How We Plan Your Treatment: A Transparent Process for Foreign Patients
At Lucid Dental Clinic in Gangnam, Seoul, treatment planning for foreign patients follows set steps: you share photos or X-rays online, receive an initial view, then have an in-person exam. The dentist explains your options, gives an itemized written estimate based on the clinic's fee table, and matches the timeline to your stay before anything starts.
Key facts
- No final price is given before an in-person exam; online reviews of photos give only an initial view.
- Estimates are itemized from the clinic's reference fee table (e.g., implant fixture, abutment, crown and any grafting listed separately).
- Common reasons a quote changes: need for bone grafting (₩300,000–450,000), a sinus lift (₩500,000–1,000,000), or treating decay or gum disease first.
- Treatment is timed to your stay; implants often need two trips months apart.
- Consultations are available in English, Japanese and Chinese; message +82-10-8354-2975.
- Korea's VAT refund for foreign cosmetic-procedure patients ended 31 Dec 2025.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Park Hyun-min, Prosthodontist. Last reviewed September 2026.
Traveling for dental care means making decisions far from home, often on a tight schedule. The fear we hear most often is not about pain — it is about surprises: a price that grows once you are in the chair, or a timeline that does not fit your flight. This page explains, step by step, how Lucid Dental Clinic plans treatment so you know what to expect and what to ask.
What are the steps in planning my treatment?
There are seven: share information, receive an initial view, attend an exam, review options, receive an itemized estimate, agree a timeline, and give consent.
- Share your information online. Send clear photos of your smile and teeth, any recent X-rays, and your goals by WhatsApp. Mention your travel dates and medical conditions or medicines.
- Get an initial view. The team replies with the likely options and a rough range based on the fee table. This is a starting point, not a quote.
- In-person exam in Seoul. The dentist checks teeth, gums, bite and existing dental work, and takes the images your case needs.
- Review your options. You hear the choices — including simpler or less invasive ones where they exist — with the pros, cons and number of visits for each.
- Receive an itemized written estimate listing each tooth and component.
- Agree the timeline against your dates in Korea, including whether a second trip is needed.
- Consent and begin. Treatment starts only after you have had time to ask questions and agree.
Our guide to online dental consultations explains which photos are most useful.
Why can't you give a final price from photos?
Because photos cannot show bone levels, hidden decay, root health or gum condition — and each of these can change what treatment is safe.
A tooth that looks like a simple veneer case might have an old root canal that needs attention; a missing tooth might need a bone graft before an implant can be placed. Giving a fixed price without an exam would mean either guessing high or risking a change later. We prefer to be clear that the online figure is a range and the written estimate comes after the exam.
What does an itemized estimate look like?
Each component is listed with its reference fee, so you can see exactly what you are paying for. The example below is illustrative only.
| Example: one implant, Osstem BA | Reference fee (KRW) |
|---|---|
| Implant fixture (Osstem BA) | ₩690,000 |
| Custom abutment | ₩100,000 |
| Zirconia crown for implant | ₩500,000 |
| Subtotal without grafting | ₩1,290,000(≈US$920 at ₩1,400 per US$) |
| Bone graft, only if needed | + ₩300,000–450,000 |
Other fixtures change the total: MegaGen AnyOne is listed from ₩590,000 and Osstem SOI from ₩890,000, so a complete single implant is typically ₩1,190,000–1,490,000 before grafting. For veneers, six LUCINATE Classic veneers at ₩1,190,000 each would be ₩7,140,000 (≈US$5,100 — check today's rate). See our implant cost breakdown and the full 2026 price list.
Who plans my treatment?
Treatment planning is led by the clinic's chief dentist, Dr. Park Hyun-min, a certified prosthodontist. Prosthodontics is the specialty centered on diagnosis, treatment planning and rehabilitation of missing or damaged teeth, which is why multi-tooth cosmetic and implant cases benefit from this kind of overview. If it matters to you who performs each step, ask at your consultation.
What can change my quote after the exam?
The most common reasons are extra foundation work that only an exam or X-ray reveals.
| Finding | Possible extra step | Reference fee |
|---|---|---|
| Not enough bone at the implant site | Bone graft | ₩300,000–450,000 |
| Upper back jaw close to the sinus | Sinus lift (crestal or window) | ₩500,000 / ₩1,000,000 |
| Active decay under planned veneers | Fillings or inlays first | Resin ₩60,000–150,000; inlay ₩300,000 |
| Uneven gum line | Gum contouring | ₩100,000 |
| Gum disease | Cleaning and gum treatment before cosmetic work | Quoted after exam |
If something changes during treatment, it should be explained and agreed with you before it is done. You can always ask to pause and think.
How do you match treatment to my travel dates?
We work backward from your departure date and build in time for adjustments. Some treatments fit one trip; others need two.
- One trip is often enough for cleanings, fillings, whitening and many veneer cases.
- Two trips are common for implants, because the bone usually needs a few months to heal before the final crown.
- Orthodontics needs ongoing visits and suits residents or frequent visitors better than a single holiday.
Read how many days dental treatment in Korea takes for typical schedules.
Is VAT included, and can I get a tax refund?
Ask for your estimate to state clearly whether VAT is included. Korea's VAT refund for foreign cosmetic-procedure patients ended on 31 December 2025, so do not count on one.
Cosmetic dental work such as veneers and whitening is VAT-taxable in Korea. Knowing this up front avoids confusion at checkout.
What do I take home after treatment?
Ask for copies of your X-rays, a summary of the treatment done, and details of materials and implant components used. These help your home dentist with future care.
See English dental records from Korea for what to request. For more on cosmetic options, visit our veneers page, and start trip planning with the international patients guide.
Book a consultation
Send your photos, X-rays and travel dates on WhatsApp, or call/text +82-10-8354-2975 in English. All fees are reference "from" prices; individual results vary, and a consultation and exam are required before any treatment is confirmed.
Frequently asked questions
How accurate is the online estimate?
It gives a realistic range for the options likely to suit you, based on the clinic's fee table. The final figure can move up or down after the exam, most often because of grafting, decay or gum treatment.
Can I take my written estimate home to think about it?
Yes. You are welcome to take time to consider it, compare it with other quotes and ask follow-up questions by WhatsApp before agreeing.
Will I be told about cheaper alternatives?
Your options should include simpler or less invasive approaches where they are clinically reasonable, such as bonding or whitening instead of veneers. Ask directly if you want a lower-cost option explained.
What information should I send before my visit?
Clear smile and close-up photos, any X-rays from the last year or two, a list of medicines and conditions, and your arrival and departure dates. The more complete the information, the more useful the initial view.
What happens if I need an extra procedure mid-treatment?
The dentist should explain why, what it costs and what happens if you decline, before doing it. Nothing extra should be added without your agreement.
Can my home dentist see the plan?
Yes. You can share your written estimate and images with your home dentist for a second opinion before or after treatment.