How to Get English Dental Records and Receipts from a Korean Dentist

Yes, you can get them. Korea's Medical Service Act gives patients the right to request copies of their own records. At Lucid Dental Clinic in Gangnam, Seoul, ask at your first visit for an itemized receipt, a treatment summary, X-ray or CT images, and implant or veneer material details, and collect everything before your final appointment.

Key facts

  • Article 21 of Korea's Medical Service Act lets a patient request to inspect or copy all or part of their own medical records.
  • The US CDC advises medical travelers to get copies of all their records from the treating facility before returning home.
  • For implants, the most useful record is the implant system, brand, diameter and length, so a future dentist can find compatible parts.
  • X-rays and CT scans are usually handed over as image files on a USB drive or disc; ask for the standard DICOM format for CT.
  • Lucid Dental Clinic offers consultations in English, Japanese and Chinese; ask at your first visit which documents can be issued in English.
  • Korea's VAT refund for foreign medical tourists ended on December 31, 2025, so a receipt will not unlock a tax refund at the airport.

Medically reviewed by Dr. Park Hyun-min, Prosthodontist, Lucid Dental Clinic, Gangnam, Seoul. Last reviewed September 27, 2026.

Do Korean dentists give you copies of your dental records?

Yes. Korean law gives you the right to ask for them, and most clinics that treat international patients are used to the request. The easiest way to avoid a last-minute rush is to ask on day one, not on the morning of your flight.

Article 21 of Korea's Medical Service Act states that a patient may ask medical staff or the head of a clinic to inspect or copy all or part of the records about them, and the clinic should not refuse without a valid reason. The same article limits who else can see your file, so a friend or relative collecting records for you will usually need your written consent and ID.

Health agencies abroad say the same thing from the patient's side. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) tells medical travelers to get copies of all medical records from the treating facility before going home, and to plan follow-up care in advance.

Which documents should you ask for?

Ask for five things: an itemized receipt, a treatment summary, your images, material details, and any prescription list. Together they let your home dentist, insurer, or accountant understand exactly what was done.

Document What it shows Who needs it
Itemized receipt (영수증) and statement of charges Date, treatment, tooth numbers, amount paid in KRW, payment method Travel or private insurer, your own records, tax adviser
Treatment summary or dental certificate in English Diagnosis, procedures done, teeth treated, planned next steps Your home dentist, insurer, employer if you took sick leave
X-rays and CT scan Panoramic and periapical X-rays; 3D CT for implant cases Your home dentist, any future implant or root canal work
Implant details System and brand (for example Osstem or MegaGen), fixture diameter and length, abutment type, placement date Any dentist who later services, tightens or repairs the crown
Veneer, crown or inlay details Material (porcelain, zirconia), shade, teeth covered A dentist repairing or matching a restoration years later
Medication list Drug names, doses, and how long to take them Pharmacist or doctor at home; airport security questions

Why do implant details matter so much?

Because implant parts are not universal. If a screw loosens or a crown chips five years from now, your dentist at home needs to know the implant system to order matching components.

At Lucid Dental Clinic, the fee table lists fixtures from MegaGen (AnyOne) and Osstem (BA and SOI). Both are established Korean manufacturers, but a clinic in Denver, Toronto or Brisbane may not stock the same parts. With the brand, model, diameter and length written down, they can usually order them. Without it, a simple repair can turn into a guessing game. You can read more on our implant brands guide and the dental implants service page.

How do you request records at Lucid Dental Clinic?

Tell the team what you need at your first appointment, then confirm again before your last one. That gives staff time to prepare English wording and export image files.

  1. Say it at check-in. Mention that you are flying home and will need records in English. Our English-speaking staff can note this on your file.
  2. Bring your insurer's claim form. Some travel or private insurers want their own form signed by the dentist, or specific wording such as treatment codes and dates. Show it early.
  3. List what you want. Receipt, treatment summary, X-rays or CT, implant or veneer details, medication list. Use the table above as a checklist.
  4. Ask about format and any fee. Ask whether images come on a USB drive, a disc or by secure download, and whether any document fee applies. Fees for certificates vary between clinics and hospitals in Korea.
  5. Check before you leave. Make sure names, dates, tooth numbers and amounts are correct, and that your passport name matches the documents.
  6. Save digital copies. Photograph every page and store the images in cloud storage in case your luggage goes missing.

Will a Korean receipt work for insurance or taxes at home?

It often helps, but whether it is accepted depends entirely on your insurer or tax authority. An itemized receipt plus an English treatment summary is the combination most likely to answer their questions.

Many dental plans do not pay for elective cosmetic work such as veneers or whitening wherever it is done, and some plans exclude treatment abroad. Call your insurer before you travel and ask what documents they want. For more on this, see our guides to private insurance claims and paying for dental treatment in Korea.

One common question: can the receipt get you a tax refund at Incheon Airport? Not any more. Korea's VAT refund scheme for foreign medical tourists ended on December 31, 2025. Our 2026 tax refund explainer covers the details.

What if you need records after you have flown home?

You can still ask, but it is slower. Message the clinic with your full name as it appears on your passport, date of birth, treatment dates and what you need. For privacy reasons, the clinic will usually need to confirm your identity before sending anything, and records requested by a third party require your written consent.

Plan ahead so this rarely comes up. Our aftercare after flying home guide explains how to share records with your local dentist for check-ups. Everything international patients need to know is on the international patients page.

This page is general information, not legal or insurance advice. Individual results vary; a consultation and exam are required before any treatment.

Book a consultation

Planning treatment in Seoul and want your paperwork sorted from the start? Message us on WhatsApp at +82-10-8354-2975 or book through wa.link/luciddental. Tell us which documents your insurer or home dentist needs, and we will note it on your file. Lucid Dental Clinic is on the 3rd and 4th floors of the COWAY Building, right in front of Exit 3 of Eonju Station (Line 9).

Frequently asked questions

Can someone else pick up my dental records in Korea for me?

Usually only with your written consent and a copy of your ID. Korea's Medical Service Act restricts who can see a patient's records, so clinics check identity and authorization before releasing anything.

Are dental X-rays given as prints or files?

Most clinics in Korea now export digital images. CT scans are typically given in DICOM format on a USB drive or disc, which most dental imaging software abroad can open.

Will my records be written in Korean?

Internal clinical notes are normally in Korean with standard dental terms in English. For use abroad, ask for an English treatment summary or certificate. At Lucid Dental Clinic, raise this at your first visit so staff have time to prepare it.

What should an implant record include?

Ask for the implant manufacturer and system, fixture diameter and length, the tooth position, the abutment type and the crown material. Keep this record permanently, because you may need it for repairs many years later.

Is there a fee for copies of records?

It depends on the clinic and the document. As one example, Seoul National University Hospital lists English medical certificates at ₩20,000. Ask Lucid Dental Clinic at your consultation whether any document fee applies to your request.

How long does a Korean clinic keep my dental records?

Korean law requires medical institutions to keep treatment records for periods set by Ministry of Health and Welfare rules. Even so, it is safer to collect your own copies before you fly rather than relying on the clinic's archive.

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