page on braces and aligner problems explains simple first aid.
Younger children and growth checks
The American Association of Orthodontists recommends a first orthodontic check by about age 7. Some children benefit from early, growth-guided treatment; many simply need monitoring. See kids’ orthodontics and early treatment (Phase 1) .
For routine check-ups, cleanings, fluoride and sealants, our pediatric dentist, Dr. Ho-seon Lee, looks after younger students. 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. Please contact us for pediatric dentistry appointment times. Some families also like to fit a back-to-school dental check into the summer break.
Letters and documents for school
If your school or your insurer needs a note confirming an appointment, a medical certificate or a doctor’s letter, ask us. English receipts and itemized statements are also available on request. See insurance and receipts .
International school family FAQs
Can my teenager come to appointments without a parent?
We recommend that a parent or guardian attends the first consultation and any visit where treatment decisions are made, because the diagnosis, options and plan need to be discussed with you and your consent given. For routine check-ups later on, ask us what suits your family.
Will braces affect my child’s schoolwork or speech?
Students usually get used to braces within a week or two. Lips and cheeks may feel sore at first, and speech can feel slightly different for a few days, particularly with lingual braces fitted behind the teeth. Aligners can cause a mild lisp at first that usually settles quickly.
What if my child loses an aligner at school?
Message us on WhatsApp or KakaoTalk with a photo and the aligner number. Dr. Lee will advise what to do — often wearing the previous or next set while a replacement is arranged. Keeping the case in a school bag and never wrapping aligners in a napkin at lunch helps avoid losses.
How often will my child need to miss school for orthodontic treatment?
Often very little. With evening appointments until 9 PM on Mondays and Thursdays and Saturday mornings, many routine check-ups can be booked outside school hours. Braces are usually checked about every 4–6 weeks and aligners about every 6–10 weeks, so visits are not frequent.
Is there an age when it is too late to fix my teenager’s teeth?
No. Teenagers commonly have orthodontic treatment once their permanent teeth have come through. Some jaw problems are easier to guide while a child is still growing, which is why an earlier check can help, but healthy teeth can be moved at any age.
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. For children’s dentistry, your child’s dentist will recommend care after an examination. In an emergency involving breathing, heavy bleeding, a head injury or facial swelling spreading toward the eye or neck, call 119.
Plan treatment around the school year
Send us your child’s concern and the days that work after school, and we’ll reply in English. Isu Station Exit 2 · Open until 9 PM Mon & Thu · Saturdays 9 AM–2 PM.