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Moving abroad · Braces & aligners
Can I Move Abroad During Orthodontic Treatment?
Yes, you can move abroad during braces or Invisalign. At Yonsei Baro Orthodontics & Pediatric Dentistry in Seoul, Dr. Sally Chaekyung Lee plans around your departure date from the first visit. Before you leave, we prepare complete English records, digital 3D scans, X-rays, photographs and progress notes, and can contact your next orthodontist directly.
Moving during treatment at a glance
| Question | At Yonsei Baro |
|---|---|
| When to tell us | At your first visit, or as soon as you know your departure date |
| Planning | Dr. Lee plans treatment stages around the time you have in Seoul |
| Records in English | Diagnosis, treatment plan and progress notes, plus appliance details |
| Digital files | 3D scans in standard formats, X-rays and clinical photographs |
| Invisalign | Help transferring your Invisalign case to a new provider |
| Doctor-to-doctor | Dr. Lee can contact your next orthodontist directly when needed |
| Retainers | Retainer records provided so retention can continue abroad |
Why your departure date matters from day one
Orthodontic treatment is planned in stages, and some stages are easier to hand over than others. A case mid-way through closing spaces, for example, is harder to pick up than one that has just finished a phase of alignment.
That is why we ask about your plans at the first visit . If you know — even roughly — when your posting, contract or studies end, Dr. Lee can take it into account when she recommends an appliance and sequences treatment. If a full correction does not fit the time you have, she will tell you plainly and discuss whether to start now and continue abroad, aim for a more limited goal, or wait. For more on this, see orthodontics on a short stay in Seoul .
Plans change, of course. If you learn of a move after treatment has started, tell us as early as you can — ideally a few months ahead — so there is time to reach a sensible stopping point and prepare your records.
What is in the transfer package?
When you move, your new orthodontist needs to understand where treatment started, what the plan was and exactly where things stand now. We prepare a complete transfer package in English:
- Treatment records in English: your diagnosis, the treatment plan and progress notes up to your last visit
- Digital 3D scans from our intraoral scanner, exported in standard file formats that other clinics can open
- X-rays and clinical photographs taken before and during treatment
- Appliance details: the type of braces or aligners in use, so your new orthodontist knows what they are working with
- Invisalign case transfer: help moving your Invisalign case to a provider in your new country
- Retainer records , if you are already in the retention phase
- Direct contact: where it helps, Dr. Lee can speak with or write to your next orthodontist herself
Because Dr. Lee sees every orthodontic patient herself from consultation to completion, the person writing your notes is the same person who planned and carried out your treatment.
Moving with braces
Fixed braces can usually be continued by another orthodontist, though they may prefer to change the brackets or wires to the system they use. Your appliance details help them decide. Braces are usually checked about every 4–6 weeks, so try to book a visit with us shortly before you leave and find an orthodontist in your new city soon after you arrive.
Moving with Invisalign
Invisalign cases can be transferred between providers. We help move your case to an Invisalign provider in your new country so they can continue it. Aligner checks are usually about every 6–10 weeks; let us know your dates so we can check your progress and fit before you go. If you use Angel Aligner , ask us how your records can be shared with your next orthodontist.
A checklist for the months before you move
- Tell us your departure date as soon as you know it.
- Book a final visit with us shortly before you leave, so your records are up to date.
- Start looking for an orthodontist in your new city; we can share your records with them directly.
- Ask us for your transfer package, and keep a copy yourself.
- Make sure you have your current aligners, spare aligners if issued, or retainers with you when you travel.
If something breaks in the weeks before you leave — a loose bracket or a lost aligner — message us a photo on WhatsApp or KakaoTalk. See braces and aligner problems .
Arriving in Seoul with treatment already under way?
The same process works in reverse. If you started treatment abroad, bring your records and appliance details and Dr. Lee will assess how to continue. See continuing treatment from abroad .
Moving during treatment FAQs
How far in advance should I tell you that I am moving?
As early as possible. Ideally, mention your expected departure date at the very first visit, so Dr. Lee can plan treatment around it. If a move comes up later, a few months’ notice gives time to reach a sensible stage in treatment and prepare your records without rushing.
In what format will my scans and records be?
Digital 3D scans are exported in standard file formats that other orthodontic clinics can open. X-rays and photographs are provided as image files, and your diagnosis, treatment plan and progress notes are written in English. If your new orthodontist needs a specific format, let us know.
Will my next orthodontist be able to continue exactly the same plan?
Not always. Every orthodontist reviews a transferred case and may adjust the plan or change the appliance to the system they use. Complete records make that much easier, and Dr. Lee can discuss your case with them directly so they understand the reasoning behind the plan.
Can you help me find an orthodontist in my new country?
The choice is yours, but we can tell you what to look for: a specialist orthodontist who is willing to take over a case in progress and, for Invisalign, an Invisalign provider. Once you have chosen a new orthodontist, we share your records with them directly.
What happens to my retainers if I move after treatment ends?
Retention is long-term, so pack your retainers in your hand luggage and keep wearing them as instructed. We provide retainer records so that an orthodontist in your new country can make replacements if needed and carry on retention checks. See retainers for more.
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.
Planning a move?
Tell us your departure date and we’ll plan your treatment and records around it. Isu Station Exit 2 · Open until 9 PM Mon & Thu · Saturdays 9 AM–2 PM.